Cairns Festival shines in 2025 with more than 144,000 attendees and major economic gains The National Tribune The National Tribune The National Tribune 12 Dec 2025 9:18 am AEST Date Time Share 144,000-plus attendees and strong economic returns, confirming the festival’s major cultural and financial impact.Huge crowds at key events like the Grand Parade, Canvas of Cairns, and Carnival on Collins.Strong community ownership and cultural identity, with high local participation and rich First Nations storytelling. Source & references /Public Release. View in full here.