Brisbane's Epic Line-up of Major Events
From show-stopping live performances to sporting showdowns, exclusive art exhibitions to foodie festivals, Brisbane is buzzing with major events and there’s a ticket waiting with your name on it.
Arts & Cultural Events
On The Banks | Feb - March
In the heart of Brisbane, On the Banks brings a stellar line-up of international and Australian acts to South Bank. Taking place between February and March, On the Banks will transform the QPAC Cultural forecourt into a vibrant outdoor live music venue with bars and catering on the Brisbane River, against the iconic backdrop of the city skyline. Featuring a diverse list of headliners and supporting artists, On the Banks brings a melting pot of alternative, pop, garage, R&B, and hip-hop sounds to the riverside.
World Science Festival Brisbane | March
Luminaries of science from across the world present the beauty, complexity and importance of science through diverse, multidisciplinary programming and conversations at this awe-inspiring event. The only city outside of New York to host this event, World Science Festival Brisbane allows you to engage in thought provoking discussions from some of the world’s foremost thinkers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
MJ The Musical | March - April
He is one of the greatest entertainers of all time. Now, Michael Jackson’s unique and unparalleled artistry lands in Brisbane with MJ The Musical. Focusing on the creative process prior to his globally praised ‘Dangerous World Tour’, this multi-award winning stage show takes audiences beyond the iconic moves and signature sounds of one of history’s most popular names, offering a rare look at the creative mind and collaborative spirit that catapulted Jackson into legendary status.
Brisbane Comedy Festival | April - May
Brisbane Comedy Festival delivers weeks of laughter each autumn, programming international acts, Australian favourites, and emerging comedians in venues all across Brisbane. From observational humour and thought-provoking political satire to absurdist styles and family friendly shows, the annual Brisbane Comedy Festival has something for everyone! Don’t miss your chance to experience some of the world’s best comedy this April and May.
The Last Ship featuring Sting | April - May
World renowned artist Sting brings his acclaimed musical The Last Ship to QPAC’s Glasshouse Theatre for its Southern Hemisphere debut in April. Inspired by his childhood in a shipbuilding community, the production weaves folk roots and powerful ballads into a stirring story of resilience and hope. Featuring hits like Island of Souls, All This Time and When We Dance, this incredible event - which is exclusive to Brisbane - is your chance to experience a true music legend performing his most personal work to date, live on stage.
Affordable Art Fair | May
Now’s the time to start making room on your wall, as the Affordable Art Fair returns to Brisbane in May, delivering exactly what its name promises: contemporary art from emerging and established artists priced for accessibility. This annual Affordable Art Fair is your chance to score the perfect piece for your most beloved space. So whether you’re a lover of lush landscapes, a sucker for a ceramic sculpture or just looking for something that moves you, chances are you’ll find something that suits your taste at this incredible event.
GOMA Friday Nights - Olafur Eliasson: Presence | May - June
Back by increasing popular demand, GOMA Friday Nights will once again return in 2026, transforming Queensland's premier gallery into an after-dark cultural destination where art, music, performances, and cocktails join forces in an atmosphere that galleries rarely achieve during daylight hours. With internationally acclaimed Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson’s blockbuster exhibition ‘Presence’ as the backdrop, QAGOMA invites you to immerse yourself in this multi-sensory art show, meet up with friends, and enjoy a drink as the sun goes down. Every Friday night across two months, GOMA Up Late will transform the way you think about and experience art in Brisbane.
The Book of Mormon | July - September
For the first time since 2019, The Book of Mormon will return to Brisbane and deliver what you'd expect when South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone tackle musical theatre: irreverent brilliance that somehow combines profanity, religious satire, and genuinely excellent song writing into a Tony Award-winning spectacle. Highly regarded as one of the greatest Broadway shows of all time, this cultural stage phenomenon will be showcased at Brisbane's QPAC, proving that musicals can be simultaneously hilarious and surprisingly thoughtful.
Brisbane Fashion Festival | August
Lighting up King George Square and City Hall Brisbane Fashion Festival is launching the latest Spring/Summer collections. Showcasing top Queensland designers alongside national and emerging talent, the Festival celebrates creativity, style, and the very best of local fashion through dazzling runway shows and events.
BIGSOUND | September
Music lovers, this one is for you. Each September, the annual BIGSOUND festival transforms Brisbane’s Fortitude Valley, becoming a mecca for new music discovery, with more than 150 acts descending on the city for several days of non-stop live music. This festival and conference operates across multiple venues, hosting simultaneous performances, industry panels on what's next in entertainment, one-of-a-kind parties in unique locations and secrets shows taking place without warning. From Flume and Courtney Barnett to Lime Cordiale and The Preatures, BIGSOUND has been the starting ground for countless Australian artists.
Brisbane Festival | September
Discover out-of-the-box creative and immersive experiences as Brisbane Festival invigorates the city with stunning international art and experiences. Kicking off with the electric Riverfire fireworks display and followed by a month of dazzling installations and performances, Brisbane Festival connects and inspires The City and beyond. Immerse yourself with hundreds of theatre, music and art performances guaranteed to entertain, inspire and delight.
Night At The Parkland | September
With its debut event drawing in more than 16,000 music lovers, Night at the Parkland returns to its home in the Roma Street Parklands. Set beneath the stars, this premium experience brings together some of Australia’s top artists, all performing in an iconic outdoor venue, providing a truly unique experience for music fans. This now iconic live music events brings incredible music, drinks, food and an electric atmosphere to Brisbane.
Make, Believe, Magic The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company | September
Celebrating 70 years of creativity and innovation, the exclusive-to-Brisbane exhibition Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ will be an unprecedented exploration of world-building and imaginative storytelling. Immense and immersive, the exhibition will explore Company’s dynamic trajectory from practical puppetry to today’s animatronic and digital innovations featuring work from iconic shows such as Fraggle Rock, The Muppets, Sesame Street, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
Brisbane Writers Festival | October
Bookworms and literature lovers assemble! One of Australia’s oldest continuously running writers’ events, the Brisbane Writers Festival returns once again to its home at the iconic Brisbane Powerhouse. A fixture on any literature lover’s calendar, this prestigious event features four days full of talks, workshops and discussions with local, national and internationally recognised authors.
MELT | October – November
MELT Festival celebrates LGBTQIA+ arts and culture across Brisbane with programming spanning performance, visual arts, music and comedy in one of the most iconic events. Held annually, the festival transforms venues across the city into spaces where artists, performers, and audiences gather for weeks of cultural celebration that's everything from playful to serious and just about everything in between. MELT is a true celebration of representation, diversity, inclusion and culture.
Brisbane International Film Festival | November
Get your popcorn ready, because the Brisbane International Film Festival is due to return in November. For over three decades, the Brisbane International Film Festival has connected audiences and industry with the world's leading filmmakers. Showcasing everything from indie gems and international premieres to filmmaker Q&A’s, it’s the perfect event for cinephiles and casual movie lovers alike.
QPAC | Year-Round Performances
Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) is Brisbane’s premiere performing arts centre located in the heart in the city’s cultural centre of South Bank. With an extensive program featuring the best performing arts productions year-round from ballet to plays, musicals to comedy, there is always an enthralling show to see at QPAC.
Year-Round Live Music
From day-long music festival takeovers to international and local-grown superstars, Brisbane is no stranger to epic live performances. With world-class music venues including open-air and river front stages to the intimate, refurbished Princess Theatre and the ever-popular Fortitude Music Hall, there’s no shortage of stages or stellar acts to enjoy.
Sporting Events
Squash Australian Open | March
The Australian Open Squash is set to deliver elite athletic performance. This international tournament brings world-ranked players to Brisbane's purpose-built squash court in the middle of the South Bank Piazza, featuring transparent court walls that enable viewing from every angle whilst maintaining the intensity that defines squash at elite levels. It's brutal athleticism meets chess-like strategy, endurance meeting explosive power, and proof that sometimes the most impressive sporting performances happen in relatively small spaces.
AusCycling Track National Championships | March
The AusCycling Track National Championships deliver velodrome racing where physics, tactics, and courage combine at speeds that seem reckless until you understand the precision behind every pedal stroke. Australia's best track cyclists converge on Brisbane's Anna Meares Velodrome (the same banked track producing Olympic champions) competing across sprint events demanding explosive power, endurance races requiring tactical brilliance under fatigue, and team pursuits where aerodynamic perfection meets split-second timing.
Brisbane Cycling Festival | March – April
Experience the largest multi-discipline cycling event in the number one cycling destination - Brisbane! Join thousands of riders as they bike through the city’s iconic streets for the Tour de Brisbane or watch on as the elite compete. From the top riders right through to mass participation events there is something for every cyclist to experience with Brisbane Cycling Festival.
Australian Youth Water Polo Championships | April
The Australian Youth Water Polo Championships bring more than 3000 of the nation's best young players to Brisbane to compete for national titles in a sport that manages to combine swimming endurance, basketball-like strategy, and physical fitness. Watch athletes tread water whilst executing precise passes, defending aggressively, and launching shots requiring power and accuracy under defensive pressure. The championships showcase water polo at youth level where today’s players are tomorrow’s Olympians. It's athletics meets strategy in the pool.
Tour De Brisbane | April
Tour De Brisbane transforms the city into a cyclists playground where riders tackle courses showcasing Brisbane's beauty and landscape from two wheels. Multiple distance options accommodate everyone from competitive cyclists chasing times to recreational riders experiencing Brisbane's best cycling routes. The routes wind along the Brisbane River, climb iconic hills, and navigate streets where riding alongside hundreds of other cyclists creates energy that solo training never replicates. It's mass participation cycling proving Brisbane's infrastructure and landscape suit two-wheeled exploration.
Australian Athletics Junior Championships | April
The Australian Athletics Junior Championships bring Australia's best young track and field athletes to Brisbane competing for national titles across sprints, distance events, jumps, throws, and multi-event competitions. Watch tomorrow's Olympic hopefuls chase personal bests, national records, and podium positions in competition showcasing athletic talent.
Masters Swimming National Championships | April – May
The Masters Swimming National Championships bring competitive swimmers from across Australia to Brisbane racing for national titles across sprint events, distance races, relays, and individual medleys. Despite being one of the most competitive sporting events on the Brisbane event’s calendar, Masters swimming thrives on community, personal improvement, and the kind of supportive competitive atmosphere where celebrating others' achievements doesn't diminish pursuing your own. Highly regarded as one of the most prestigious Masters Swimming events in Australia, the Masters Swimming National Championships is a massive five-day competition, celebrating the very best in swimming and community in the heart of Brisbane.
Women’s State of Origin | May
Women's State of Origin brings Queensland and New South Wales to Suncorp Stadium for a rugby league showdown that’s become a highlight of the Australian sporting calendar. Featuring the NRLW's top players proudly representing their home states, the Maroons and Blues go head-to-head in matches that showcase elite skill, fierce competition, and the trademark Origin intensity.
NRL Magic Round | May
NRL Magic Round transforms Brisbane into rugby league headquarters for one massive weekend as all 17 NRL teams converge on Suncorp Stadium. Across three days, every club plays their round, creating unprecedented access to Australian rugby league's best players, biggest rivalries, and most passionate supporters all gathered in one city. Whether you're a die-hard fan catching multiple matches or casual supporter experiencing the atmosphere, NRL Magic Round delivers rugby league saturation impossible to find any other weekend. Brisbane becomes pilgrimage site where you can watch almost 72 hours of non-stop football.
Torian Pro | May
Torian Pro brings elite CrossFit competition to Brisbane, as the world's best functional fitness athletes compete across three days of intense workouts, testing strength, endurance, skill, and mental toughness. Watch competitors tackle unknown challenges designed to find the fittest athletes on earth. Events unfold at Pat Rafter Arena where spectators witness the kind of athletic performance that redefines what human bodies can achieve under extreme fatigue.
Brisbane Marathon Festival | June
Marathons hit differently when Brisbane is your backdrop. This year, the Brisbane Marathon Festival brings runners of all levels to the city for Queensland's premier running event offering multiple challenge levels, from full marathon (42.2km) and half marathon (21.1km) to 10km runs, or 5.5km dashes. The courses also showcase Brisbane at its best with river views, iconic landmarks, and supportive crowds lining the streets cheering every runner from elite athletes chasing personal best’s to first-timers proving they can finish. No matter your goal, the festival delivers scenic routes and an atmosphere that makes covering distance alongside thousands of other runners genuinely special.
State Of Origin | June
Queensland versus New South Wales. State of Origin. The greatest rivalry in Australian sport comes to Suncorp Stadium for one game of the annual three-match series. This is not just regular football, it’s a battle where players bleed for State pride, where tackles hit harder and where 80 minutes can determine bragging rights that last until next year's series. Whether you're born-and-bred Queenslander or just appreciate elite sport played with genuine passion, Origin at Suncorp Stadium is an unmissable event.
Wallabies v France | July
A new era of Rugby Union arrives in Brisbane in 2026 as the mighty Wallabies take on France at Suncorp Stadium in one of the biggest matchups of the year. With both nations bringing proud rugby traditions and talented squads to the field, some of the world's best players are going head-to-head. You can expect hard-hitting contact, skilful execution, and the intense atmosphere that only international rugby union creates when these historic rivals compete.
The Guzzler Ultra | July
The Guzzler Ultra is Brisbane’s very own trail ultra. Designed to tests trail runners across 100km of Brisbane’s most challenging terrain, The Guzzler Ultra pushes endurance athletes through elevation gains, technical trails, and distances that make standard marathons look like warm-ups. Runners navigate bushland, climb steep ascents, and maintain pace through fatigue that only ultra-distance running creates. Whether competing for podium positions or personal achievement, participants tackle one of the most premier ultra-running events.
UCI BMX Racing World Championships | July
In July, the global stage shifts to Australia as Brisbane hosts the UCI BMX Racing World Championships. This year, The UCI BMX Racing World Championships brings the world's best BMX racers to Brisbane for explosive gate-to-finish competition where races last 40 seconds but deliver non-stop action. Watch elite athletes launch from 8-metre start hills, navigate jumps and berms at incredible speeds, and battle for world championship titles across age categories from juniors to elite professionals. BMX racing combines athletic power, technical skill, and split-second decision-making as riders jostle for position through tight corners and launch over obstacles. It’s short, fast, and unlike anything else you’ve seen before.
Bingham and Amanda Mark Cup | August
The Bingham Cup, officially known as the Mark Kendall Bingham Memorial Tournament, stands as the pinnacle of inclusive rugby worldwide, a celebration of courage, community, and the unifying power of sport. As the first Bingham Cup to be hosted in Brisbane, the tournament marks a major milestone for inclusive rugby in Australia, celebrating the spirit of competition, the bonds of community, and the belief that everyone deserves a place on the pitch. With over 42 teams and over 1,200 participants registered already, it’s shaping up to be one of the biggest editions ever!
Rugby League World Cup: Men's Australia vs Fiji | October
With the draw for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup released and anticipation building, now is the time to get ready for the ultimate match up, when Australia takes on Fiji at Suncorp Stadium this October, in a truly unmissable event for footy fans. While the Kangaroos enter with a squad stacked of NRL stars and decades of international dominance behind them, Fiji brings explosive Pacific Island talent, athletic brilliance, and the kind of fearless attacking that's capable of producing major upsets. It’s a match-up not to be missed.
Rugby League World Cup: Grand Final | November
The Rugby League World Cup; where nations clash, heroes rise, and legends are forged! With three tournaments, 14 nations, 26 teams, 53 matches, 31 days, it’s the most competitive, ambitious and anticipated Rugby League World Cup ever, and Brisbane has scored itself the final. Don’t miss your chance to witness history being made, right here in Brisbane at the iconic Suncorp Stadium.
Foodie Festivals
Scenic Rim Eat Local Month | June
Scenic Rim Eat Local Month transforms this agricultural hinterland into a culinary destination, celebrating what volcanic soil, elevation, and quality-focused farming produce: exceptional vegetables, artisan cheeses, boutique wines, and ingredients that make food special. It’s a month-long program that brings to life a celebration of paddock-to-plate experiences just an hour from Brisbane City. With one of the world's most scenic regions as the backdrop, Scenic Rim Eat Local Month has proved year after year why it’s one of Brisbane’s best foodie events.
DINE BNE City | June
With more than 60 of The City’s best restaurants, bars and café’s getting involved, Dine BNE City transforms Brisbane’s culinary landscape each year. Collectively serving up more than 100 exclusive offers, one-of-a-kind experiences and masterfully curated menus over four unmissable weeks, this annual event is when The City's dining scene truly takes centre stage.
James Street Food + Wine Trail | July
Big food, big flavour and big fun – it's the event taking over your palate and a full street. This celebration of food and drink sees James Street’s best restaurants and bars in accessible market stalls for one weekend only, showcasing their best and favourite offerings. This open-air experience is paired alongside live bands, DJs and kid’s activities running from McLachlan to Arthur Street.
Night Feast | July & August
When the Winter months set in, Brisbane locals keep themselves warm at the annual Night Feast. Each year the event transforms the iconic Brisbane Powerhouse's riverside location into an after-dark culinary destination where food trucks, art, live music, and heritage industrial architecture come together. Experience renown dishes from some of Brisbane best restaurants in market style surrounded by cultural installations and like minded foodies.
Family Friendly Events
Abbey Medieval Festival | July
Each year, Ipswich goes back in time to the 14th century, when Kings reigned supreme and peasants did their bidding. While you won’t find dragons here, the annual Abbey Medieval Festival is about as close as you’ll come to living out your medieval fantasy. The festival delivers full-contact jousting where horses charge and lances shatter authentically, archery competitions, combat demonstrations, and artisan markets showcasing blacksmithing, leatherwork, and crafts. There’s also food and drink options that would impress even the highest ruler in the land.
EKKA | August
Each year The Ekka is where agricultural heritage meets show bags, livestock judging meets carnival rides, and the entire state converges on the Showgrounds for ten days of sideshow fun. This 145-year tradition combines country show authenticity with pure entertainment and food stalls serving everything from dagwood dogs to gourmet offerings. The Ekka's magic lies in refusing to choose between educational agricultural showcase and pure nostalgic fun, delivering both simultaneously.
Bluey’s World | Ongoing
Bluey’s World is a one-of-a-kind immersive experience at the Northshore Pavilion in Brisbane, Queensland, where you can play the Bluey way - for real life! Embark on a brand-new immersive journey with Bluey, Bingo, Mum and Dad in their iconic Queenslander home, backyard and beyond. Explore your favourite rooms, play interactive games, and keep your eyes peeled for surprises around every corner…and maybe even a Longdog or two! Throughout 2026, Bluey’s World will offer Sensory Sessions. These will be conducted with reduced capacity and reduced stimuli. A comprehensive list of these sessions and times can be found here.
