The Best Things To Do In Brisbane This Weekend
Dinushka Gunasekara
Brisbane Editor | Urban List
Rain, hail or shine, Brisbane is getting busy with an epic lineup of markets, pop-ups, festivals and more to ensure you don't waste a moment this weekend. Whether you're catching a gig, swinging by a market, or simply want to get on top of what's on, this weekend's a doozy.
Check out the best things to do in Brisbane this weekend below:
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All Weekend
Jocelyn’s Provisions x Baker Bleu
Image credit: Jocelyn's Provisions | Katrina Meynink
Anyone who knows their shortcrust from their puff would agree that Baker Bleu is one of Australia’s most respected bakeries, and while they’re yet to bring the good stuff north, Brisbane’s very own cult-fave bakery is dishing up their interpretation of a Baker Bleu icon. Enter the caramel apple pie. This weekend, Jocelyn’s Provisions will be serving their spin on the dessert—honing three decades of expertise into the buttery pastry. It will be available at all Jocelyn’s stores for three days only so be there before the FOMO kicks in.
The Details
When: Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June
Where: All Jocelyn’s Provisions locations.
Manly Deck Seafood Festival
You’ll want to arrive very hungry to Manly Deck’s Seafood Festival with a bucketload to dig into—literally. We’re talking $1 oysters, $15 buckets of fresh prawns and chargrilled jumbo prawns for $5 a pop. There’s also seafood chowder, kerala fish curry and fresh fish and chips (duh), plus a Singapore chilli mud crab worth the pre-order. Bookings are $10, with three time slots available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday—book here.
The Details
When: 12 to 14 June
Where: 1/45 Cambridge Parade, Manly
Find out more here.
Dine BNE City
Back in full force for its sixth year this June, get your forks ready, we’re talking about Dine BNE City. It’s a monster program of over 130 exclusive offers and special events happening at some of Brisbane’s top-tier restaurants, beloved cafes and slick bars. The tasty times kick off on Monday 1 June and carry right through to the end of the month.
This year, the jam-packed program comes with a whole new category dedicated to the breakfast fiends: Morning Edition. Meanwhile, the rest of the program arms we know and love are better than ever: Let’s Do Lunch, Supper Club, Bar Safari and Special Events.
The Details
When: Monday 1 June–Tuesday 30 June 2026
Where: All around Brisbane City
For a complete rundown of everything you can dig your teeth into, head here.
FIRE UP THE GROUP CHAT
Ignite your winter plans with a limited-edition, fire-inspired sip.
Death & Taxes First Flame Cocktail
Only available from 4 June to 4 July, the First Flame is a set-on-fire cocktail with Nosferatu Blood Orange Gin, Amaro Nonino (an Italian liqueur infused with alpine botanicals), Amontillado (barrel-aged sherry wine from Spain), charred red capsicum and sumac, inspired by the new fire-inspired Kettle Firemasters Red Pepper, Oregano & Sour Cream Potato Chips.
Beetlejuice The Musical
Image credit: Beetlejuice The Musical | Eugene Hyland
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice—you know the drill. The eight-time Tony Award-nominated Beetlejuice The Musical is returning to Australia in all its ghastly and ghoulish glory. Full of humour, heart and hauntings, the world-class production will be led by Broadway star Andy Karl, whose credits include Groundhog Day, Rocky the Musical, Pretty Woman the Musical, Legally Blonde the Musical and Moulin Rouge. The laugh-out-loud classic based on Tim Burton’s 1988 Academy Award-winning film is a cult-fave for a reason, telling the story of the strange Lydia Deetz whose obsession with all things dead leads her to a degenerate demon with a thing for stripes. Naturally, chaos ensues. Grab your tickets here.
The Details
When: Until 2 August 2026
Where: Lyric Theatre, QPAC
Find out more here.
Open Season
Image credit: Open Season | Supplied
Your winter soundtrack is officially loud and local because Open Season is returning for its sixth edition—taking over iconic Brisbane venues with 100+ artists and special events. The bold cultural program is back for eight epic weeks across The Tivoli, Princess Theatre, Fish Lane, Glasshouse Theatre, and more, with a lineup of international icons, in-demand pioneers, emerging voices and local legends. There’s the world premiere of Gil Scott-Heron by jazz and soul luminary Brian Jackson and hip hop powerhouse Yasiin Bey, unmissable rappers Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE, R&B heartthrob Saint Levant, and Scottish heavyweight Mogwai. Repping Aus, you can expect the internationally lauded Hiatus Kaiyote, Rum Jungle, Beddy Rays, and Peach PRC who will be making a comeback after having to cancel her On The Banks performance due to illness.
And that’s barely the tip of the iceberg for Open Season. You can also expect a multi-venue block party in Against The Grain Festival, Brisbane’s annual celebration of First Nations voices with Blak Day Out, and the return of South System which will turn Fish Lane into a full-blown dance party. Check out the full Open Season program and grab your tickets here.
The Details
When: 25 May to 25 July
Where: Various Locations in Brisbane
Find out more here.
Dinos Alive
Image credit: Dinos Alive | Supplied
An absolute blast from the past is coming to Brisbane, with more than 80 towering dinosaurs roaring before your eyes. The pop-up Dinos Alive immersive experience lets you get up close and personal with animatronic replicas of your favourite dinosaurs, including the T-rex, stegosaurus, triceratops and velociraptor. There’s also a virtual aquarium where you can dive into the world of sea giants, plus budding paleontologists can dig for fossils with state-of-the-art VR technology. This larger-than-life exhibition is perfect for families or anyone who smashed through that new dino doc so don’t miss out—grab your tickets here.
The Details
When: Until 28 June
Where: Skygate Precinct, Brisbane Airport
Find out more here.
Quarter Two Exhibitions
Image credit: Courtesy of Institute of Modern Art. Photo Joe Ruckli.
The Institute of Modern Art is back with another boundary-pushing (and free) exhibition from incredible emerging artists that’s worth a visit to the Valley, ASAP. There’s Trawlwoolway woman and Meanjin/Brisbane-based artist Mandy Quadrio’s first solo show, featuring a striking forest made from suspended steel-wool sculptures. Erika Scott has taken junk from consumer culture and transformed it into a sensory explosion dubbed Cambium Itch. And the Screening Room will be hosting 3D animated videos that dissect cartoon violence and masculinity.
The Details
When: Until 28 June
Where: Institute of Modern Art, Fortitude Valley
Find out more here.
Horizons of Khufu
Image credit: Horizons of Khufu | Supplied
If you thought the only way you’d ever visit Ancient Egypt was through a time machine, think again because a fully immersive experience is coming to Brisbane where you can walk like an Egyptian. The free-roaming VR experience will send you back 4,500 years to explore iconic landmarks in all their glory—from soaring over the Great Pyramids of Giza at sunrise to a boat journey through the Nile. The cutting-edge technology means you’ll have 360º panoramic views throughout your 45-minute expedition, plus you can see and interact with your fellow adventurers. Tickets are $40 for adults and $30 for kids—grab yours now here.
The Details
When: Until 31 July
Where: Fever Hub Brisbane, 123 Gotha Street, Fortitude Valley
Find out more here.
The FRIENDS Experience
Image credit: The FRIENDS Experience | Supplied
If you’re as passionate about Friends as Joey is about not sharing food, then you need to check out this world-famous attraction that’s popping up in Brisbane for the very first time. The FRIENDS Experience takes you behind the scenes and lets you relive iconic moments in the show—from Rachel and Monica’s purple door to Chandler and Joey’s recliners or Ross’ infamous sofa pivot. There will also be a fully recreated Central Perk complete with the legendary orange couch and exclusive merch every fan will want their hands on. Tickets go on sale 18 March and you can sign up for the waitlist here.
The Details
When: Until 20 June
Where: Uptown, Brisbane CBD
Find out more here.
Alcotraz
Image credit: Alcotraz | Supplied
While we don’t normally suggest ending up behind bars on your next night out, Brisbane’s new and immersive cocktail experience invites you to do just that. Inspired by Hollywood’s greatest prison stories, Alcotraz gives you an inmate number and orange jumpsuit to pop on before ushering you into a speakeasy-style cell block for the evening. It’s part role-play/part bar, as crooked guards and bootlegging accomplices whisk you into the world while pouring signature cocktails like the dangerously smooth Conspiracy (premium mezcal, burnt coconut tequila, pineapple and a hint of cinnamon) or the Crime of Passion (passionfruit liqueur, strawberry puree, lime, cranberry and orange). Tickets are $65 and you can grab yours here.
The Details
When: Until 30 June
Where: 123 Gotha Street, Fortitude Valley
Find out more here.
Make A Scene: Fashioning Queer Identity And Club Culture In The 90s
Image credit: Make A Scene | Kenn Bushby Collection
Take yourself back to an iconic era of Australian queer culture with Queensland Museum's latest free exhibition: Make A Scene. The fashion-forward 90s showcase features all things colour, camp, pop culture and community—from fearless self-expressions of LGBTQIA+ identity to the Brisbane-based labels that defined the era. Coinciding with the 35th anniversary of the decriminalisation of homosexuality, the immersive exhibition is your chance to engage with personal stories that unfolded on the underground nightclub and dance party scene. It’s glamorous, it’s moving and it’s full of pride.
The Details
When: Until 19 July 2026
Where: Queensland Museum Kurilpa, South Brisbane
Find out more here.
Prison Island
Image credit: Prison Island | Supplied
This isn’t your average escape room. One for the adrenaline junkies and puzzle solvers alike, the globally captivating Prison Island is officially coming to Brisbane and putting you to the test. The interactive adventure features more than 30 unique ‘cells’ that require you and your mates to put your heads together across a combination of action games, sports and strategy. With 90 minutes on the clock, your team needs to conquer as many challenges as possible to earn a coveted spot on the leaderboard—dodging laser beams, escaping cages, and taking part in the most high stakes game of whack-a-mole you’ve ever encountered. You can book here.
The Details
When: Until August 2026
Where: 162 Alfred St, Fortitude Valley
Find out more here.
The God Of Small Things
Image credit: QAGOMA | Supplied
If you’re intrigued by faith, visual culture, and how the divine finds its way into daily life across cultures, then QAGOMA’s latest free exhibition will be right up your alley. Featuring stunning and rare oleographs dating back to the late 1800s, this insightful showcase was created in collaboration with conservationists based in Bengaluru, India—letting you witness how the divine exists all around us from the other side of the world.
The Details
When: Until 5 October 2026
Where: QAGOMA, South Brisbane
Find out more here.
Precious
Image credit: Museum of Brisbane | Supplied
Explore more than 3,000 items generously loaned from around 30 incredible collections and collectors at Precious—Museum of Brisbane’s new major exhibition that doubles as a veritable treasure trove. With many on display for the first time, this charming assortment offers a glimpse into the cherished collections usually hidden within suburban homes and buildings across Brisbane. From international dolls to ornamental eggs and wind-up toys, Precious covers the rare, beautiful and intriguing while honouring the dedication and stories of Brisbane enthusiasts. The free exhibition is worth a visit for the sheer scale and variety alone, with objects from some of the city’s most fascinating institutions (think the Embroiders’ Guild QLD, Queensland Maritime Museum, and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia QLD) sitting alongside lovingly gathered curiosities that capture a truly unique side of the people that call Brisbane home.
The Details
When: Until Autumn 2027
Where: Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane City
Find out more here.
Friday 13 June
GOMA Friday Nights
Image credit: GOMA | Supplied
Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art is transforming into a captivating after-dark retreat every Friday night throughout May and June. Alongside their major immersive exhibition Presence (which features a massive indoor riverbed and a jaw-dropping monochromatic sun), there will also be an intimate vinyl listening bar, freestyle breakdancing and Brisbane’s best DJs on deck—best enjoyed with a Japanese-inspired cocktail in hand. Grab your tickets here.
The Details
When: 5:30pm to 8:30pm Fridays, May and June
Where: Gallery of Modern Art, South Bank
Find out more here.
Saturday 14 June
IMA Zine Fair
Flip your way through unique pages from local and interstate artists, designers, and makers at the annual Zine Fair. With a massive selection of independent, experimental and alternative publications to explore, it’s the old-school way to support incredible creatives (and relatively cheap too). Entry is free.
The Details
When: 10am to 3pm, Saturday 13 June
Where: Institute of Modern Art, Fortitude Valley
Find out more here.
Sunday 15 June
World Cup Live Site
From the first kick to the final goal, you’ll want to be parked up with your fellow Socceroo fans at Brisbane’s official FIFA World Cup Live Site in South Bank. The free, festival-style hub is where you can catch all the Socceroos games on a giant screen (as well as select matches scheduled before and after Aussie fixtures) with food trucks and pop-up bars on hand, kids’ activities, plus the best of South Bank right nearby. The Live Site runs on a first come, first served basis so we recommend coming in early if you can.
The Details
When: 7am to 5pm Sunday 14 June
Where: South Bank Cultural Forecourt
Find out more here.
Dessert Festival
Satisfy your sweet tooth this Sunday at The Hills of Rivermakers with a delicious lineup of bakers, creators, and specialty vendors flocking to the riverside for a one-day dessert extravaganza. We’re talking cookies, gelato, churros, fairy floss, tiramisu and chocolate-dipped strawberries, plus so much more. If the kids need to burn off that sugar rush, there will be family-friendly activities to enjoy plus live entertainment. Entry is free.
The Details
When: 10am to 3pm, Sunday 14 June
Where: The Hills of Rivermakers, Morningside
Find out more here.
Looking for more things to do this weekend? We've got you:
If you like food, try:
If you like exploring, try:
If you like shopping, try:
Main image credit: South Bank | Website
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