Issuu

4–26 Sep 2026

Always Was

Brisbane Festival, the Festival Board, and the Indigenous Advisory Group continue to build a Festival that expresses its respect for and acknowledgement of the various Traditional Owners and Custodians of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lands and waterways. Our respect extends to the local and neighbouring Communities where the works are performed and celebrated across Brisbane areas.

We acknowledge their continuing connection to land and waters and honour the Elders past and present.

We recognise the fundamental role that Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islander people continue to play in creative events and celebrations, as well as the importance of our continued engagement with the Indigenous Advisory Group and First Nations Communities. We are committed to the development of opportunities for further growing the various Cultural performances across the Festival.

Brisbane Festival and the Indigenous Advisory Group will continue to embrace, engage, and collaborate in partnership towards a progressive future.

Brisbane Festival is a much anticipated highlight of Queensland’s cultural calendar, bringing together artists and audiences in a 23 day celebration of creativity, culture, and community.

Proudly supported by the Crisafulli Government, the Festival activates the city with extraordinary presentations and events from local, national, and international creatives and companies.

With more than 700 performances, featuring over 2,000 artists and arts workers, the Festival generates significant employment opportunities for creative professionals, while driving growth in Queensland’s creative economy.

Brisbane Festival helps deliver on our 10 year strategy, Queensland’s Time to Shine, shaping the state’s creative legacy as we prepare for Brisbane 2032 and beyond.

I encourage you to immerse yourself in the vibrant 2026 program of events and activities for all ages and interests.

THE HONOURABLE

JOHN-PAUL LANGBROEK MP

Minister for Education and the Arts

Brisbane Festival acknowledges our Patron HER EXCELLENCY

THE HONOURABLE DR JEANNETTE YOUNG AC PSM, GOVERNOR OF QUEENSLAND

The Crisafulli Government is proud to support Brisbane Festival 2026 as a signature event in our state’s cultural calendar, showcasing the creativity, talent, and energy that define Brisbane.

Each September, Brisbane comes alive with world class performances and iconic moments like Riverfire, drawing locals and visitors into a shared celebration and generating more than $27 million in economic impact for businesses and communities.

Events like Brisbane Festival play a vital role in delivering our Destination 2045 vision and strengthening Queensland’s reputation as Australia’s events capital.

I encourage everyone to experience the outstanding 2026 program.

Brisbane Festival is back again — ready to light up our suburbs and celebrate our city’s creativity.

From neighbourhood venues to iconic city spaces, the Festival brings people together, creating more to see and do across our streets, parks, and entertainment precincts.

As Australia’s lifestyle capital, Brisbane continues to strengthen its reputation as a home for bold ideas, world‑class arts, and major events that captivate audiences from near and far.

We are proud to support Brisbane Festival and the opportunities it creates for local artists, businesses, and communities.

I encourage you to dive into program headfirst and experience the very best our city has to offer.

THE HONOURABLE

ANDREW POWELL MP Minister for the Environment and Tourism and Minister for Science and Innovation

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE COUNCILLOR ADRIAN SCHRINNER

Lord Mayor of Brisbane

From the Artistic Director

It’s an extraordinary privilege to arrive in a new city and be welcomed so openly by the warm, generous people who call Brisbane and South East Queensland home.

A city of river and light. Of early mornings and long, lingering nights. Of jacarandas, electric storms, river breezes, and life lived outdoors.

And right now, a city in motion. You can feel it. An energy building. A sense of momentum. Of something gathering. A city on the cusp of what comes next, alive with possibility. Slowly, through hundreds of conversations, ideas, and acts of belief, this Festival took shape.

A Festival shaped by Brisbane’s landscape, its rhythms, brightness, and pace, and built alongside a fierce and fearless team who have said yes, over and again, to bold ideas, new work, and moments of connection that now form this 2026 program.

And at every stage of planning this Festival, we have been thinking about you. Our artists, our audiences, our donors, our partners, our communities — everyone who steps into this Festival, and everyone who helps build it. You are woven into its fabric.

This year, the Festival moves with the rhythm of Brisbane itself. Inspired by Brisbane being the world’s earliest rising city, the program stretches from First Light through to After Dark, embracing the energy and vitality of life lived outdoors that defines this city.

At its heart is the Festival Village, bringing Brisbane Festival home to South Bank and creating a new civic gathering place for the city, where people can come together across the day and into the night. A place where mornings begin with movement, music, and collective ritual, before the city comes alive after dark with performance, celebration, and late night revelry.

Because this Festival is not only about what we watch. It is about how we gather, participate, and how it makes us feel.

And at its heart sit three simple questions: What helps you switch on? What lights you up? What makes you come alive?

Whether you love a bloody good story, want to be wowed, want to wake with the sun, or feel most alive when the night calls; whether you are young or simply young at heart — there is something here for you.

Across theatre, music, dance, grand spectacle, and intimate encounters, you will discover extraordinary artists from Queensland, Australia and around the world.

World premieres and Australian exclusives sit alongside tenderhearted stories and spectacles of scale in productions that celebrate, provoke, transport, and invite us to feel more deeply together.

So, join us in September. Meet us at first light and come with us through the day and into the night.

EBONY BOTT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

IF YOU LOVE A BLOODY GOOD

Your Festival ticket could be the beginning. Unlock exclusive Festival offers, giveaways, and bonus experiences curated for curious audiences, loyal locals, and spontaneous night-out planners.

• Win tickets, dining, and staycations

• Unlock limited-time partner offers

• New prizes and perks added throughout Festival season

If you want to barrack for your team

If you want a knockout thriller

Strong is the New Pretty Mama Does

1–19 Sep 3–5 Sep

17–20 Sep 23–26 Sep

LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) Theatre 17–20 Sep Scorched Earth

Strong is the New Pretty

SUZIE MILLER

It’s not just about a sport. It’s about a revolution.

Suzie Miller, the celebrated Australian playwright behind the sell out smash hit RBG: Of Many, One and international phenomenon Prima Facie, turns her extraordinary talents to the historical formation of the AFLW in this world premiere.

In 2010, an official report into the state of Australian Rules Football recommended the creation of a national women’s league. Seven years and a whole lot of grit, passion, and fancy footwork later, the AFLW was born. This is the untold story of the extraordinary characters who took the league from a pipe dream to a sensation the sports world could no longer ignore.

Get ready to barrack your heart out for a performance that promises a nail biting match, not just for sport lovers but for anyone looking to be uplifted by an inspiring story of determination, legacy, and pride.

It’s theatre written in mud, sweat, and belief.

1–19 Sep Playhouse, QPAC

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal art investment and advisory body. Image by Compadre Picture Co.

A Brisbane Festival, Sydney Theatre Company, and Trish Wadley Productions co-production, originally commissioned by Trish Wadley Productions. Presented by Brisbane Festival.

Theatre

Mama Does Derby

“One of the best I have seen in a while. Heartwarming, funny, and emotional."

The Advertiser

“...

all the hallmarks of a hit.”

The Guardian

“… hilarious and brutally tender.”

ArtsHub

Mama Does Derby

CLARE WATSON | VIRGINIA GAY

A hilarious and heartfelt mother–daughter story.

A single mum, a teenage daughter, and a new life in a regional town where neither quite fits.

It's always been just the two of them against the world, dancing in supermarkets, getting the hell out after the 'Very Bad Thing'.

Now Mum is finding rebellion in the sweaty, radical world of roller derby, while Billie's anxieties are manifesting in unnerving ways.

Windmill Production Company's Mama Does Derby is a no holds barred riot of reinvention and reckoning — about falling down, getting back up, and making friends with your demons.

3–5 Sep Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse

This project is supported through the Giving Program by

Vincent – Ubuntu Foundation.

Carolyn

Image by Claudio Raschella

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Brisbane Powerhouse. Theatre

Scorched Earth

“A form of total theatre, unlike anything else.”

RTÉ Arena

“A remarkably pure and powerful vision of contemporary Ireland"

Scorched Earth

ATTIC PROJECTS (IRL)

A murder. An interrogation. A clouded world of fantasy and fear.

Part crime drama, part psychological thriller, Luke Murphy's Scorched Earth probes a dark yet fundamental question: What right do we have to the land beneath our feet, and what are we willing to do to keep it?

Inspired by John B Keane's The Field, audiences are drawn into an interrogation room where a detective and suspect dredge through the ghosts of a long forgotten murder. Luke Murphy (Volcano) weaves story, striking visuals, and visceral movement into a tapestry of wanting, striving, deserving, and resenting.

A poetic final chapter of reaching and failing leaves no doubt of the cost of success.

Lighting & Sound America Theatre

17–20 Sep Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC, and Shaun and Suzanne Kenny. Image by Pato Cassinoni

Dance

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Brisbane Powerhouse.

Werewolf

BINGE CULTURE (AOTEAROA | NZ)

Attention: Multiple new occurrences confirmed. Healthy citizens report to safehouses by sunset. A lycanthropy outbreak. A seven day lockdown. You've been summoned to the local shelter, where three ill equipped wardens keep watch and the atmosphere is beginning to turn. Inspired by the classic game of deception, Werewolf is an international cult hit built on suspicion, survival, and uneasy laughter.

“It’s hard to argue with a show that has people screaming in terror one minute then giggling like children the next.”

British Theatre Guide

23–26 Sep

Underground Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse

Image by Lewis Ferris

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Brisbane Powerhouse.

Theatre

LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches)

JOE PARADISE LUI | MERLYNN TONG

This funeral will be the death of them.

A rip roaring ride into the depths of the Chinese afterlife. When two best friends spend a night holding vigil for their dead grandfathers, their conflicting attitudes grow, clashing over tradition and superstition. But the lords of the Underworld have their own thoughts, and they’re going to drag our heroes beyond the grave to resolve their differences.

“A

giddy, witty journey into a phantasmagoric hell”

The Guardian

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

17–20 Sep

Cremorne Theatre, QPAC

Image by Matsu Photography

Theatre

IF YOU'RE READY TO BE WOWED

YOU WON’T BELIEVE YOUR EYES

For the big ‘wow’ moment. Dive into ambitious, high-impact festival experiences that deliver spectacle, scale and unforgettable visual storytelling.

• The biggest 'you had to be there' moments

• Pure Festival magic, turned all the way up

• Epic experiences impossible to stream at home

Escape

ESCAPE

DIAVOLO | ARCHITECTURE IN MOTION (USA)

A boundary-breaking fusion of human movement and physical structures.

This is a show that will leave you breathless. Visceral and high-octane, ESCAPE blends complex, moving architectural structures with multi talented performers to create a blood pumping and emotional multimedia experience.

Along with DIAVOLO’s signature athletic movement aesthetic, ESCAPE features a collection of the company’s most famous architectural structures. Each evokes a story unique to its design, echoing themes of exploration, danger, fear, survival, resilience, and connection, all brought to life through a soundtrack spanning decades and genres, from pop and EDM to rock.

Interacting with these incredible structures, the performers escape their ordinary lives into a surreal landscape of infinite possibilities, driven by extreme determination, joy, and collaboration.

23–27 Sep Playhouse, QPAC

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC, I&C George Family Foundation, and Liz Pidgeon and Graeme Wikman. Image by Cheryl Mann

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Queensland Performing Arts Centre. Dance Circus

The night when Brisbane shines brightest.

Come alive with the dazzling Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, one of Australia’s most electrifying fireworks displays and an unforgettable night of community celebrations.

Experience Foti Fireworks' incredible displays as Brisbane’s iconic skyline comes to life. Whether you see the show from the Festival Village at South Bank, find a spot along Brisbane River, or tune in to Triple M’s live broadcast or Channel Nine’s exclusive television coverage, this explosive start to Brisbane Festival is not to be missed!

Sat 5 Sep

Entertainment from 4pm Fireworks from 7pm

*ADF is planning to conduct flying activities that will be announced on the

Festival website.

Image by JD Lin

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Australian Retirement Trust in association with Channel Nine and Triple M.

Family Free

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company

THE JIM HENSON COMPANY (USA)

An unprecedented exhibition exploring the imaginative storytelling and world-building of The Jim Henson Company.

Exclusively at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art, Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company is an immense and immersive journey through the creative process behind some of the most cherished characters and stories in screen history and popular culture.

Highlights include Fraggle Rock and Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, the treasured fantasy worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth, the iconic characters of the Muppets, and the instantly recognisable residents of Sesame Street.

Unparalleled in scope, the exhibition will celebrate The Jim Henson Company's extraordinary legacy, highlighting the specialist work of Jim Henson's Creature Shop — creative studios in New York and Los Angeles where artists and makers revolutionise the art of puppetry.

12 Sep '26 – 18 Apr '27 Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)

Presented by QAGOMA in association with Brisbane Festival.

Installation

Visual Art

as a Dodo

“These people may be geniuses."

The New York Times

Dead as a Dodo

WAKKA WAKKA (NOR | USA)

An epic battle between life and death.

Deep within the underworld, two skeleton friends, a Dodo and a boy, tirelessly dig for fresh bones. Their ancient skeletal forms are deteriorating, and without them, they will disappear completely. One day, something peculiar happens: the Dodo miraculously sprouts feathers! A wave of transformation begins, shattering the established order of the dead.

Infused with puppetry, humour, and stunning visual effects, Dead as a Dodo is a mesmerising musical odyssey about survival, transformation, and the power of true friendship.

23–26 Sep Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Philip Bacon AO. Image by Richard Termine

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Brisbane Powerhouse. Theatre

IF YOU WANT A HIT TO THE HEART

ULTIMATE DATE NIGHT

Skip predictable plans. Explore Festival experiences that turn an ordinary evening into something cinematic, strange, romantic, or unforgettable.

• For first dates, anniversaries, and spontaneous plans

• Curated experiences across the entire Festival

• Perfect for couples, crushes, and plus ones

Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking

“The production’s emotional range is staggering. It moves from grief to humour, rage to tenderness, often within the same breath."

Blackguard Media Reviews

Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking

WITI IHIMAERA (AOTEAROA | NZ)

An extraordinary mapping of Aotearoa through the eyes of Te Tiriti o Waitangi Mahana.

From the writer of The Whale Rider, Witi Ihimaera, comes this new adaptation of the epic tale of Tiri Mahana, a 185 year old matriarch, from her birth at the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi to present day Aotearoa.

With award winning actors Miriama McDowell (Ngāti Hine, Ngāpuhi) and Nī Dekkers-Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Te Rarawa, Ngāti Porou), audiences are invited to a play for the whole whānau where Tiri wants us all to remember that the good things, the right things in life, are worth fighting for.

10–13 Sep Powerhouse Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC. Image by Signy Bjorg

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Brisbane Powerhouse.

Theatre

Koreaboo

MICHELLE LIM DAVIDSON

A show of family and belonging.

Hannah had it all planned — travel to Korea, visit her birth mother, spend a golden summer together. But her Umma is more interested in working day and night at a convenience store than connecting. In Umma's eyes, Hannah is a "Koreaboo" — a foreigner captivated by K Pop, kimchi, and hanboks. Armed with only Google Translate and unrelenting optimism, Hannah must find her place in Umma's world before the sweltering summer ends.

Bleachers

SPRUNG DANCE THEATRE

Bleachers aren't just for sitting on.

Rooted in lived experience, Bleachers is a disability led dance theatre work by Sprung Ensemble — 10 d/Deaf and disabled artists from Bundjalung Country — exploring isolation, connection, and belonging through a striking production built around a custom bleacher set. More than a show, it's a conversation.

2–19 Sep

16–19 Sep

Roundhouse Theatre, La Boite

Image by David Boon

La Boite Theatre presents a Griffin Theatre Company production, in association with Brisbane Festival.

Queensland Premiere

Underground Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse

Image by Thomas Oliver

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Sprung Dance Theatre in association with Brisbane Powerhouse.

Shel We

TUPUA TIGAFUA (AOTEAROA | NZ)

Playful, enchanting dance, full of mischief. What do you get when trees, ghosts and deer combine in a magical mix by one of Aotearoa's most ingenious dancers, storytellers and award-winning choreographers? You'll find yourself in the offbeat, playful world of Shel We by Tupua Tigafua. Off-beat, upbeat and heartwarming, Shel We has delighted audiences of all ages from New Zealand to Sweden.

“Swagger, simplicity and captivating dance."

Kate Martin, NZ Theatreview

10–13 Sep Cremorne Theatre, QPAC

Image by Stagebox Photography Presented by Brisbane Festival.

Dance

No One Gets Out of Here Alive

“Hands down the best piece of storytelling I've seen this year."

Review of previous work, Glass Child in Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane

No One Gets Out of Here Alive

THE FARM

For everyone who’s going to die…

Created by The Farm, No One Gets Out of Here Alive confronts mortality in a culture where Death is a taboo subject — where we draw velvet curtains over coffins and paint dead bodies with makeup so they look alive.

But this isn't only about the big D, it's also about the little d's: the deaths of dreams, of past selves, of quiet everyday endings.

Weaving dance, voice, and music with humour and pathos, this visceral, cathartic work is an invitation to explore the endings that shape us and the surprising lightness of letting go.

Presented by Brisbane Festival.

9–12 Sep Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre Image by Set in Stone Media

Dance

IF YOU WANT TO SHARE IN THE MOMENT

GROUP

BOOKINGS: WHAT TO SEE TOGETHER

Bring your people. Discover Brisbane Festival experiences perfect for group bookings, shared nights out, and collective Festival moments.

• Pick the perfect experience for your group

• Great for social outings, team events, and bringing the whole family

• Take time out together and plan something unforgettable

If you want to get amongst it

If you're young (or young at heart)

Moorooka Block Party

St Lucia Block Party Neighbourhood Centres Program Manly Serenades Sat 12 Sep

Festival

Sun 6 Sep

Jul–Sep Fri 11 Sep Festival Festival Workshops

Common People

Dance Eisteddfod Sat 19 Sep

Dance

Betsy Balloon and the Very Great Terrible Flood

Lord Mayor's Children's Program TheatreDome Wed 23 Sep

Fijian Flying Circus

Theatre Theatre 23–26 Sep 4 Sep–4 Oct Circus

Moorooka Block Party

It's time to party in the park!

We are heading back to transform Pegg's Park once again into a great big celebration of culture and community. It’s time to bring back the sounds, flavours, and stories for one of the south side's most anticipated events of the year. Expect a five-star lineup of live music, dance, and performance featuring some of the country’s most energetic artists representing sounds from across the globe. From funk-driven beats and culture-filled traditions, foot-tapping tunes, and unstoppable rhythms, this is a celebration where every sound, step, and story will keep you on your feet.

Sat 12 Sep

Pegg's Park, Moorooka

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Carolyn Vincent – Ubuntu Foundation. Image by Nikita Pere

Presented by Brisbane Festival.

Festival Free

Neighbourhood Centres Program

Art is for everyone!

Our inclusive and accessible Neighbourhood Centres Program is a cornerstone of Brisbane festival. At 11 Neighbourhood Centres across Brisbane, local creative artists will facilitate workshops in visual arts, dance, choir, fashion and textiles, and more.

Brisbane Serenades Manly Serenades

A feel-good night by the coast.

Get ready for a fun-filled evening with live music that’ll have you moving, exciting rides, and a dazzling laser show lighting up the sky. Whether you're dancing with friends or soaking up the energy under the stars, Manly Serenades promises a night to remember.

Fri 11 Sep

July–September

Check our website for details and locations to get involved!

The Neighbourhood Centres Program is funded and supported by the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety. Image by Morgan Roberts

Community Workshops

Brisbane Serenades

St Lucia Block Party

A family-friendly party on the peninsula.

Join us at the University of Queensland for a family friendly afternoon of live entertainment. Roll out a blanket, craft a food truck feast, and explore UQ’s facilities with tours including; UQ Art Museum, Anthropology Museum, Antiquities Museum, Fryer Library and more.

Sun 6 Sep

The University of Queensland, St Lucia

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Haymans Electrical. Image by Mellumae

Presented by Brisbane Festival, Brisbane City Council, and The University of Queensland.

Presented by Brisbane Festival and the Queensland Government.

Free

George Clayton Park, Manly

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Haymans Electrical. Image by Nikita Pere

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Brisbane City Council.

Common People Dance Eisteddfod

COMMON PEOPLE DANCE PROJECT

Seven teams. One trophy.

Unlimited glory. Let the battle begin!

Brisbane's most beloved tradition and dance battle of the 'burbs is back. Get ready to cheer for your local team until you’re hoarse, and see your neighbours, colleagues, and family members transform into suburban gladiators as they jazz slide, body roll, and high kick their way to glory. This is community arts at its most joyful — where the goal isn’t perfection but connection, laughter, courage, and creating something spectacular together.

Quandamooka Festival

QUANDAMOOKA YOOLOOBURRABEE

ABORIGINAL CORPORATION

Get away from the city for a vibrant celebration of Culture on Stradbroke Island.

Step onto the spectacular island landscape of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) and celebrate the Culture, Story, Community, and Connection to the Country of the Nughi, Nunukul, and Goenpul clans of the Quandamooka People.

This year’s multi artform program features a major visual art exhibition, a powerful traditional dance gathering Kunjiel, panel discussions, markets, live music, and a curated art trail, offering audiences a truly place-based cultural experience.

Presented by Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation (QYAC) in association Brisbane Festival

Sat 19 Sep

This project is supported through the Giving Program by

12–13 Sep

QUAMPI Arts & Culture Centre

Image by Nikki Michail

Chandler Theatre, Sleeman Sports Complex

Shaun and Suzanne Kenny.

Image by Joel Devereux

Presented by Brisbane Festival Festival

Betsy Balloon and the Very Great Terrible Flood

PIRATE & QUEEN (AOTEAROA | NZ)

A rambunctious modern fable.

Welcome to the island of Helium, where Betsy lives with her cheerful, money mad, balloon factory owning family. Life is on the up until their world pops and things, quite literally, start to sink. Betsy Balloon is a rambunctious modern fable presented with original music and illustration, and is based on a story by Bill Manhire.

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

23–26 Sep

Cremorne Theatre, QPAC

Image by Rebecca McMillan

Lord Mayor's Children's Program TheatreDome

Amidst a theatrical storm, can our contestants perform?

Step inside the TheatreDome! Channel Nine's entertaining and unconventional improv comedy show for kids comes to the stage. In this interactive performance, the crowd can join the fun for ultimate theatrical glory under the watchful eye of the Great Overseer. Teams will face off in a rapid-fire series of theatre games and comedic scenes. Quick wit, unflinching instinct, and commitment to the bit are in high demand.

Brisbane City Council proudly presents a special Lord Mayor’s Children’s Program for Brisbane Festival.

Wed 23 Sep

Brisbane City Hall

Image by David Kang

Fijian Flying Circus

VOU FIJI & CLUSTER ARTS (FIJI)

Come fly with us!

Get ready to be swept away on an island adventure like no other!

A celebration of Spirit, Culture, and Joy that fuses breathtaking circus with Fijian storytelling in a way you’ve never seen before, all under the Big Top. With soaring aerial acrobatics, gravity defying stunts, and laugh out loud moments, this heartwarming story is packed with wonder.

4 Sep – 4 Oct

Circus

Festival Village, South Bank Presented by Cluster Arts in association with Brisbane Festival

4–26 Sep

Welcome to Festival Village, South Bank

From sunrise to last call

Festival Village, South Bank is the civic heart of Brisbane Festival – a riverside gathering place alive with music, performance, food, art and nightlife from sunrise to late night.

As the city wakes, mornings begin with sunrise rituals, soundscapes, movement and daybreak dance parties by the river. Through the day, the Village hums with free activities for all ages – giant singalongs, pop-up performances, workshops, conversations and moments of surprise around every corner.

Then, as night falls, the energy shifts. Bright Nights by ANZ transforms the skyline in an explosion of sound, water and light, and the Festival switches on after dark with live music, DJs and late-night revelry.

Come for a headline show or stumble into something completely unexpected. Grab a drink, pull up a seat by the river, follow the lights, join the party and stay for one more. Festival Village, South Bank is where the city gathers to switch on, light up and come alive together.

4–26 Sep

Festival Village, South Bank

Image by Atmosphere Photography

Brisbane City Council proudly supports the Festival Village, South Bank.

Festival Precinct Free

Featuring an exclusive soundtrack from Brisbane music royalty The Veronicas.

ORACLE LIQUID | TRIBAL EXPERIENCES

A rock-pop symphony of water, light, and sound.

Bright Nights by ANZ transforms the Brisbane River into a dazzling choreographed canvas of water, light, and sound, with floating fountains, water screens, animated water features, and jets shooting up to 80 metres high. Pierced by a stunning laser light show and original pop rock soundtrack, this bold installation fills the Festival Village with colour, energy, and emotion. Free shows three times nightly throughout the Festival.

Presented by Brisbane Festival and ANZ

4–26 Sep Festival Village, South Bank

project is

through

Installation Free

This

supported

the Giving Program by Dr Jane Wilson AO and Steve Wilson AM. Image by Atmosphere Photography

The Choir of Man

“Wildly entertaining.

Full of raucous cheer."

Broadway World

“The ultimate feel good show."

Edinburgh Evening News

“Leave your worries in your coat and grab a pint!"

Broadway Baby

The Choir of Man

ANDREW KAY | NIC DOODSON

Welcome to the best pub in the world.

Direct from London’s West End, sensational singers perform stunning harmonies and foot-stomping singalongs, brimming with hits — all with a real bar on stage.

Discover the international stage sensation featuring music from artists such as Queen, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Luther Vandross, Guns N' Roses, Avicii, and Katy Perry, to name just a few. A wildly talented group of incredible instrumentalists, world-class wordsmiths, and sensational singers — this cast of nine (extra)ordinary guys serve it all, live.

An uplifting celebration of community and friendship, with something for everyone. Enjoy 75 minutes of foot-stomping entertainment unlike anything else — come drink in the ultimate feel-good show.

3–26 Sep

Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Village, South Bank Presented by Brisbane Festival, Andrew Kay, and Nic Doodson.

Cabaret

Time Out

The List

This Show is a Joke!

THE LISTIES

It’s a variety show gone bananas.

How many LOLs can Australia's favourite kids' comedians squeeze into one hour? Let's find out.

Hold onto your cowpats! After nearly two decades of seriously silly nonsense, Matt and Rich (aka The Listies) have whipped up their most ridiculous show yet — a turbo-charged mash-up of fan favourites, slapstick, songs, and a fresh batch of brand-new, freshly hatched gags. It's a comedy extravaganza for kidults aged four to four million (dinosaurs welcome).

20–26 Sep

Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Village, South Bank

Image by Andrew Wuttke

Presented by Brisbane Festival.

Comedy

Fest Mag UK

Broadway Baby Herald Sun FringeReview UK

Are You Lonesome Tonight

QUEENSLAND

Arrive in your jeans and boots, or your tuxedos and ball gowns.

A unique celebration of country music and opera, featuring arias and songs by Puccini, Verdi, Slim Dusty, Troy Cassar-Daly, Dolly Parton and more.

The result? A foot-stomping, heart-stirring performance that bridges two musical worlds in a way that feels fresh, exciting, and downright fun.

9–12 Sep

OPERA

Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Village, South Bank Image by Dylan Evans Presented by Brisbane Festival.

Opera Cabaret

Family Fun Day

Supported by Brisbane Airport

Get ready for take-off!

Pack your sunscreen, grab the kids and glide onto the Green in Festival Village, South Bank for a first-class day of free family-friendly performances, entertainment and activities.

A relaxed and inclusive event for families to spend quality time together in the heart of the Festival with prizes, giveaways and surprise moments landing throughout the day. Get up, up and away to Family Day!

Sun 20 Sep

Festival Village, South Bank

Image by Atmosphere Photography

Presented by Brisbane Festival in association with Brisbane Airport.

Festival Precint Free

DAYBREAKER

Wake up and DANCE!

DAYBREAKER is the globally renowned sober dance, yoga and wellness movement that flips nightlife on its head. Gather in the morning to move, connect, and celebrate being alive. No alcohol. No phones. Just music, movement, and a space full of humans choosing mischief and joy.

Be present, be here, be in the now.

See you at daybreak!

Sunrise Ceremony: Bikki Wantimaa

SHANNON RUSKA | TRIBAL EXPERIENCES

Join the circle, dance and blessing.

Each Friday morning the Sunrise Ceremony: Bikki Wantimaa acknowledges and gives thanks to the lands on which the Festival takes place, honouring First Nations peoples who have witnessed the sunrise on these lands for thousands of years. Everyone is welcome.

Sat 12 Sep

11,18,25 Sep

Festival Village, South Bank

This project is supported through the Giving Program by the Next Gen Circle.

Image by AJR Photos

Festival Village, South Bank

Image by Finn Mullen

Presented by Brisbane Festival.

Pasifika Made

Where Ancestral Knowledge Meets Contemporary Pacific Arts.

Pasifika Made returns to Brisbane Festival in 2026, bringing together Pacific and First Nations artists, cultural practitioners and community across a program of cultural and contemporary live performance, workshops, artist talks, knowledge sharing, live demonstrations and a cultural marketplace experience.

Transforming Festival Village, South Bank into a gathering place for art, culture and connection, Pasifika Made presents Pacific arts through both ancestral practice and a contemporary lens.

Sat 19 Sep Festival Village,

South Bank

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Haymans Electrical. Image by Jade Ferguson Creative Direction & Styling by Eshra Pula

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Brisbane City Council.

Festival

All Ages Free

Generations & Dynasties: The Brady Family

UNCLE GRAHAM BRADY | JUNGAJI

A powerful night of story, song, and cultural legacy.

Experience an intimate evening with the Brady family: a lineage of First Nations artists whose creative practices are rooted in Culture, Country, and Connection. Together, the family offers a rare and moving insight into the passing of knowledge across generations. A story of legacy in motion: where Culture is lived, shared, and carried forward through music, memory, and kinship.

Generations & Dynasties: The Briscoe Sisters

DELINE BRISCOE | NAURITA BRISCOE | MERINDI BRISCOE

An unforgettable afternoon of music, conversation, and storytelling.

Yalanji trio, the Briscoe Sisters bring language and song to the stage with a powerful, grounded presence. Fusing rich sibling harmonies with Yalanji spirituality, their voices carry Country, Culture, and deep Connection. Reflecting on legacy, identity, and the deep cultural connections that shape their artistry, they reveal how inspiration flows across generations.

Tue 15 Sep

Thu 17 Sep

Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Village, South Bank

Created by Sydney Opera House Presents First Nations Programming.

Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Village, South Bank

Your Festival Village

From first light to late night, Festival Village, South Bank pulses with free experiences that invite the city to gather, participate and connect. Across music, movement, creativity and collective ritual, the Village becomes a living meeting place – somewhere to linger, discover, dance, play and come alive together.

Make, See & Do

A place for curiosity, creativity and connection. Across the day, the Village invites audiences of all ages to get hands-on, discover new skills, share stories and experience moments of play, participation and imagination together.

Morning Workshops

Young Makers

Raving Kids

AFL Mentoring

Village on Show

The Festival Village, South Bank comes alive each afternoon with a rolling program of movement, music and spectacle. Expect bursts of energy, unexpected encounters and performances that spill out across the precinct, transforming the Village into a vibrant celebration of creativity and community.

Breakdance Shows

K-POP Dance Shows

Flipside Circus

Roving Performances

Afternoon Tunes

Art of Feeling Good

Ease into the morning with a series of wellness experiences designed to nourish the mind and body. Through movement, breath, music and moments of reflection, these gatherings invite audiences to slow down, reset and begin the day together.

Sound Healing

Wake Up & Sing!

Dance with Us

Loose, lively and open to everyone, these free dance sessions are all about giving things a go. Whether you’re stepping in for the first time or dancing like nobody’s watching, the dance floor is open.

Common People Dance Workshops

Latin Dance

Yin Yoga Bollywood Dance

Hip Hop Dance

Belly Dance

Night Vibes

When the sun goes down, the Village lights up! Live music, DJs and late-night energy keep the atmosphere buzzing, with plenty of reasons to stay for one more drink, one more song and one more dance.

Daily Music Acts Line Dance

Late Night DJs

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Carolyn Vincent – Ubuntu Foundation.

The Knock ‘Em Downs

BOLSTER & LEE

Swing on by and try your luck at the side show!

Nostalgia has taken a curious twist, and the carnies have turned into clowns! Step inside Bernie and Roach’s carnival side-show tent, with odd-ball games to test your skill, strange surprises, and a plethora of prizes to be won!

Not a Cult*

COUNTERPILOT

A public spectacle of disconcerting joy.

By the creators of Adrift and Truthmachine, Not a Cult* is an interactive flash mob experience where audiences don robes, follow mysterious instructions, and take over South Bank in a satirical skewering of toxic positivity and Australian optimism. (*Depends how you define 'cult.')

Piano Man

FEATURING TREVOR JONES AND GUESTS

Gather round the baby grand for a wild late-night singalong.

Trevor's taking requests. Surprise guests, maximum volume, zero inhibitions — your favourite singalong is back. A perfect finish to your night!

Dance with Tom

THOMAS E.S. KELLY

Come for a dance and a yarn!

A joyful, interactive celebration of Yugambeh language, Culture and storytelling through music, movement and dance. Everyone is welcome — stream this ABC Kids Original on ABC iview.

The Sock Puppet Studio

QAGOMA

A hands-on experience

Inspired by The Jim Henson Company, which believes you can make extraordinary characters from ordinary materials like socks, pipe cleaners, and yarn.

4–26 Sep Festival Village, South Bank Image by Justin Ma

10–18 Sep Festival Village, South Bank

Coarse Language, Suitable for 12+ Image by Morgan Roberts

8–26 Sep Festival Village, South Bank

Suitable for 15+ Image by Trentino Priori

17–18 Sep

Village, South

See Website For Details

Village, South Bank Image by C Callistemon

Musical Mantras with Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra

CAMERATA

Come for the calm, stay for the crescendo.

Spend your Sunday morning with Queensland's Chamber Orchestra. Morning Mantras is a beautiful, musical way to kick-start your day. Bring the whole family, grab a coffee and soak in the relaxing vibes.

Puppet Construction Workshop

DEAD PUPPET SOCIETY

Craft and build your own tabletop puppet.

Take your puppetry skills to the next level. Explore character, mechanisms and the core principles of puppetry - focus, breath and gravity. Using simple brown paper techniques, young people will prototype and construct a one-of-a-kind creature.

Living Sculptures: How the Birds Got Their Colours

ARC CIRCUS & THE YUGAMBEH ABORIGINAL DANCERS

Let your imagination take flight.

A fusion of traditional First Nations dance, storytelling and contemporary circus.

Hosted outdoors, it is a beautiful re-telling of the traditional Dreamtime story delivering a powerful message of togetherness.

Warm-up with QLD Con

QUEENSLAND CONSERVATORIUM GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

An energising musical warm-up to the day by the river.

Join Queensland Conservatorium Faculty and Students for behind-the-scenes glimpses of an artist's morning as they fill South Bank with explorations of sound. Grab a coffee and start the day with Australia's future stars as they warm up their instruments, bodies, voices and minds.

6 & 13 Sep

Festival Village, South Bank

Image courtesy of Camerata

20–26 Sept

Festival Village, South Bank

Image courtesy of DPS

5–9 Sep

Festival Village, South Bank

This show was originally commissioned by SWELL Sculpture Festival with support from Arts Queensland and City of Gold Coast.

Festival Village, South Bank

Image by Greg Harm

Presented by Brisbane Festival

by Brisbane Festival

Giant Sing Along

DAILY TOUS LES JOURS

Mic check, one, two.

Giant Sing Along is an interactive installation that invites people of all ages to sing together in a shared, collective experience.

Set within a field of microphones and guided karaoke-style, participants contribute to a live mass choir, with songs chosen in advance by the local community. A subtle sound system gently harmonises voices in real time, creating moments of joy, belonging, and spontaneous connection.

By day, it’s a playful, welcoming experience for families and children; by night, it becomes a joyful gathering point for festival-goers and revellers alike.

4–26 Sept Festival Village, South Bank

project is supported through

This

the Giving Program by Tim Fairfax AC and Gina Fairfax AC. Image by Irene Chaudouet

Presented by Brisbane Festival. Free Music Interactive

AROUND BRISBANE

As if there wasn’t enough to do at Brisbane Festival, dip into other events happening around town.

Mindful Art Mornings

MUSEUM OF BRISBANE

Start your day with intention.

Within the calm of the gallery, this rotating program offers an artist-led mindful experience designed to help you reset, reconnect and ease into the day ahead.

Presented by Museum of Brisbane in association with Brisbane Festival.

9, 16, 23 & 30 Sep

Museum of Brisbane

Transurban Bridge to Brisbane

EMQ

Run, walk or wheel for something bigger!

Join thousands of runners, walkers, and wheelers for a morning of fitness and fundraising. Sign up, choose a charity close to your heart, then start training!

Presented by Events Management Queensland, in association with Brisbane Festival.

Queensland Regional Art Awards

QRAA | FLYING ARTS

The Queensland Regional Art Awards (QRAA) are Flying Arts’ signature annual art awards established in 2011, showcasing new works from artists based in regional Queensland.

Presented by Flying Arts in association with Brisbane Festival.

4–11 Sep

One William Street

Sculptures & Sips Workshops

DEAD PUPPET SOCIETY

Unleash your creative spark!

Love art and design with a side of champagne?

Create and take home your own handmade creation, connect with makers and Dead Puppet Society artisans.

Presented by Dead Puppet Society in association with Brisbane Festival.

16–18 Sep, 23-25 Sep

DPS HQ

Love Me Again Market

- Morningside

Does your wardrobe need a glow-up?

From everyday wardrobe staples to luxury designer treasures, this much loved market is the go to destination for shopping Brisbane’s most stylish pre-loved finds.

Presented by Love Me Again Market in association with Brisbane Festival

Sun 20 Sep

Morningside School of Arts

Scenes With Girls

MIRIAM BATTYE

Because sometimes friendship is the greatest love story of them all...

Equal parts tragicomedy and emotional gut punch, Scenes with Girls explores the ferocity and fragility of female friendship in a vivid, darkly funny portrait of contemporary womanhood.

Presented by Salad Days Collective as part of Queensland Theatre Company’s DOOR 3 Initiative, in association with Brisbane Festival

Sun 13 Sep

Brisbane Showgrounds

4–19 Sep

Diane Cilento Studio, Queensland Theatre Company

IF THE NIGHT IS CALLING YOU

DINNER & A SHOW

Make the most of it. Build your night around the performance. Explore dining and curated evening experiences across Brisbane Festival.

• Build a complete night out around your show

• Partner restaurants and premium dining options

• Easy ways to extend your Festival night

Night Moves at Metro Arts

Metro Arts and Brisbane Festival present a series of performances and experiences exploring what we keep hidden in our darkest corners. A restless program of secrecy, sexiness, and surrender unfurling across gallery installation, dance-meets-physical theatre, listening events, and a late-night party. This will keep you up at night.

SHANDY

A taste of queer mayhem.

When the lights drop and the pulse kicks in, SHANDY takes over Metro Arts with the kind of sweaty, euphoric chaos that only a queer dancefloor can deliver. An immersive fantasia where driving DJ sets, live stage performance, and dancefloor collapse into one — equal parts hedonistic, tender, and made for the dark.

Choral Cthonics

CICADAS (CELESTE RICCI & MARIA MOLINA)

A hum in the dark.

Through chanting, chorals, murmurs, and drones, the voice becomes a force that exceeds the body that produces it: a vibration capable of summoning awe, dread, and states in which the boundaries of the self begin to loosen. This exhibition moves across sound, installation, and text, creating something larger, stranger, and less knowable.

Fri 4 Sep

27 Aug–26 Sep

Free

New Benner Theatre, Metro Arts

Image by Shandy Party

Gallery 1, Metro Arts

Image by Kunstformen der Natur Art Forms in Nature by German biologist and artist Ernst Haeckel, courtesy of Cicadas

Presented by Metro Arts in association with Brisbane Festival.

(In)Sight

KUWENI DIAS MENDIS | GRANT X WILKES

Step into the shadows.

Building on their award winning collaboration at the 2025 Brisbane Portrait Prize, Kuweni Dias Mendis and Grant x Wilkes have produced an immersive installation that creates a sensory experience drawing on the mechanics of optics, testing what it means to see and be seen. Mirrors fracture perspective, screens pulse gently with shifting images, and handmade objects anchor the space with material presence, unsettling the boundary between observer and observed.

The Scramble

SHAUN JOHNSTON

Get ready to rumble!

Two men hit the mat in a charged physical duet where exertion, resistance, and care collide. Toe to toe in a work of dance meets wrestling that bristles with male bravado, intimacy, vulnerability, contest, and connection, The Scramble is a celebration of the often silent and unseen ways men seek closeness through contact.

27 Aug–26 Sep

16–19 Sep

Gallery 2, Metro Arts

Image by Niru Mendis

New Benner Theatre, Metro Arts

Image by Andrea Mae

Presented by Metro Arts in association with Brisbane Festival.

IF YOU LOVE A GOOD GIG

TICKETS & ACCESS INFORMATION

What do you need to know? Find ticketing information, including Box Office details, concessions, group bookings, and accessibility options.

• Ticketing options, including concessions and group bookings

• Accessibility information and where to find booking support

• Box Office details and customer assistance

Presented by Second Sunday in association with Brisbane Festival 4–40

Night at the Parkland

SECOND SUNDAY

Nine unforgettable nights of live music under the stars.

By popular demand, Night at the Parkland returns to the spectacular Roma Street Parkland Amphitheatre for nine unforgettable nights. Featuring Missy Higgins, The Temper Trap, PNAU, Human Nature, ICEHOUSE, Katie Noonan

performing Jeff Buckley’s 'Grace', Aloe Blacc, The Cruel Sea with Magic Dirt, and Yesterday’s Gone celebrating Fleetwood Mac’s legacy.

4–20 Sep

Roma Street Parkland, Brisbane City

The Cruel Sea with Magic Dirt

Fri 4 Sep

Aloe Blacc Fri 11 Sep

ICEHOUSE Fri 18 Sep

Katie Noonan: Jeff Buckley’s Grace Sat 5 Sep

Yesterday's Gone: A Fleetwood Mac Legacy Sun 6 Sep

The Temper Trap Sat 12 Sep Human Nature Sun 13 Sep

PNAU Sat 19 Sep

Missy Higgins Sun 20 Sep

Rockwiz Rocks Brisbane

ROCKWIZ LIVE

Get ready Brissy, we are coming back to celebrate your fine city!

RocKwiz is proudly presenting a tailor made Brisbane show.

From Cloudland and Festival Hall to the Fortitude Valley Music Hall, from the Bee Gees to the 'Finger, The Saints to Savage Garden, The Grates to The Veronicas — we will celebrate them all.

From the depths of Pig City to that Striped Sunlight Sound of Robert Forster and The Go Betweens … RocKwiz Rocks Brisbane!

“If you want to be uplifted, if you want to be moved by incredible musicians..and laugh til you cry, this is the show for you."

Julia Zemiro Sat 12 Sep Concert Hall, QPAC

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre.

Music Comedy

The Alexander Ball

ELLA GANZA | TALIA ALEXANDER | VALENTINA ALEXANDER

The undeniable highlight of the Ballroom calendar.

The annual, iconic Alexander Ball competition is once again curated by the legendary Ella Ganza, a Samoan-Māori trans woman of colour and Mother to the trailblazing House of Alexander. The ball serves as a platform for self-expression, resilience, and cultural pride, forming a safe space for the LGBTQIA+ community.

The Complete Bach Catalogue for Organ

CALVIN BOWMAN

From quiet contemplation to awe-inspiring grandeur.

Renowned Australian organist Calvin Bowman leads audiences through the complete organ works of Johann Sebastian Bach — music that underpins the very foundations of the organ repertoire. From intimate chorale preludes shaped by Bach’s deep spirituality to dazzling preludes and fugues that display his unmatched craftsmanship, each work reveals a different facet of his genius.

Audiences are welcome to come and go throughout the day.

Sat 12 Sep

The Princess Theatre

Sun 13 Sep Concert Hall, QPAC

Image by Georgia Haupt

Presented by House of Alexander and The Princess Theatre in association with Brisbane Festival

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Philip Bacon AO and Haymans Electrical. Image by Pete Wallis

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre Dance

Attenborough’s Ocean in Concert

SIR DAVID ATTENBOROUGH | CAMERATA — QUEENSLAND'S CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

Sir David Attenborough’s greatest message of hope brought to life, live by Camerata.

Ocean in Concert features award winning composer Steven Price’s original score, performed live by Camerata — Queensland's Chamber Orchestra, in perfect synchronisation with the film’s spectacular imagery and Attenborough's narration. Price’s epic score to Ocean captures the drama, savagery, and beauty of the ocean’s underwater world, magnifying the film’s impact, amplifying both its wonder and its urgency. “After 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea." — Sir David Attenborough

Thu 17 Sep

Concert Hall, QPAC

Music

Film

Image by Keith Scholey

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Be The Sky

TENZIN CHOEGYAL | QUEENSLAND

CONSERVATORIUM GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

Ancestral Tibetan melodies meet contemporary expression.

Tibetan musician Tenzin Choegyal will join an ensemble of Conservatorium students to perform Be the Sky, a meditative collaboration with composer Philip Glass (Koyaanisqatsi) in honour of His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s 90th birthday. Blending Tibetan melodic traditions with minimalist piano structures, the work is a profound, intimate exploration of compassion and impermanence.

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University

Mon 7 Sep

Conservatorium Theatre, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Philip Bacon AO.

Image by David Kelly

Community Choir: The Musical

CHEEP TRILL | EMMA DEAN

Every choir has its secrets.

Community Choir: The Musical is a heartwarming and hilarious show about a quirky Brisbane choir unexpectedly invited to compete at Sydney’s National Choral Competition. As tensions arise and relationships are tested, a mysterious ‘Spirit of the Song’ reveals hidden truths. Featuring original music and a cast of local community performers, this uplifting production celebrates connection, courage, and finding harmony together.

Presented by Brisbane Festival and Cheep Trill

23–26 Sep Roundhouse Theatre, La Boite

This project is supported through the Giving Program by Shaun and Suzanne Kenny. Image by Barbara Lowing

Musical Theatre

Agnes Obel

Don't wait: this one-night-only concert is sure to be a sell out.

Renowned for her elegant, elastic voice, Berlin based, Danish born singer, songwriter, producer, and classically trained pianist Agnes Obel's long awaited return to Brisbane marks her first show in Australia since her sold out 2022 tour. Poised, melancholic, and refined, this chamber pop concert promises an intimate, emotive experience.

Presented by Queensland Performing Arts Centre in association with Brisbane Festival

Thu 24 Sep

Concert Hall, QPAC

Image by Alex Brüel Flagstad

Brisbane Cheryomushki

Witty and affectionate, this satirical operetta is a musical gem.

A group of friends. A housing shortage. A homeless crisis. Corrupt over paid officials. Sound familiar? Welcome to the world of Brisbane Cheryomushki. Dmitri Shostakovich’s delightful operetta, named after an actual Moscow suburb, is a biting satire and musical pastiche. Directed by Constantine Costi and conducted by Richard Mills.

Presented by Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in association with Brisbane Festival

22–26 Sep

Conservatorium Theatre, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University

Compassion Feat. Lior

CONSERVATORIUM SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | LIOR

A symphony of universal peace and love.

Inspired by the poetry and teachings of ancient Islamic and Jewish texts, Compassion explores how mercy, kindness, and love can unite across the dividing lines of fear and mutual misunderstanding. Nigel Westlake's moving orchestral song cycle rises up through Lior's powerful, soulful voice.

Performed by the Conservatorium Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Kelly Lovelady.

Presented by Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University in association with Brisbane Festival

Fri 4 Sep

Conservatorium Theatre, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University

Image by Alice Healy

Opera

Lord Mayor’s City Hall Concerts

Brisbane City Council proudly presents a special series of Lord Mayor’s City Hall Concerts for Brisbane Festival.

David Bailey

Pipes, wheels, and reels — Buster Keaton's classic set to a live, original score.

Celebrating the 100th anniversary of Buster Keaton's classic railroad comedy The General, organist David Bailey performs his original score live to accompany the film. The famous heritage-listed Willis pipe organ at Brisbane City Hall is undoubtedly Brisbane's most historic and recognised musical instrument. Share the humour and history of this classic film and the power and beauty of the organ.

Tue 8 Sep

East of West

Storytelling spun over rich traditional rhythms.

ARIA nominated trio East of West draws from the rich cultural melting pot of the Balkans and Mediterranean, spiced with contemporary European jazz. Bosnian-born composer Goran Gajić, Philip Griffin, and Malindi Morris explore the borderlands between genres through intricate composition and improvisation.

Tue 15 Sep

The University of Queensland Music Gala

Boldly joyful. Fiercely local.

Join us for a sensational gala hour, where you’ll be dazzled by some of The University of Queensland's finest emerging artists. This vibrant, varied program features solo and ensemble musical performances, operatic fireworks, stirring choruses, and much more. Come and hear Brisbane’s musical future, live in our great City Hall.

Tue 22 Sep

Brisbane City Hall Image by Joe Ruckli

Brisbane City Hall Image by Vanessa van Dalsen

Brisbane City Hall

Brisbane City Council proudly presents a special series of Lord Mayor’s City Hall Concerts for Brisbane Festival

QSO Maestro 6 La Mer (Shostakovich & Debussy)

QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

From gentle tides to stormy swells, and the ever-shifting moods of the sea.

Opening with Debussy's Petite Suite, this concert flows through Shostakovich's playful Piano Concerto No. 2, Stanhope's Ocean Planet, and Ravel's Une Barque sur l'Océan — before arriving at the majestic La Mer, Debussy's vivid portrait of water in motion. Let the tides wash over you with guest conductor Eduardo Strausser.

Presented by Queensland Symphony Orchestra in association with Brisbane Festival

Fri 4 Sep

Concert Hall, QPAC

ACO Mozart's Last Symphonies

AUSTRALIAN CHAMBER ORCHESTRA

A complex, joyous swansong from one of history's greatest classical music geniuses. For six weeks in the summer of 1788, Mozart wrote in a fit of obsessive inspiration. With no commission or concert in mind, he composed without fear or favour, driven only by a personal fire to create. The result was a jubilant family of three symphonies that pull together all of Mozart’s powers of invention, complexity, and refined melodic writing.

Presented by Australian Chamber Orchestra in association with Brisbane Festival

Tue 22 Sep

Concert Hall, QPAC

QSO Maestro 7 Symphonic Dances

QUEENSLAND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

A celebration of music that moves the body and soul. From folk steps to final farewells, this concert opens with Dvořák's folk spirited Slavonic Dances and the Queensland premiere of Holly Harrison's Concerto for Classical Accordion and Orchestra, before building to Rachmaninov's sweeping, nostalgic Symphonic Dances — his final major work, written in exile. Led by Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici and featuring an unforgettable saxophone solo.

Presented by Queensland Symphony Orchestra in association with Brisbane Festival

25–26 Sep

Concert Hall, QPAC

Music Music Music

Image by David Kelly

INDIGENOUS ADVISORY GROUP

Aunty

LEADERSHIP TEAM

Michael Adams Chief Impact Officer

Fabienne Cooke Director of Partnerships and Philanthropy Bella Ford Program Director

Claire Hooper Chief Finance Officer/Company Secretary

Tim Pack Technical Director

Justine Robins Administration Manager

ADMINISTRATION

Grace Campbell Office Assistant Matilda Skelhorn Administration Coordinator

DEVELOPMENT

Lyndsey Black Philanthropy Coordinator

Xandy Blue Development Administrator

Jared Cameron Partnerships Coordinator

Jodie

Warrick McDonald Partnerships Manager

FINANCE

Rhoisin Elwell Sutton Financial Accountant Lorelle Edwards Finance Assistant

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS

Lucy

Chloe

Darcy

Lauren

Renee

Festival Team

Christophe

Hitzke Dean Ticketing and CRM Manager

GIVING COMMITTEE

The

Thank

The Queensland Government invests in Brisbane Festival to deliver world-class arts experiences and grow the state’s creative economy

Visit arts.qld.gov.au to find out more.

Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent Photographer: Atmosphere Photography

Queensland Government funds Brisbane Festival through Arts Queensland

Nominate a Local Community Hero

Airbnb is proud to champion Brisbane’s everyday legends as this year’s Brisbane Festival Community Engagement Partner. Know someone making a real difference in your community?

Nominate them as a Community Hero.

Airbnb is proud to champion Brisbane’s everyday legends as this year’s Brisbane Festival Community Engagement Partner. Know someone making a real difference in your community?

Nominate them as a Community Hero.

www.avideas.com.au www.avideas.com.au

Additional Credits

The following companies and productions acknowledge the support of

The Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body

Bleachers LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) Mama Does Derby

Betsy Balloon and the Very Great Terrible Flood Co commissioned by Auckland Live and Creative New Zealand’s Festival Commissioning and Presentation Fund managed by PANNZ.

Bleachers

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body. Bleachers is proudly funded by the NSW Government in association with NORPA.

Choral Cthonics

Through Metro Arts, this project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body; and supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Common People Dance Eisteddfod

This project is created by Common People Dance Project.

Community Choir: The Musical

Community Choir: The Musical is supported by the Queensland Government via the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety.

Dead as a Dodo

A co production with Nordland Visual Theatre, Nord Universitet and The Chicago International Puppet Theatre Festival. Dead as a Dodo has received support from: Arts Council Norway, The Jim Henson Foundation, The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, FFUK, and Sea Cargo AS.

Dance With Tom

The Australian Broadcasting Corporation presents in association with Screen Queensland and Allstory Pictures.

Giant Sing Along

Created by Daily tous les jours.

(In)Sight

Koreaboo

Koreaboo was first produced by Griffin Theatre Company, 14 June – 20 July 2025 at Belvoir St Theatre.

LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches)

Produced by Performing Lines, this project has been assisted by the Australian Government’s Major Festivals Initiative (MFI), managed by Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc., commissioned by Perth Festival, RISING and Brisbane Festival. Additional project investment provided by Creative Australia. The creative development of LEGENDS was supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body, the MFI, and the WA Government through the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries. The initial script development was supported by Black Swan State Theatre Company.

Living Sculptures: How The Birds Got Their Colours

How the Birds Got Their Colours was originally commissioned by SWELL Sculpture Festival with support from the Queensland Government via Arts Queensland and City of Gold Coast.

Neighbourhood Centres Program

The Neighbourhood Centres Program is funded and supported by the Queensland Government via the Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety.

Night Moves by Metro Arts

No One Gets Out of Here Alive

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government's Major Festivals Initiative, managed by Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body, in association with the Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc. and Queensland Government via Arts Queensland's Queensland Arts Showcase Program.

Not a Cult*

Counterpilot is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Not a Cult* was supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body, and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Pasifika Made

This project is created and curated by Queenie Pelesa and proudly supported by the Queensland Government Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Scorched Earth

Scorched Earth was originally Co Produced with Dublin Dance Festival and Galway International Arts Festival, supported by a 2025 Arts Council of Ireland Arts Grant; with additional support from Dance Cork Firkin Crane; Shawbrook Residential; Cork City Council; Town Hall Theatre/Black Box Theatre, Galway; Uillinn West Cork Arts Centre, and Bathway Theatre at University of Greenwich. International touring in 2026 is supported by Culture Ireland.

SHANDY

Shel We

Funding received from PANNZ – Performing Arts Network New Zealand. Funding received from Creative NZ. Special thanks to the Bondi Pavilion and Waverley Council.

Strong is the New Pretty

This presentation is supported by Queensland Theatre Company.

This Show is a Joke!

This Show is a Joke! is co produced by The Listies and Arts on Tour, and is supported by the NSW Government through Create NSW.

Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking

By arrangement with Playmarket. With funding support from Performing Arts Network of New Zealand and Creative New Zealand.

Scenes with Girls

Theatrical on behalf of Nick Hern Books. DOOR 3 is proudly supported by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its arts funding and advisory body, and the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

The Knock ‘Em Downs

BOLSTER & LEE have been assisted by the Arts Queensland Showcase Program.

The Scramble

The Scramble was originally co presented and supported by The Blue Room Theatre and STRUT Dance. The Scramble’s development was supported by Performing Lines WA and the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts through a Studio Booster in the 2025 Kolyang Program. Through Metro Arts, this project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body; and supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland.

Giving Program

It Takes a Village

Now in its eleventh year, the Giving Program continues to play a vital role in bringing Brisbane Festival to life. Together, donors make ambitious work from leading and emerging artists possible, while championing local voices and ensuring the Festival remains open, shared and accessible to all.

At its heart, Brisbane Festival is about gathering, creating shared experiences that stay with you long after the moment has passed. Philanthropy makes this possible. It enables bold artistic vision, supports community celebrations such as the Moorooka Block Party, and helps keep free events and affordable ticket prices central each September, opening the Festival to more people, more often.

As Brisbane Festival grows, so too does the opportunity to create new ways for audiences to connect with the city and with each other. Returning to South Bank, developing the Festival Village, and expanding programming for children and families are all part of this next chapter.

Philanthropic support is helping to bring this vision to life, while continuing to expand access and participation and nurture the next generation of Festival audiences and supporters. Because a festival like this doesn’t just happen. It is built, shared and carried by many. It truly does take a village.

To find out more, become involved, or make a donation, please contact the philanthropy team at philanthropy@brisbanefestival.com.au.

Image by Morgan Roberts

Image by Mellumae

A heartfelt thank you to our generous donors for supporting Brisbane Festival 2026.

I&C

“It takes a village to make Brisbane Festival come alive. The generosity of our donors helps turn bold ideas into shared experiences for people of all ages."

Ebony Bott, Artistic Director

INDEPENDENTS

Brisbane

Program

Brisbane Festival is an initiative of the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council

New to Brisbane

TRAVEL PACKAGES

NICE EATS

From riverside stays to city-centre convenience, these packages are designed to make your Festival experience feel effortless from the moment you land.

For the first time, Brisbane Festival offers curated travel packages that bring your stay, your tickets, and your experience together in one seamless booking. Arrive, settle in, and step straight into the Festival.

Brisbane’s smorgasbord of dining options is a vibrant mix of riverside dining, multicultural influences, and a strong focus on fresh, local produce. Whatever you are hungry for, whether that is a laid-back café, alfresco dining or something a bit more upscale, the culinary scene across Brisbane is bustling.

Take your tastebuds on a tour of the best that Queensland has to offer.

Annamese

Indulge in authentic Vietnamese cuisine at Annamese and enjoy a curated dining experience that will have you feeling as though you are dining in the streets of Hanoi.

Brisbane Phoenix

Discover the dynamic flavours of modern Chinese cuisine at Brisbane Phoenix and enjoy a contemporary dining experience that is sure to make you feel special.

Persone

Persone's Amalfi-inspired new look for the season, brings coastal Italian elegance to the river, with elevated dining, refined style, and signature hospitality.

The Fifty-Six

Hidden within the heritage listed Naldham House, The Fifty Six brings modern Cantonese dining to Brisbane with a bold sense of theatre and style.

Popolo

Riverside dining, long lunches, and effortless Italian charm — Popolo is where Brisbane Festival moments linger a little longer.

Ovolo the Valley

Ovolo The Valley is one of Brisbane’s most distinctive luxury hotels, right in the heart of Fortitude Valley. It features a stunning rooftop pool and oversized rooms designed for ultimate comfort and indulgence.

LEISURE & ENTERTAINMENT PRECINCTS WHERE TO STAY

Stay close to the Festival with our premium hotel partners across the city, so you can move easily between performances, dining and the city beyond.

Avani Living Queen’s Wharf Residences

Make Avani Living Queen's Wharf Residences your Brisbane Festival base. Step out into riverfront energy, city lights and late night buzz, then retreat to spacious 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartment living, rooftop pool dips and skyline views with the Festival still at your doorstep.

Brisbane Festival unfolds across the city from early morning to late evening. The city becomes part of the experience as audiences move between performances, neighbourhoods and cultural spaces, shaped by Brisbane’s distinctive indoor–outdoor lifestyle.

Brisbane Quarter

Discover a world of flavour and indulgence at Brisbane Quarter, perfectly positioned at 300 George Street in the heart of Brisbane City.

Naldham House

Naldham House is Brisbane’s heritage dining and entertainment playground — where timeless architecture meets long lunches, late nights, cocktails, music, and unforgettable dining, all under one iconic CBD roof.

Felons (Howard Smith Wharves)

Proudly sponsoring the Brisbane Festival, Felons is a modern day brewery that creates and celebrates the good life.

South Bank

The home of Brisbane Festival, South Bank is Brisbane’s cultural heart, featuring galleries, parklands, riverfront walks, and a vibrant dining scene.

Getting Here & Getting Around

50 Cent Festival Adventures

50 Cent Festival Adventures is your invitation to spend a full day inside the Festival for just 50 cents per journey.

We’ve mapped simple, affordable public transport routes that connect you directly to live performances, riverfront moments, neighbourhood discoveries and late night culture.

Each Adventure is a ready made day out, combining shows, locations and travel into one seamless, shareable experience across the city. It’s so easy, there are no parking hassles, and you’ve got extra coin left to take in all the exciting show, dining and beverage options.

Here are two examples to inspire you to make your own adventures.

Adventure 1

Morning

Adventure 2

Mid-Morning

Early

Sculptures:

Bank 196 Bus 100, 116, 19 or 800 Bus City Cat

100, 116, 19 or 800 Bus

Evening Bright Nights by ANZ Festival Village,

Download the Translink app to help plan your adventure.

Share your festival adventure with friends and family.

Explore more 50 Cent Festival Adventures and plan your day at brisbanefestival.com

ACCESSIBILITY

Brisbane Festival is for everyone. Find detailed access information, including booking support, our Disability Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP), and the Festival Accessibility Guide. You can also request a printed guide to be delivered to you.