Ready to get out there and explore what's on in Brisbane? Whether you're a culture seeker looking for a unique way to experience Brisbane's top galleries or a foodie fanging for your next exclusive bite, here's what's on in Brisbane this week, this month and beyond.
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What's On In Brisbane This Week
You can also check out what's on this weekend right here.
Festa Italiana
Howard Smith Wharves | Friday 2-Sunday 4 June
Is your Instagram feed filled with nothing but people heading off on their Euro summer adventure? Same—but we have some tasty news that might just make you feel better. Taking over Howard Smith Wharves Main Lawn for the weekend is Festa Italiana, an Italian food market dedicated to Italy’s vibrant culture, classic aperitivo, and of course, delicious cuisine. Hosted by chef and co-owner of Sydney’s Da Orazio, Orazio D’Elia, the market will feature stalls offering up freshly made pasta (made right in front of you), mozzarella, woodfired bread, gelato and Aperol Spritzes, not to mention a few of D’Elia’s signature dishes. Head down from 4pm Friday or 12pm Saturday and Sunday to feast like you’re in Italy.
What's On In Brisbane This Month
Australian Tattoo Expo
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | Friday 9-Sunday 11 June
If you’re a sucker for spontaneous walk-in tattoos or you’ve been thinking about getting inked up but want to learn more about the process before you commit, the Australian Tattoo Expo is the place to get all your questions answered. The biggest tattoo event in Australia will showcase over 400 artists offering all kinds of styles from traditional to fine-line and everything in between. You can get inked up on the spot, meet some iconic artists or learn more about what goes on behind the scenes. Find out more and grab your tickets here.
Luminous Lantern Parade
South Bank | Friday 9 June
Returning to light up Brisbane’s sky for the 17th year, Luminous Lantern Parade is back this coming June. Celebrating Queensland’s unique culture, heritage, people and industries, Luminous is one of Brisbane’s most visually stunning events. Fun for all, the spectacular lantern procession will begin in Flowstate South Bank and travel a short walk to the South Bank Piazza for an exciting world music concert. There is definitely no missing this display of light and you can find out more here.
GABS Beer Festival
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | Saturday 10 June
One of the best beer festivals in the world is coming to Brisbane in June. The Great Australasian Beer Spectapular (GABS) is calling the names of all beer lovers, with an epic line up of brand new, never been tasted before brews that will be unveiled exclusively at the festival. Don't expect any old lagers and IPAs—we're talking Biscoff ice cream beer, lavender cheesecake beer, maple bacon pancake beer and grandma's crumble rhubarb and custard apple saison. Find us there doing our best to try every single one (don't worry, you can get tasting paddles if a pint of every single one sounds like a lot). If beer isn’t your cup of tea, there’s also a silent disco, street food and plenty of entertainment to check out. Gather the gang up for a boozy weekend and grab your tickets before they sell out.
Westholme Presents: Same Same X Longrain
Same Same, Fortitude Valley | From 5pm, Wednesday 14 June
Clear your calendar for the night of Wednesday 14 June, because iconic Melbourne Thai restaurant Longrain is popping up in Brisbane for one night only and you do not want to miss it. Westholme, the purveyors of exceptionally premium Australian Wagyu, have teamed up with Brisbane’s Same Same and Melbourne’s Longrain, to put on a dinner showcasing melt-in-your-mouth Wagyu in a banquet-style Thai menu for $130pp. The two restaurants will be fusing their skills to serve up dishes like panang curry of Wagyu beef cheek, hot and sour Wagyu short rib with black vinegar, spring onion and scud chilli and so many more. Trust us, this event will sell out so find out more and grab your tickets here.
B-Side at Yoko
Yoko Dining, Howard Smith Wharves | Sunday 19 June And 7 August
If you haven’t made any plans for Sunday 19 June or 7 August, we suggest you treat your tastebuds and book yourself a spot at Yoko for both evenings as two iconic chefs take over the kitchen for this exclusive B-Side series. In June, the well-known Martin Boetz from Melbourne’s Shortgrain will be teaming up with Yoko’s Leaham Claydon to bring you a Thai taste sensation like no other, while on 7 August it will be Christine Manfield hitting the pans for a night of creative Japanese feeds. Tickets are limited so make sure you grab yours here.
Brisbane Burger Fest
The Triffid, Newstead | Saturday 24 June
Ready your bellies, Brisbane's one and only festival dedicated to the mouth-watering goodness of burgers is returning to the Triffid. Making its first appearance since 2019, the Brisbane Burger Fest will have stacks of greasy goodness ready for you this June. The Triffid has dedicated its entire space for this one day event, with big contenders vying for the best Brissy burger. Ze Pickle, Remy’s, Brooklyn Depot, Firtzenburger and more will be flipping their creations just for you with an exclusive Burger Fest creation that you cannot miss. Local beers such as Stone and Wood will be on offer, along with live entertainment, a beer pong area, and games for the kids. Oh, and don’t forget the burger eating competition if you dare. Don’t be left drooling on social media, head to the Triffid this June for the return of this tasty festival. Find out more here.
Aperol Aperitivo Passport
Yoko Dining, Boundary Street | 14 April to 30 June
This autumn, we’ve teamed up with Aperol and some of our cities’ most convivial dining spots to celebrate the sheer joy of sharing meals and moments with friends—with an Aperol Spritz in hand. Kick off your feast at Yoko with fried soft shell crab bao bun, yuzu kosho mayonnaise, pickled kohlrabi, red mizuna and nori, but save some room if you want to try the ungodly amount of dishes on the Chef’s Menu guaranteed to send your tastebuds into a tizz.
Lifeline Bookfest
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | Saturday 17-Tuesday 20 June
Calling all bookworms and bargain shoppers, you won’t have to go browsing the shelves for a new read for the rest of the year after this one. It’s not often you get the chance to fill an entire bag full of books for under $20 but you can do just that at The Lifeline Bookfest. Running for four days in June at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, book prices start at $2.50 and you’ll be strapped for choice with everything available from cookbooks, fiction novels and even some special rare finds. Make sure you line up early—happy hunting.
Aretha
QPAC, South Brisbane | Tuesday 20 And Wednesday 21 June
Celebrating the Queen of Soul herself, a showcase dedicated to music icon Aretha Franklin, her life journey and her legacy is coming to Brisbane in June. Aretha is an unforgettable theatrical concert experience fans of the superstar will not want to miss out on, with Emma Donovan, Montaigne, Thandi Phoenix, Thndo and Ursula Yovich using their voices to celebrate the life and times of the global superstar. Tickets start at $88, and we suggest you get in fast because they won’t last long.
Dine BNE City
Multiple Locations | June 1-30
Calling all foodies, it’s time to embark on a month-long culinary journey with the return of Dine BNE City, which will be serving up a multitude of exclusive offers and mouth-watering dining experiences this June. Celebrate Brisbane’s best bars and restaurants with offers like ‘Let’s Do Lunch’ which will see you wining and dining the weekday at multiple venues, or sip your way through some iconic bars and hidden gems with the ‘Bar Safari’ deals. Of course, you can’t have a culinary journey without dinner and ‘Supper Club’ allows you to taste the town with special set dining menus from some of the best restaurants Brisbane has to offer. Talk about food coma. You can find more information here.
Lina Rooftop’s Winter Wonderland
Lina Rooftop, South Brisbane | 28 June to 27 August
With the cooler months upon us and lazing around in a pool not looking quite so appealing, Lina Rooftop is transforming their rooftop into a chic Winter Wonderland, filled with firepits, mulled wine and plenty of comfort food from 28 June to 27 August. There’ll even be custom-made private igloos which you can book out with five of your besties and cosy up in around a heater and mini bar, with twinkling fairy lights overhead. There’s two equally delicious sounding packages to choose from—the Igloo Fondue package, which includes a pot of cheese fondue with sides for dipping as well as chocolate fondue for dessert and a mulled wine on arrival for $79pp, or the Igloo Wonderland Package, with raclette instead of fondue and the option of a glass of bubbles instead of mulled wine for $99pp. Find out more and book yourself an igloo here.
Eat Local Month
Scenic Rim | 1 June-2 July
Calling all foodies, this one's for you. Australia’s most authentic food and farming event is back and for the entire month of June. Eat Local Month has something for food lovers of all ages, from workshops and masterclasses to farm tours and more. Just one hour’s drive from Brisbane, you can eat your way through various locations around the Scenic Rim, experiencing long lunches and decadent dinners whilst also exploring one of Queensland’s most picturesque locations. Mark these delicious dates in your calendar and check out the Eat Local Month Website for the full program releasing on April 20.
Moulin Rouge! The Musical
QPAC, South Brisbane | 16 May to 27 July
Arguably Luhrmann's magnum opus, the 2001 Moulin Rouge film follows a group of bohemians doing their best to keep a stage show alive. The ten-time Tony Award-winning theatre adaptation follows the same story, except with a heap more music, dancing, glitz and glamour—and it's coming to Brisbane in May 2023. Tickets are on sale now, so grab yours here. If you're keen to snap up one of the 'can-can' table seats and completely immerse yourself in the action, we suggest you get in quick—there's only a small number available for each show.
Winter Aprés Ski
YOT Club, Brisbane River | Until The End Of Winter
Chuck on your puffers and grab your mates because the YOT Club is transforming into an Aprés-worthy winter wonderland for the cooler months, with a series of day and night events on the calendar. On board you’ll find an exclusive Grey Goose pop-up bar with some chilly creations you can sip on whilst cruising down the Brisbane River, not to mention the hottest DJs taking over the decks and spinning some ice cold tracks for your entertainment. Don’t get cold feed, tickets are available now. Find out more here.
HSW Let’s Lunch
Howard Smith Wharves | 29 May- 25 August
Looking for a bit of flavour on your weekday lunch breaks? Gather up the office gang and head down to your favourite spot along Howard Smith Wharves between the 29 May and 25 August for some incredible winter lunch specials. Whether you’re in the mood for a seafood chowder and a brewski at Felons, baked eggplant parmigiana and live DJsesh at Mr Percivals or some delicious tortellini de carne with winter truffles and views to die for at Ciao Papi, there’s something on offer for everyone—and it will only set you back $25. Sounds better than a soggy sandwich, so count us in. Check out the full menu here and start blocking out your workday calendar.
Open Season
The Tivoli And The Princess Theatre | Throughout June And August
Are you ready to get your groove on this winter? It’s open season for live music quite literally, with the return of Brisbane’s iconic premier arts program Open Season. From May to August The Tivoli in Fortitude Valley and The Princess Theatre in Woolloongabba will be taken over by some unforgettable entertainment and a killer lineup featuring the likes of Thundercat, Kimbra and Winston Surfshirt to name a few, so grab your tickets here and get your best boogie shoes on.
Dinosaurs Of Patagonia
Queensland Museum, South Brisbane | 17 March To 2 October
If you were that kid with dinosaur-everything in your bedroom (or you’re the parent of one), you’re going to want to check out Queensland Museum’s big ticket exhibition for 2023. Dinosaurs Of Patagonia will feature some of the largest dinos to ever have walked the earth, including the colossal Patagotitan, the largest known land animal at an impressive 37 metres long and 70 tonnes. Hitting the museum on Friday 17 March, the exhibition will include fossils, full-scale casts of dinosaurs, 3D animations and videos. Even better, there'll be several adults-only After Dark nights if you want to explore the exhibition without having to deal with tiny dinosaur fanatics running around. And for those with tiny dinosaur fanatics there'll also be A Night At The Museum, where kids are welcome after the sun goes down.
Clay: Collected Ceramics
City Hall, Brisbane CBD | 13 May-22 October
Enter the world of ceramics as this stunning exhibition hitting Brisbane which celebrates all things clay. Combining works from the Museum of Brisbane’s collection, Kylie Johnson's personal collection, and over 300 pieces in Commune, the exhibition spans 60 years of creativity, with some works that have never been displayed before. Best of all, it’s completely free, so you can be inspired by the colourful array of ceramics as many times as you like. Find out more here.
What's On In Brisbane This Year
FIFA World Cup
Brisbane Stadium, Milton | July to August
Brisbane Stadium is set to be the home of countless cheers and screams when the FIFA Women’s World Cup touches down in mid-July. FIFA fans will be flocking to Queensland’s capital to eagerly watch England and Haiti duke it out on the field to kick off the eight-game run, with the Third Place Final set for August 19. Tickets are on sale now so round up your mates and mark your calendars.
The Beauty And The Beast Experience
South Bank, Redcliffe And Brisbane CBD | 1 July, 26 August, 30 September
CluedUpp, who you might recognise from their outdoor, immersive, escape room-style experiences like Alice In Wonderland and Cluedo, are back with a brand new themed experience, this one based on Beauty And The Beast. Hitting multiple locations around Brisbane on three separate dates, the event will have you wandering the city streets to complete challenges, interrogate fairytale characters and crack clues against the clock. All you need to participate is a phone and a team of six crack detectives—though costumes are encouraged. Tickets are available now and you can grab them for Brisbane, South Bank or Redcliffe.
The Pet Show
Brisbane Showgrounds | Saturday 1 And Sunday 2 July
Are you a dog person or a cat person? Or maybe even a bird person? Whichever one it may be, The Pet Show is an event dedicated to all of our favourite furry friends. It’s a day of fun meet and greets, treasure hunts, competitions and educational programs surrounded by the goodest boys. What more could we want, really? Find out more and grab your tickets here.
Disney On Ice: 100 Years of Wonder
Brisbane Entertainment Centre | 6-9 July
Prepare to sing ‘Let It Go’ at the top of your lungs as Disney on Ice returns to Brisbane this winter. For just three magical days, the entire Disney gang will be taking the ice at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, performing all your favourite songs, whilst showing off some incredible world-class skating. Step into the world of Coco, sail away with Moana and take a trip under the sea with Ariel in this not to miss show. Whilst this will get you brownie points with the kids, let's be honest, we all want to go sing along to some Disney classics. Tickets are on sale now and selling fast. Find out more here.
Urban Cocktail Trail
Fortitude Valley | Saturday 15 July
We love a good self-guided drinking trail, and even more so when it involves some creative cocktail concoctions. You can get your sip and stroll on for The Urban Cocktail Trail in Fortitude Valley on Saturday 15 July, with a heap of signature cocktails to sip your way through as you explore participating venues through the Valley at your own pace. You’ll even get a bite to eat to ensure you can last the afternoon—and possibly into the night. Find out more and get your tickets here.
Le Festival
Victoria Park / Barrambin, Herston | Friday 21-Sunday 23 July
After a three-year break, Le Festival is finally returning to Brisbane, giving you the chance to immerse yourself in all things French. Taking over Victoria Park / Barrambin for en entire weekend in July, the festival will feature a French market full of French food, homewares and lifestyle products, a French bar pouring—what else—champagne, an artists tent showcasing French creators and artisans and plenty of live music and entertainment. Tickets are $12 (or $15 at the gate) and children under 13 are free—find out more and grab your tickets here.
Fairy Tales
GOMA, South Brisbane | 2 December, 2023 to 28 April, 2024
There's nothing like a life-sized, magical art piece to grab our attention, and in December next year, GOMA will be taken over by just that. As a part of Fairy Tales, the blockbuster exhibition just announced for summer 2023/2024, a spectacular commission by Brazilian artist Henrique Oliveira that will transform the gallery into a gnarled and twisted woodland. Also on display as part of the exhibition will be painting, sculpture, installation, film, costume and design by artists including Yayoi Kusama, Jana Sterbak, Kiki Smith, Patricia Piccinni, Abdul Abdullah, Ron Mueck and Charles Blackman, all of it delving into the allure of fairytales.
Good Food & Wine Show
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | 27 to 29 October
Food, wine, cheese, cheese and more cheese—have we peaked your interest? There’s no better way to spend your weekend than a day out at the Good Food and Wine Show, with so much on offer from masterclasses, a specialty food market, free wine tasting, and of course cheese lane where you can wander through sampling delicious mozzarella, camembert and creamy brie ‘til your heart's content. The full details and stall line up are yet to be announced, but save the date and stay tuned for when tickets go on sale soon.
Cirque Du Soleil Crystal
Brisbane Entertainment Centre | July 21-23, 2023
You might have been wowed by Cirque Du Soleil’s impressive acrobatics in the past, but you’ve never seen them like this before. Crystal is the circus’s first ever show on ice, adding a whole new element of difficulty to their gravity-defying physical feats—and it’s coming to Brisbane in 2023. Taking place at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, it’s only here for five performances, so get your tickets now.
Ru Paul’s Drag Race: Werq The World
Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre | Wednesday 20 September
The queens of Ru Paul’s Drag Race are sashaying their way into Brisbane once again with the Werq The World world tour heading our way in September 2023. It’s only here for one night, so you’re going to want to save the date and snap up tickets fast if you want to catch all the glorious looks and black latex the show is promoting. Jaida Essence Hall, Aquaria, Kim Chi, Naomi Smalls, Plastique Tiara, Rosé, and Yvie Oddly will all be taking to the stage, and there’s VIP Meet & Greet Packages available as well. Check out the details and get tickets here.
Looking for weekend plans? Check out what’s on in Brisbane this weekend right here.
Image credit: Howard Smith Wharves, Urban List, Queensland Museum, Brisbane City Council, QAGOMA