After more than three decades of bringing world-class chamber music to Townsville, the Australian Festival of Chamber Music (AFCM) has announced it will relocate to Cairns in 2026. The move, which follows the most successful festival in the event’s history in 2024, marks a new chapter for one of Australia’s leading music events.

The relocation comes after years of strategic planning and extensive consultation. “This is not a departure from northern Queensland – it is an evolution within it,” said AFCM Chair Mary Jo Capps. “Townsville will always be part of our story.”

The view overlooking the Cairns Esplanade Lagoon. Photo supplied

AFCM has been a mainstay of Townsville’s cultural life since 1991, presenting more than 2,000 concerts over the years and helping shape the city’s identity as a music destination. However, when Townsville Mayor Troy Thompson, who had previously voiced support for a new fit-for-purpose concert venue for Townsville moved a motion in a 2024 Council meeting to divert the funding to a Barrier Reef education centre instead, the decision to move firmed up considerably, Capps explained.

A case of ‘it’s not...