These Are Brisbane’s Most Epic Nights Out For The Rest Of 2026
Morgan C Reardon
Contributor | Urban List
We love a long lunch and a cheeky cocktail as much as anyone, but if the group chat is once again defaulting to dinner and drinks, consider this your sign to shake things up.
Queensland Symphony Orchestra (QSO) is serving up five incredible performances that will ensure the remainder of your 2026 cultural calendar is well and truly stacked. Blending pop culture, nostalgia and spine-tingling scores, these are the QSO performances you won’t want to miss.
The Music Of Video Games
Image Credit: Sam Muller Media | Supplied
Gamers, it’s go time! From the medieval battles of Assassin's Creed to the iconic worlds of Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda, QSO brings your favourite video game soundtracks to life.
A true celebration of the art of gaming, settle in as QSO fills QPAC’s Concert Hall with unforgettable scores that accompanied every quest, boss battle and hard-earned win. Round up your fellow gamers, settle in and press play.
The Details:
When: 24–25 July, 2026
Where: Concert Hall, QPAC
Get your ticket here.
Gladiator In Concert
Image Credit: Supplied
For anyone currently Googling 'good anniversary gifts', allow us to save you the trouble. Arguably one of the most spine-tingling film scores of all time, Gladiator in Concert (brought to you by CineConcerts) sees QSO and Voices of Birralee Choir perform Hans Zimmer and Lisa Gerrard’s iconic soundtrack live, alongside a screening of the five-time Academy Award-winning film.
If you’ve somehow never seen this cinematic masterpiece, it follows Maximus (Russell Crowe), a once-trusted Roman general, who is betrayed and sold into slavery, then fights his way through the Colosseum in a quest for vengeance. It's thrilling, heart-wrenching and guaranteed to leave you with goosebumps.
The Details:
When: 8 August, 2026
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Get your ticket here.
Piano Man: Celebrating The Music Of Billy Joel
Image Credit: Mark Gambino | Supplied
With a staggering 33 top 40 hits, five Grammy awards and a cool 160 million albums sold worldwide, Billy Joel has more than earned his place in music royalty. Now, it's your turn to sing along to the Piano Man's greatest hits—with QSO providing the soundtrack.
Under the baton of Jessica Gethin with some help from a few star-studded guests like Human Nature's Phil Burton, shimmy in your seat to new orchestral arrangements and classics like Vienna, New York State of Mind, Just the Way You Are, She’s Always a Woman and more. Piano Man: Celebrating the Music of Billy Joel is the perfect night out with your music-loving folks, mates or anyone who appreciates some old school classic rock.
The Details:
When: 17 September, 2026
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Get your ticket here.
The Music Of Joe Hisaishi
Image: Sam Muller Media | Supplied
If flicks like Spirited Away and Howl’s Moving Castle did things to your soul (same), chances are it had a little something to do with Joe Hisaishi’s magical scores.
Celebrating the legendary Japanese maestro's breathtaking works, The Music of Joe Hisaishi sees conductor Nicholas Buc, alongside Art of the Score podcasters Dan Golding and Andrew Pogson, guide audiences through his bewitching musical world.
Featuring rarely heard masterpieces as well as beloved Studio Ghibli favourites (Kiki’s Delivery Service, My Neighbour Totoro), this screen-free concert is straight up magical.
The Details:
When: 2–3 October, 2026
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre
Get your ticket here.
Cinematic: The Wonder Of Animation
Image: Sam Muller Media | Supplied
Bring on the nostalgia—and the tissues, tbh–as maestro Nicholas Buc and QSO take the animated soundtracks that raised us from the lounge room to the live stage with Cinematic: The Wonder of Animation.
Expect much-loved Disney classics that soundtracked countless childhood sing-alongs including Toy Story, How To Train Your Dragon, Sleeping Beauty and even The Simpsons to name just a few. Adding to the magic, the musicians will perform in costumes, so Millennials (and their minis) can join in the fun. Consider this the ultimate feel-good fam outing.
The Details:
When: 23–24 October, 2026
Where: Concert Hall, QPAC
Get your ticket here.
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Images: Supplied.