Australian Chamber Music Festival makes decision to relocate from Townsville to Cairns in 2026
An iconic Townsville music festival which has been running since 1991 will be held in the city for the last time in 2025, before moving to another city in 2026. SEE WHY.
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The Australian Festival of Chamber Music has announced it will move to Cairns in 2026, with organisers pointing to a disparity in infrastructure as one of the key reasons behind the shift north-ward.
This year’s event in Townsville is now set to be a final “heartfelt tribute” to the city where it all began.
Despite breaking attendance records in 2024, organisers say Cairns offers better arts infrastructure and a better layout within which to create a festival hub.
Chair of the festival Mary Jo Capps said the festival had been the “heart and soul” of Townsville for three decades and wanting to“ make clear” how grateful she is to the city.
“It is a place where extraordinary music has thrived, where audiences have gathered to experience world-class performances, and where musicians have felt the warmth of a truly welcoming community.,” she said.
“We’ve not taken this approach lightly. It’s very layered.”
The decision to relocate follows a period of positive growth and record-breaking attendance in 2024.
“For us as a board we really had to look at what is the future for the festival where we can ensure it’s viability and long-term growth.” she said.
“ … we had to look at where the growth options lay and Cairns did offer a number of options against many moving parts that made it apparent we had to go.”
She noted the longstanding rivalry between Townsville and Cairns, but said Cairns offers an all-encompassing “audience experience” with infrastructure for events that is also close to restaurants, hotels, public transport and also allows people to walk between.
Started in 1991, the festival has presented 2000 concerts to music lovers from Townsville and across Australia and the world for over 30 years.
“It was harder to negotiate in Townsville, when people had to get buses back to their hotels.
“[Also] part of that infrastructure was an international airport which has a lot more flights with Australia heading in and out … both domestically and internationally, which where going to offer us the opportunity for growth.”
Ms Capps said the Cairns Regional Council was “very aligned strategically with their strategy” and noted the “very vibrant arts and cultural policy.”
“They are very committed to the and excited about the festival being there and they have been very generous in their offer of how to and the length of the offer to move the festival,” Ms Capps said.
“This move is not a departure from northern Queensland; it’s an evolution within it.”
“We remain committed to Townsville through our Pathways Program in schools, and we will be celebrating the role it has played in shaping the Festival’s legacy.”
This year’s festival, which will run from July 25 to August 2, is set to be a celebration of the event in Townsville with Ms Capps saying it will be a “party for the ages”.
Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney said while it was sad to see the festival move on, there was great pride for the events scene in Townsville.
“The festival has fostered generations of talented musicians and chamber music lovers – putting Townsville on the international map with musicians travelling from all across the globe to participate, truly helping to build Townsville’s reputation as the arts and culture capital of northern Australia,” she said.
“We wish the Australian Festival of Chamber Music all the best and are looking forward to raising the bar higher than ever for our northern cousins as we celebrate the 2025 festival here in Townsville.”
Originally published as Australian Chamber Music Festival makes decision to relocate from Townsville to Cairns in 2026
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