Things to do
Things to do in Cairns
From Cairns Esplanade and Great Barrier Reef, there is always something on in Cairns. This is our live guide to the best things to do in Cairns: today's events, what is on this weekend, and the markets, live music, exhibitions, food and family days out worth your time. Every listing is checked against its source and refreshed through the day, so you are seeing what is actually on rather than a stale calendar.
Explore by neighbourhood, from Edge Hill, Mooroobool and Smithfield, or head a little further out to Trinity Beach and Port Douglas. Below you will find upcoming events grouped by category, plus quick links to this weekend's plans, the best of Cairns, and our in-depth local guides from The Daily Cairns.
Event
Voyager seul(e) avec ses enfants : comment mieux accompagner ?
Official Opening of The Yeinie Building
Therapeutic Support for Adult Survivors of Child Sexual Abuse
1,000 Dreams Fund 2026 Student Leadership Summit
A Space to Soften
Wesley LifeForce Suicide Prevention Half Day Workshop - Smithfield, QLD
Antimicrobial Resistance: The Silent Pandemic in Healthcare
Plan Partners: Webinar | Implementing NDIS reform with confidence
Opera in the Tropics - Cathedral Edition
Maximizing the Impact of Mind and Body Interventions Using Adaptation
OWASP Top 10 for LLMs: The Practitioner Cut
Sorted Live: Back To Their Old School
Sausage Making Master Class & Dinner
San Diego Career Fair
Raleigh Hiring event
Enchanting Kirtan: Sacred Music & Meditation Experience - Cairns
Boston Career Fair
Nu Nu x Matt Stone
Career
Festival
Things to do in Cairns: your questions
What are the best things to do in Cairns?
- Start with Cairns's signature places, such as landmarks like Cairns Esplanade, Great Barrier Reef and Kuranda Scenic Railway, then work through what is on right now. The guide below groups every upcoming event by category, so you can jump straight to live music, arts and exhibitions, food and markets, or family and community days out. For curated picks, see our best of Cairns lists and local guides.
What is on in Cairns this weekend?
- Our This Weekend guide pulls together the events running Friday to Sunday in Cairns, from gigs and markets to exhibitions and family activities. It updates daily as new events are confirmed, so check back through the week as the weekend fills out.
What are some free things to do in Cairns?
- Plenty of what is on in Cairns costs nothing to attend. Look for events tagged free in the listings below, and remember that many of the city's parks, markets, galleries and public spaces are free to enjoy any day of the week.
What can you do in Cairns when it is raining?
- Rainy days are made for the indoors. Galleries, museums, indoor markets, cinemas and long lunches all work when the weather turns. Browse the arts and food sections in the guide below to find something on under cover.
What are the best things to do in Cairns with kids?
- Look to the family and community categories below for kid-friendly events, along with markets, school-holiday programs and outdoor spaces. Most are low cost or free, and we flag booking details where a ticket is needed.
How often is this Cairns events guide updated?
- Every day. New events are ingested and verified against their source continuously, and past events drop off automatically, so the guide always reflects what is genuinely coming up in Cairns.