Thursday 16 + Friday 17 + Saturday 18 July, 2026

We will be adding plenty of details here soon. 

QATACON PROGRAM

The program will contain all the important details, including artist bios, contact details, workshop descriptions, schedules for each day, venues, what to bring and what you can look forward to.

Would you like your artwork on the cover of the QATACON26 program? Entries open soon and you can win a free conference tickets.

Looking for a past program? All of the QATACON programs can be found in Downloads or scroll down and click on the cover images below.

Download the full 2025 program for a taste of what's to come

QATACON26 Program selection guide

Are you registering for other people? There are quite a few options to select during registration. Use this handy guide to make sure you have all attendees’ preferences before starting the registration process. 

The guide will be available when registration opens

Countdown to QATACON26

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Register for QATACON26 from the end of term 1.

We had a fantastic response to the redeveloped Art Teacher Art Exhibition with over 60 entries in 2025!

Join us in 2026 for the exhibition’s closing event on Friday 17th July at 4:30pm – 6:30pm at Woolloongabba Art Gallery. Don’t miss the announcement of
The Eckersley’s Art Teacher Art prize @ 6:00pm

View the catalogue on the Art Teacher Art page.

QATACON26 Opening event

Our QATACON opening events  are a great way to kick start the conference. Enjoy delicious food and drinks, catch up with colleagues and maybe make some new friends.

You can rsvp this event during QATACON26 registration.

Exciting news soon about our opening event at the brand new Glasshouse Theatre, QPAC.

The theme of QATACON26 is The stories we tell.

Visual art is one of the oldest ways we make sense of the world and one of the most powerful. Through images, objects, processes and spaces, artists tell stories that carry memory, challenge perspectives and give form to lived experience.

The Stories We Tell invites visual art educators to explore how stories are shaped, layered and communicated through visual practice. QATACON26 celebrates the role of visual art as a language for meaning-making, connection and inquiry in contemporary classrooms and beyond.

Across the program, a diverse group of contemporary artists will share the stories behind their practice through inspiring keynote addresses and hands-on workshops. Participants will engage in rich professional dialogue, build networks with fellow educators, and deepen curriculum knowledge through practical, classroom-ready approaches.

Together, we will reflect on the stories we inherit, the stories we create, and the stories we empower our students to tell through visual art.

At QATACON26, we invite you to

  • explore these ideas through the keynote addresses
  • participate in the discussion
  • challenge yourself in workshops
  • create opportunities to tell stories.

See you there.

 Any other questions or comments? Send us an email at qata@qata.qld.edu.au

Tickets will be on sale through Humanitix. While we can’t avoid ticketing fees for registration, we are pleased to support Humanitix which sends 100% of registration fees to charities that support disadvantaged kids around the world to access education. (It’s also a bit cheaper for you and your school budgets.)

Featured Artists & Presenters

Coming soon

Coming soon

Coming soon

Coming soon

Click the artists' tiles above to find out more about their practice.

So many ways to be involved in 2026

Want to be involved?

  • Create our hero image! We’re looking for a wonderfully skilled teacher/creator to make an artwork that says, ‘Celebrate creativity’, to feature on the front of our program and across our communications. Featured artists receive a complimentary ticket and feature through our program.
  • Nominate to be part of our teacher showcase – an incredible event where we hear from our subject-matter experts (you) about practical teaching methodology. Showcase teachers receive a discounted ticket. This is also a great opportunity to gather evidence towards Highly Accomplished or Lead Teacher certification.
  • Submit a middle-years (Years 5-9) student’s artwork to feature on our QATACON25 tote bags (submissions open Term 1, 2025). The artwork must be made in the year of the conference. The student will receive a complimentary tote bag, and the teacher will be invited to present the associated learning activity.

Scroll down for more information and to apply.

Submit your student artwork to feature on the QATACON tote bag. If selected you receive free registration and an art pack for your student.

Tote bag artwork entries will open soon

Regional Teacher Bursary

If you teach outside of South East Queensland you can apply for this bursary. Recipients receive complimentary registration, travel and accommodation.

Regional teacher bursary entries will open soon

Tertiary student Bursary
Open to a pre-service teacher studying Primary or Secondary Visual Art education.

Complementary QATACON26 registration and travel expenses if you are a regional student.

Tertiary student bursary entries will open soon

Design the hero image for QATACON26 in response to the theme
The Stories We Tell.

If selected, you will receive complimentary registration and be featured on the QATACON program. Open to all QATA members. You can see our previous program covers above.
Hero image entries will open soon

QATACON25 hero image

Cassandra-lyn Palmer
The beginning of winter
Oil, acrylic, and cotton on paper
40x95cm

Educator showcase

So many more stories to tell in Educator showcase!

QATA members are invited to unpack, share and teach their colleagues an innovative and effective practical 90-minute workshop, suitable for a primary, middle years or senior visual art context.  You can present individually or in small teaching teams. Workshops should include a practical aspect. We’d like the participants making and doing.  We are looking for innovative, practical and relevant experiences. Educator Showcase presenters receive a 30% discount on QATACON registration.

Educator Showcase presenter submissions will open soon

Facilitate your regional cluster

More fun in our cluster muster sessions in 2026. Get ready to enjoy some time and share ideas with your colleagues!

Cluster Musterers receive a 10% discount on QATACON registration.

Click here to muster your cluster
2 day Metropolitan member$285
2 day Metropolitan non-member$335
2 day Regional member$225
2 day Regional non-member$275
2 day Tertiary student$215
1 day Metropolitan member$180
1 day Metropolitan non-member$230
1 day Regional member$120
1 day Regional non-member$170
1 day Tertiary student$110

Ticket types, prices & FAQs

Please note ticket prices are subject to registration fees of 2.5% + $0.50 per paid ticket. We use Humanitix for ticket registration who donate ticketing fees to education charities.

What is included in my ticket?

Your choice of the presentations listed in the program, morning tea and lunch, workshop art materials,  membership for the remainder of the year for non-members, downloadable workshop and presenter resources, and our wonderful QATA merchandise.

Can I change my order after registration?

Yes you can. If you change your mind about your session or workshop selections, log back into Humanitix and update your order. You will be able to change into other selections until they reach capacity.

 Who can purchase member tickets?

Member tickets are for 2026 financial QATA members Institutional, Institutional sponsored or Individual members.

Who can purchase regional member or non-member tickets?

You can purchase a regional ticket if you live or work more than 70km from the Brisbane CBD. We know you need to travel to get to QATACON and we want to help you out as much as we can.

How can I pay?

Preferred payment method is credit card directly through Humanitix.

Can I pay by invoice for my order?

Yes you can. Select pay by invoice during registration. You will receive an invoice with our direct bank details so you can transfer payment. You won’t need to pay via credit card. Tickets will be confirmed and issued after payment is received. Payment is due within 14 days of invoice.

I just bought a ticket. Where is my invoice as receipt of payment?

Please note: QATA is a non-profit association and is not registered for GST.

An invoice will be issued in your confirmation email if you pay by credit card. 

What is the refund policy?

Refunds are available up to 14 days before the event. 

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No, individual conference programs, session allocations and rooms will be provided. Please register on arrival to collect your personalised program, lanyard and QATACON tote bag.

Can I attend the Thursday night event or the drinks and networking event on Friday evening if I am only attending on Saturday?

Yes, you can. We hope you will! Please rsvp for either event during registration. Thursday is a ticketed event and Friday is complimentary.

Why are some of the workshop choices unavailable when I register in Humanitix?

Workshops have capacity of between 15-25 participants depending on the room capicity, material use or presenter preferences. Some workshops have filled and will be unavailable.  But don’t worry, all of the remaining choices are just as valuable. Be sure to check both morning and afternoon sessions as most are offered twice and each one may not be full.