What’s On In Brisbane This Week, This Month And Beyond
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.
Jump to:
- What's On In Brisbane This Week
- What's On In Brisbane This Month
- What's On In Brisbane This Year
- Theatre Shows Coming Up In Brisbane
What's On In Brisbane This Week
Festitalia
Image credit: Festitalia | Supplied
If you’ve ticked off most of Brisbane’s best Italian restaurants because you love everything Italian culture has to offer, chances are this festival will be right up your alley. Get your appetite ready because Festitalia is back for 2026, taking over Brisbane Showgrounds with wood-fired pizza, traditional espresso, handmade pasta, and no less than 10,000 cannoli.
And while the food absolutely takes centre stage, the program is packed with opera performances, Tarantella dancers, pizza acrobatics, awe-inspiring stilt walkers, Roman cooking classes, mozzarella-making workshops, vintage car displays and the ever-popular Nonna’s Slipper Throw. Your dad can even have a crack at the Best Dressed Italian Papa competition on the day. It’s a festival that stands to celebrate our Italian communities in Australia and a chance for you to dive headfirst into Italo food, music and culture. Early bird adult tickets are $22 a pop, concessions are $18 and children under $12 are free.
The Details
When: 20 September, 10.40am–5.40pm
Where: Brisbane Showgrounds, 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills
Get your tickets here.
The Good Weekend Retreat
Image credit: Sea Sea Hotel | Supplied
One of TIME World’s Greatest Places 2026, the Sea Sea Hotel in New South Wales’ breathtaking Crescent Head, is hosting a heavenly weekend retreat from 22 September through to 25 October. It’s hosted at Sea Sea, a beautifully reimagined 1970s beach motel, and has in store a weekend that will truly set you up to reset, recharge and shake off anything that might be weighing you down. You can fly solo or bring along a special someone to share the experience with.
Your retreat includes three nights' accommodation in a private room, a guided headland hike, daily yoga/pilates classes, a martini masterclass, a sound bath experience, and includes breakfast, lunch and dinner for every day of the retreat at the Sea Sea Kitchen led by Milan-born chef Sarah Bregaglio. Plus, you’re covered on the wine and beer front, too.
The rooms themselves are something to look forward to—fully open to the surrounding landscape with stone floors, large sliding doors, warm interiors and kitted out with vintage furnishings and original artwork.
The Details
When: 22 September to 25 October
Where: Sea Sea Hotel, 30-34 Pacific Street, Crescent Head, NSW
Make a reservation here.
Bluey’s Beach Day
Image credit: Bluey Frozen Treat | Supplied
Bluey will be hanging out in South Bank Parklands this weekend to celebrate the launch of the new Streets Bluey Frozen Treat. On Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September, kids can meet Brisbane’s favourite blue heeler at Streets Beach with plenty of free activities to enjoy including ring toss, a sandpit adventure hunt and a beach flag relay.
There will be Streets Ice Cream Carts on hand giving away a free Bluey Frozen Treat to those who complete four mini challenges and collect stamps on their Beach Map, which you can pick up from any of the carts. No tickets required, simply swing on by.
The Details
Where: Streets Beach, South Bank
When: 10am to 2pm, 19 and 20 September
Find out more here.
Sparkbloom
Image credit: Sparkbloom | Claudia Baxter
A splash of pink has burst into Brisbane Quarter this September in the form of a new installation inspired by explosive fireworks and the unmistakable silhouette of palm trees. Sparkbloom is free to check out, but while you’re there we recommend trying one of the limited-edition Brisbane Festival dishes from Brisbane Quarter’s resident restaurants, like mushroom dumplings at Brisbane Phoenix, Persone’s glittering tiramisu and the Thai Pink Milk by Phat Boy.
The Details
Where: Brisbane Quarter
When: Until 28 September
Find out more here.
Jon Rafman: Memento Hikikomori
Image credit: Josef Ruckli. Courtesy Institute of Modern Art
Canadian artist Jon Rafman is bringing his first institutional solo exhibition in Australia to the Institute of Modern Art. Memento Hikikomori ventures into the darker corners of digital culture, examining how technology shapes memory, identity and our increasingly online lives.
The free exhibition brings together some of Rafman’s best-known works, including Nine Eyes, which unearths strange and deeply human moments from billions of Google Street View images, alongside Main Stream Media Network, an evolving AI-generated television channel that plays like an MTV broadcast from a parallel dimension. AI-generated paintings, secluded video-viewing pods and key films spanning almost two decades complete the unsettling survey of his practice.
The Details
When: From Saturday 18 July 2026
Where: Institute of Modern Art, Fortitude Valley
Find out more here.
Dinos Alive
Image credit: Dinos Alive | Supplied
An absolute blast from the past is coming to Brisbane, with more than 40 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 30 September
Where: Skygate Precinct, Brisbane Airport
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 October
Where: Fever Hub Brisbane, 123 Gotha Street, Fortitude Valley
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 September
Where: 123 Gotha Street, 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
Where: QAGOMA, 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. Tickets go on sale 5 August, but you can sign up for the waitlist here.
The Details
When: Until 29 November
Where: 162 Alfred St, Fortitude Valley
Find out more here.
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.
See what else is on this weekend right here.
What's On This Month
Botanic By Night
Image credit: Botanic By Night | Facebook
Mt Coot-tha’s lush gardens are set to come alive after dark with a new light trail. Discover glowing native animals throughout the Botanic Gardens across a lantern-lit journey with works by contemporary First Nations artists adorning each animal—representing their unique totems and stories. Keep your eye out for the ibis (or bin chicken if you prefer) and green tree frog made bespoke for Brisbane.
The experience has been shaped with existing flora and fauna in mind, using established pathways and low-impact lighting according to expert ecological advice, alongside a gentle soundscape featuring traditional instruments like the didgeridoo. The experience is $25 per person for locals ($12.50 for children aged 3-12). If you live outside the Brisbane LGA, it’s $30 for adults and $15 for children. Nab your tickets here.
The Details
Where: Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha
When: Friday 25 September to Saturday 10 October
Find out more here.
La Macelleria x 5 Senses Coffee
Image credit: La Macelleria | Instagram
Coffee and gelato, the holy grail of Italo combos. But what if you could eat your daily caffeine dose in a couple of creamy spoonfuls? Now you can, for one day only. Authentic gelato royalty, La Macelleria, is teaming up with 5 Senses Coffee to scoop a very special coffee gelato. It’s using one of the world’s most sought-after coffee varieties called Finca Las Flores. Each serving contains the intensity of two-and-a-half espresso shots, which means you can ditch your morning brew on this one occasion.
It came about after owner Matteo’s adventure to 5 Senses HQ, tasting his way through an abundance of rare beans designed to make gelato. Using his expertise and mastery, he landed on one coffee bean that’s making its gelato debut on Saturday 10 October.
There’ll only be 100 scoops available, and once it’s gone, it’s finito. Get it at La Marcelleria Gelateria in West End. Stay up to date with more details on their Instagram here.
The Details
When: 10 October
Where: La Macelleria Gelateria, Shop 5/321 Montague Road, West End
Cop a sneak peek here.
Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards
Image credit: Maria Pena, Quiet Mornings | Supplied
What does an ordinary day in Brisbane look like? For the more than 2,200 locals who entered the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards, it might be a dash through the CBD rain, an afternoon chat over the fence or a sprinkler and trampoline in the height of summer. Open to anyone who lives, works or studies in Brisbane, this year’s competition centred on the theme Everyday Brisbane, capturing the familiar places, people and passing moments that give the city its character.
Gordon Park photographer Tyler Sharman took out the Open Category with Rush Hour, photographing a lone pedestrian racing to escape a downpour at the corner of Edward and Adelaide Streets. Nigel Wesley’s portrait of neighbours chatting in Wynnum placed second, while Jonathan Wood came third with Australia, a nostalgic snapshot of a child playing beneath a sprinkler on a Bulimba summer day. Other winners turn their lenses towards Riverfire’s low-flying Super Hornet, two cheeky sulphur-crested cockatoos in The Gap and friends crossing the dormant fountains outside Queensland Art Gallery after dark.
The Details
When: 1 August to 1 November 2026
Where: Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane CBD
Find out more here.
Candlelight: Hans Zimmer’s Best Works
What’s better than listening to the scores by one of the world’s greatest film composers? Listening to them in a beautiful cathedral lit by candlelight. Hans Zimmer’s best works will be performed by a live string quartet at St John’s Cathedral in the CBD, including themes from Inception, The Lion King, Interstellar, The Dark Knight, and Pirates of the Caribbean. To say it’s a magical experience is a true understatement, so make sure you grab your tickets before they sell out here.
The Details
When: 5 and 24 September, 16 October, 7 November
Where: St John’s Cathedral, Brisbane CBD
Find out more here.
Rachel Burke at Brisbane Powerhouse
Image credit: Flower. Puppy. Show. | Supplied
Brisbane’s very own colourful queen Rachel Burke is set to take over Brisbane Powerhouse with her signature bold art and playful aesthetics as their Artist in Residence. Spanning this year and the next, the kitschy creative will be hosting shows and workshops—all designed as a beautiful celebration of individuality.
Opening with a surrealist live music performance named ‘Flower. Puppy. Show.’ from 6 to 8 August, Burke is teaming up with Patience Hodgson featuring handmade fashion and a craft activation inspired by vintage swap cards, ornaments and (of course) puppies. On 22 August Burke will guide a junk jewelling session where you can learn how to transform discarded trinkets and broken jewellery into gorgeous wearable pieces. On 17 October, the spotlight turns to handmade zines, as you create your own unique self-published piece embracing imperfection and intuitive making. On 12 December, you can make a custom rosette or badge to wear with pride using textiles, ribbons and found materials. Then the program concludes on 20 February 2027 with a retro-inspired Melty Bead Keychain Workshop to gift or keep as a personal talisman.
There’s limited capacity in each session so make sure to book your spot ASAP here.
The Details
When: August 2026 to February 2027
Where: Brisbane Powerhouse
Find out more here.
The Jury Experience
Image credit: The Jury Experience | Supplied
It’s time to put all that Law & Order knowledge to the test with this immersive new theatre experience that depends entirely on your decisions. You’re invited into the courtroom where you and your peers will play jury—voting on which evidence is admissible, which testimonies hold up, and what verdict is delivered. Plus, the cases aren’t just your average traffic stop. You can expect thought-provoking moral dilemmas that will stick with you long after the case is closed. Will justice be served? You be the judge. Book your spot here.
The Details
When: 20 August, 25 September
Where: Old Museum, Bowen Hills
Find out more here.
What's On This Year
Valley Fiesta
Image credit: Valley Fiesta | Supplied
Fortitude Valley’s iconic free street party returns this October for its 30th anniversary, and they’re celebrating in the best kind of way. 30+ acts will be taking over stages across Warner Street and Brunswick Street Mall on Saturday 3 October from the arvo into the night. ARIA-winner Baker Boy is headlining, joined by Radium Dolls, Becca Hatch, Selve, Sleepazoid and more. Oh, and did we mention it’s free?
The Details
Where: Warner Street and Brunswick Street Mall, Fortitude Valley
When: 1pm to 10pm, Saturday 3 October
Find out more here.
Catch Shouse Live At W Brisbane
Melt Festival
Image credit: Melt Festival Brisbane Powerhouse | Supplied
Melt Festival returns to Brisbane/Magandjin this spring, bringing over 100 queer arts and culture events to more than 50 venues. Big names like Courtney Barnett, Melanie C, TEEKS and Jude York are involved, but the biggest draw might be a five-storey-high hot-pink duck. Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s famous Rubber Duck is coming to Australia for the first time, bobbing along the Brisbane River/Maiwar before starring in the River Pride Parade on Saturday 24 October.
Expect themed party boats, riverside activations and a free Opening Party at Brisbane Powerhouse. And in a city first, there’ll be a Brisbane Pride Rally, March and Fair Day joining the festivities for one enormous Pride Saturday.
Elsewhere, Circa premieres Show Me Love, an immersive acrobatic journey through Brisbane Powerhouse’s hidden corridors, while new drag competition Mr First Nation celebrates Blak excellence. There’s also free participatory art, Heated Rivalry Trivia, Queer PowerPoint chaos, local music and so much more.
The Details
When: Wednesday 21 October to Sunday 8 November
Where: Across Brisbane/Magandjin
Learn more here.
Scribble Station
Image credit: Museum of Brisbane | Sunday Jemmott
Got the creative itch? The Museum of Brisbane invites you to the Scribble Station as part of the Melt Festival 2026 and their decade-long Artist in Residence program with Sunday Jemmott. She’s a dynamic emerging artist known for her colourful work that radiates joy and self-expression. And that’s exactly what Scribble Station is—a fun opportunity to dive into your creative side. Draw, colour, cut, stick and glue your very own piece of work alongside Jemmott.
The workshops are a free, all-age friendly situation with zero bookings required, running on select dates throughout October and November at the Museum of Brisbane. Plus, your masterpiece will land a spot in Jemmott’s Scribble Sanctuary exhibition, opening early 2027.
The Details
When: 10am–1pm on 21 October, 28 October, 4 November, 8 November
Where: Museum of Brisbane, Level 3, City Hall
Learn more here.
All Night Long
Image credit: All Night Long | Pixel Punk
Strap on your walking shoes and get your caffeine ready because Queenland’s largest overnight charity walk, is back on the cards for October. Choose from a 42km marathon or 21km walk through Brisbane to raise vital funds for the Ronald McDonald House South East Queensland and the Children’s Hospital Foundation.
Starting when the sun sets and wrapping at the break of dawn, the mighty All Night Long kicks off with live music, entertainment, pit stops, coffee trucks, food stands and community activations running throughout the course. You can take on the challenge solo or team up with friends, family or colleagues to raise life-saving funds together.
It’s inaugural year completely sold out with 1,600 walkers and runners taking on the overnight challenge, successfully raising over $1 million. Round up a crew or sign up yourself for 24 October now.
The Details
When: 24 October
Where: City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane
Register here.
Good Food & Wine Show
Image credit: Good Food & Wine Show | Supplied
The three-day extravaganza dedicated to good food and good wine is back on the cards for October—and it comes with two exciting new additions and over 300 exhibitors. Welcome to Bakers Alley, the Good Food & Wine Show’s dedicated bakery precinct that brings together the country’s top culinary pastry chefs and independent bakeries to one spot. There’ll be exclusive bakes up for grabs you won’t be able to get anywhere else, just like executive chef Andrew Ballard’s Japanese-inspired Lamington.
If you want to get your hands dirty and learn some tricks of the trade, the all-new Cooking School is where you’ll want to be. Each 45-minute session is run by a star chef where you can learn and cook from the pros, then enjoy the fruits of your labour to take home.
Meanwhile, the usual roster of experiences will be making an exciting return for 2026. Good Eat Street is packing a punch with crispy fried chicken, crepes and loaded tacos among many more delicious bites; The Good Food Kitchen live cooking demo stage is back; Drinks Lab will be running free daily tasting sessions with a top sommelier; and the Wine Pavilion and the Cheese Corner will be stocked and ready for you. If you want the VIP treatment, the VIP Lounge grants you priority entry into the show, prime seats at the Good Food Kitchen, five free bevvies and a fancy VIP gift.
Tickets are now available to purchase ahead of the delicious weekend in October.
The Details
When: 23–25 October
Where: Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, Grey Street, South Brisbane
Purchase tickets here
Strummingbird Festival
Strummingbird Festival is back for its second year, touring a stacked lineup of American country stars and homegrown heroes across regional Aus. Topping the bill is cross-genre superstar Post Malone, bringing his Nashville-inspired F-1Trillion to the stage. On support duties are the likes of Bailey Zimmerman, Cooper Alan, Jindabyne local Brad Cox and Cigarettes @ Sunset—plus a stack more on the mammoth program.
Kicking off in Ballarat on 10 October, before heading north to Newcastle on 17 October and finishing the run on the Sunshine Coast on 18 October, it’s set to be a toe-tapping, head-banging boogie. We don’t need to tell you that country’s having a comeback, so make sure to grab your presale tickets here on 13 May to lock in the best price.
The Details
When: 18 October
Where: Kawana Sports Precinct, 31 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina
Find out more here.
A Nostalgic Night With Macaulay Culkin
Image credit: Home Alone | Netflix
For anyone whose favourite Christmas tradition is rewatching Home Alone, we have big news. *The* Macaulay Culkin is coming to Brisbane for a very special anniversary screening of the holiday classic, including a live in-conversation where he’ll share behind-the-scenes stories and open up for audience questions.
It’s all going down at Fortitude Music Hall on Tuesday 24 November, with tickets on sale from 11am Wednesday 23 September (you can register for presale here). It’s an all-ages event that’s sure to be full of laughter and nostalgia, so don’t miss out.
The Details
Where: Fortitude Music Hall
When: Tuesday 24 November
Find out more here.
Carreras & Friends
Image credit: José Carreras | Supplied
One extraordinary night of live music is happening at The Gabba this December that’s going to have goosebumps at an all-time high. José Carreras—one of the world’s most celebrated tenors—will be hosting an Australian exclusive concert, inspired by the legendary Pavarotti & Friends extravaganzas. Joining him will be superstars of music like Robbie Williams, Ronan Keating, Natalie Imbruglia, Darren Hayes, and vocal quartet Il Divo. Yep, it’s insane.
This isn’t a traditional concert but rather a spectacular open-air evening of incredible collaborations. The acclaimed artists will be on stage for duets with Carreras and solo performances of their own hits, backed by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and choir. Tickets go on sale to the general public from Monday 15 June at 10am, but you can sign up for presale access here.
The Details
When: 5 December
Where: The Gabba
Find out more here.
Looking for weekend plans? Check out what’s on in Brisbane this weekend right here.
Image credit: Museum of Brisbane | Supplied
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