Eligibility Entry is open to high school and tertiary students aged 21 years or under at the time of application, who are residing in the Top End.
Age Requirements & Supervision • If the selected designer is under 18 years of age, a parent or legal guardian must be present at official 2026 Runway to Race Day activities, including 2026 Rydges Palmerston Ladies Day. • 2026 Rydges Palmerston Ladies Day is an 18+ event. Designers under 18 may attend only for their scheduled feature segment and must depart following its conclusion.
Availability & Participation The winning designer must be available to attend design workshops and mentoring sessions with Marcia Russell (Black Cat Couture). • Workshops are expected to take place between Thursday 21 May and Friday 3 July, 2026. • Workshop dates and times may vary and will be confirmed with the winning designer.
Mentorship & Support Mentorship is provided for guidance and development purposes. Final design decisions remain the responsibility of the winning designer, in consultation with the mentor and event organisers.
Media, Filming & Photography • A videographer and/or photographer may attend workshops and related activities to capture the design and creative process. • By entering the competition, applicants consent to being photographed and filmed for promotional, editorial, and event purposes. • Content may be shown at 2026 Rydges Palmerston Ladies Day and used across digital, print, and social media channels associated with the 2026 Darwin Cup Carnival and Runway to Race Day.
Use of Design & Images The winning design will be worn by the 2026 Darwin Cup Carnival Ambassador, who will be photographed and filmed on 2026 Rydges Palmerston Ladies Day. • Images of the outfit may appear in media coverage, promotional materials, and publications relating to the 2026 Darwin Cup Carnival. • Designers will be credited where possible.
Original Work All submitted designs must be the original work of the applicant. By submitting an application, entrants confirm that their design does not infringe on the intellectual property or rights of any third party.
Judging & Selection • The winning designer will be selected by a judging panel appointed by the event organisers. • The judges’ decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into.
Right to Amend or Withdraw The organisers reserve the right to: • Modify workshop dates or event details if required • Withdraw or revoke the award if eligibility requirements are not met or if these Terms & Conditions are breached
Privacy Personal information collected as part of this competition will be used solely for the purposes of administering 2026 Runway to Race Day and will be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws.
Acceptance of Terms Submission of an application constitutes acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.
