Your must-read guide to this year's Brisbane Festival

EVENT

Aerial of the Brisbane River and Story Bridge at night with fireworks

By Danielle Reckless

Published 2 weeks ago

When: 5 - 27 September 2025.

Spring might just be Brisbane’s best season. Why? Brisbane Festival.

For 23 days this September, the city cranks up the colour, creativity and charisma as Australia’s biggest international arts festival takes over streets, stages and skylines.

From fireworks to footlights, rooftops to the riverside, Brisbane becomes the canvas for more than 100 new performances and installations. Expect the bold, the breathtaking, the totally unexpected. Plus music, dance, theatre, family fun, First Nations storytelling and more.

Discover what not to miss in our Brisbane Festival guide.

Explore Brisbane Festival

Riverfire

Brisbane’s biggest night explodes back into town on 6 September with Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust. It’s the spectacular opening of Brisbane Festival and an unmissable night of sky-high colour, sound and celebration.

Get the details here.

For families

Young kids explore Brisbane Festival activities at South Bank Parklands — South Bank Parklands, Brisbane. Photo by @brisbanefestival

Parents, this one’s for you. From sky-dancing drones to sequin-filled dance floors, Brisbane Festival is a choose-your-own-adventure playground for kids and grown-ups alike. Free events, ticketed shows, and unforgettable family moments? Yes please.

Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale: Back by popular demand! Hundreds of drones light up the Brisbane River to tell a powerful First Nations story of culture, connection and Country (25–27 Sep). Best views from South Bank and Queen’s Wharf.
The People’s Dancefloor: Sequins, leg warmers, and zero judgement. The Common People Dance Project transforms Museum of Brisbane into a city-wide boogie. Plus: free school holiday dance workshops! (20 Sep–6 Oct)
Moorooka Block Party: Celebrate community, culture, and good vibes at this free street party that brings everyone together (13 Sep)
The Bogong’s Song: Shadow puppetry, dance and storytelling come together in this enchanting show by Bangarra Dance Theatre, made just for primary-aged kids (25 Sep–4 Oct)
Festitalia: Say ciao to Italy without leaving Brisbane. This all-day celebration is bursting with flavour and fun, with woodfired pizza and gelato piled high, folk music, classic cars, cultural performances and more. Bring your appetite. (7 Sep)
Sea of Light: Grab a torch and paint with light in this glowing, immersive adventure at Queensland Museum. (20 Sep–5 Oct)

For a night at the theatre

Drag performer and dancers on stage during Tina Turner performance at Brisbane Festival — TINA - A Tropical Love Story, Brisbane Festival 2025, Brisbane City. Photo by @brisbanefestival

Brisbane Festival brings the drama this year. Sometimes outrageous, sometimes heartbreaking, always unforgettable.

With musicals, opera, cabaret, and real-life stories from every corner of the country, this stage is set for something big.

The Lovers: Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but make it pop. A bold, romantic remix packed with glitter, heart and a sprinkle of magic (13 Sep–5 Oct)
TINA , A Tropical Love Story: First Nations drag icon Miss Ellaneous channels Tina Turner in a heartfelt tribute to love, survival and rock ’n’ roll spirit (18–20 Sep)
La Bohème: One of opera’s most iconic love stories, brought to life at QPAC. A must for seasoned opera fans and first-timers (4–13 Sep)
Gatsby at The Green Light: Cabaret meets 1920s glamour in this high-energy reimagining of The Great Gatsby. Expect sparkle, sass and scandal (2–28 Sep)
Amplified: Rock out to the raw, untold story of Chrissy Amphlett, the rebel queen of Aussie rock (19–21 Sep)
Back to Bilo: The powerful true story of a young refugee family’s fight for freedom, made with heart in regional Queensland (3–16 Sep)
Late Night Vice: A wild after-dark escape filled with spectacle and mystery (and no phones allowed) at West End Electric (4–27 Sep)
The Alexander Ball: Glamour, community and ballroom brilliance collide in this iconic annual celebration at Princess Theatre (13 Sep)
BATSHIT: A one-woman theatrical knockout that’s raw, hilarious and razor sharp (10–13 Sep)

For music and dance lovers

Dancers perform at Brisbane Festival — The Chronicle, Brisbane Festival 2025, Brisbane City. Photo by @brisbanefestival

From orchestras to operas and world-premiere events, this year’s music and dance lineup is spine-tingling, shape-shifting and packed with wow. Read on for a few of our favourites.

Baleen Moondjan: Stephen Page returns home with a riverside ceremony of movement, music, and First Nations storytelling set among giant floating whale bones on Brisbane River (18–21 Sep)
Gems by Benjamin Millepied: The renowned Black Swan choreographer has teamed up with LA Dance Project for a bold reimagining of Balanchine’s Jewels, complete with live score by Camerata, Queensland's Chamber Orchestra (4–7 Sep)
Tivoli in the Round: The Tiv gets flipped inside out with a 360° stage for live performances from acts like Mallrat, Odd Mob, Franck and CW Stoneking (various dates in Sep).
Bad Nature: A Brisbane Festival exclusive and world premiere that has to be seen to be believed. This genre-bending collab between Australasian Dance Collective (ADC) and the Netherlands’ Club Guy & Roni explores where human relationships and the environment collide, using dance, sound, light and kinetic energy (3-7 Sep)
Elements of Freestyle: Skaters, BMXers, dancers and musicians bring high-energy street culture to the stage in this international hit from the Netherlands (24-27 Sep)
The Chronicles: Epic electro-acoustic score, powerful dance, and stirring vocals create this exploration of life, death and humanity from some of Australia's top contemporary dancers (10-13 Sep)
Night at the Parkland: Roma St Parklands becomes a starlit concert venue for Aussie music legends like Amy Shark, Lime Cordiale, Xavier Rudd and more (various dates in Sep)
Lord Mayor’s City Hall Concert Series: A music-lover’s smorgasbord, grab tickets to opera, organ recitals, children’s shows and more (various dates in Sep)
100 Guitars: One hundred electric guitarists unite for a surround-sound performance that will shake the city to its core (14 Sep)
Brisbane Serenades: Free family-friendly concerts all over town, from smooth swing in St Lucia (20 Sep) to country crooners in Manly (12 Sep)

For art immersion

Walk This Way art installation by Craig & Karl on pedestrian bridge over Brisbane River during Brisbane Festival — Walk This Way, Brisbane Festival 2025, Brisbane City. Photo by @brisbanefestival

You don’t just see the art at Brisbane Festival. You walk through it, dance in it, and fall under its spell. The city’s streets, gardens and galleries are set to burst into bold, larger-than-life creativity this September. See you there?

Walk This Way: International visual arts superstars Craig & Karl return to their hometown with a city-wide Public Art Trail that splashes colour across bridges, landmarks and laneways. Think mega-sized rainbow floaties adorned on our biggest city icons. And that's just the beginning.
Afterglow: Follow the flame into a dreamscape of fire sculptures, glowing installations and live performances as City Botanic Gardens transforms after dark (nightly throughout Festival)
Make a Scene: Queensland Museum’s new exhibition dives into LGBTQIA+ fashion, culture and lived experience, marking 35 years since the decriminalisation of homosexuality in QLD (from 5 Sep)
Pasifika Made: A vibrant cultural takeover of Brisbane Powerhouse with ceremony, workshops, performances and a buzzing village marketplace (7 Sep)

Looking for more Brisbane Festival events? Discover the full program here.

Brisbane Festival tickets

All tickets can be booked online or over the phone. See here for more information.

How to get to Brisbane Festival

Brisbane Festival is held in venues and public spaces around the city and suburbs.

To plan your journey via public transport head here.

Need help planning your visit?

Family walking through arbour of bougainvillea at South Bank Parklands — South Bank Parklands, Brisbane

Find accommodation options here
Find out more about South Bank here
Discover cool things to see and do in Brisbane here
Want to come back for another event? Check out the line-up of Brisbane events here
Want to take a sneaky trip to the beach? Here’s a guide to Brisbane's best beaches.
Hiring a car while you’re here? Check out this list of the best day trips from Brisbane.
Here for a good time, not a long time? Here’s everything you need to know.