Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair Records $5.1 Million in Sales

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair (DAAF) has recorded a landmark $5.1 million in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander art sales in 2025, the highest in the Fair’s 19-year history. The event also generated an estimated $14.99 million in economic impact for the Northern Territory.

Presented by the DAAF Foundation, this year’s Fair continued a five-year streak of surpassing the $4 million mark in annual sales, bringing total revenue for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Centres to more than $34.2 million since 2016.

Held in August as a hybrid in-person and online event, the 2025 Fair featured 78 participating Art Centres representing more than 1,800 artists from across Australia. Over 12,000 artworks were presented to local and international audiences, with 100 per cent of sales revenue returned directly to the artists and their Art Centres.

Attendance figures reflected the Fair’s continued growth, with 15,538 visitors attending in person and 13,130 participating online. Art Centres reported that international buyers accounted for an average of six per cent of total sales, with some recording up to 35 per cent.

Now recognised as a leading global platform for First Nations art and culture, DAAF provides opportunities for artists and communities to engage directly with audiences and ethical collectors. The event also strengthens awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural practices through workshops, performances, and artist talks.

DAAF Foundation Executive Director Claire Summers said this year’s Fair reflected a strong sense of connection and collaboration among participating communities.

“This year you could feel the sense of community in the air – there was a joy that our First Nations creatives felt in coming together for this national celebration of culture and art,” Summers said.

The Darwin Aboriginal Art Fair was established in 2007 and remains a key event on Australia’s cultural calendar, supporting sustainable economic opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists and Art Centres nationwide.