Welcome to the National Indigenous Fashion Awards

Celebrating the innovation of Australia’s First Nations Peoples in fashion and textiles.

Launched in 2020, the National Indigenous Fashion Awards (NIFA), provide a vibrant and empowering platform to celebrate the innovation, diversity and ethical practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and fashion designers, whilst contributing to the capacity building of the sector.

Recognising and showcasing excellence across seven categories, the award ceremony is a unique opportunity for the Australian and international fashion community to connect to the world’s oldest living cultures.

The NIFA is brought to you by Indigenous Fashion Projects (IFP), a program from the Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) Foundation. NIFA is supported by Australian Government Indigenous Visual Arts Industry Support, Presenting, Showcase and Designer Travel Partner QIC, Travel Sponsor Nautilus Aviation, Production Partner Global Headquarters, Principal Media Partner NITV and award partners QIC, Pacific Werribee, Canberra Centre, Country Road, Franchesca Cubillo, RMIT, and Desart, with ticketing partner Darwin Fringe Festival, and Generous Supporters Terri Layman & Michael Sitzler.

In 2026 the prestigious awards include the:

• Fashion Designer Award, supported by Country Road
• Traditional Adornment Award, supported by Desart
• Community Collaboration Award, supported by QIC
• Business Achievement Award, supported by Canberra Centre
• Textile Design Award, supported by RMIT
• Wearable Art Award, supported by Pacific Werribee
• Cecilia Cubillo Young Achiever Award, supported by Franchesca Cubillo

Save the Date: 5 August 2026

The NIFA ceremony will be returning to Larrakia Country under the stars at Darwin’s Deckchair Cinema. The NIFA sits alongside the DAAF Foundation’s Country to Couture runways (2-3 August), and Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (6-9 August).