The Ultimate Brisbane Festival Guide
Looking for the best things to do during Brisbane Festival 2026? From can't-miss Brisbane Festival events and Riverfire, to world-class dining, accommodation and cultural attractions, this three-day itinerary helps you experience the best of Brisbane this September during Brisbane Festival.
Day one
Afternoon
Before you arrive, it's worth browsing the Brisbane Festival program and securing tickets for the performances you don't want to miss, with many of the biggest shows selling out early.
Once you’re in town, it’s time to check in to your accommodation and settle in for a dazzling few days immersed in Brisbane's arts and culture scene. Whether you're checking into the art-filled Crystalbrook Vincent beneath the Story Bridge, the effortlessly cool Calile Hotel on James Street, or the fashion-forward W Brisbane in The City, you'll be perfectly placed to explore the festival's heart and soul. Prefer something with a bit of edge? The boutique Ovolo The Valley brings colour and character to the heart of Fortitude Valley, while Emporium Hotel South Bank puts the parklands and QAGOMA on your doorstep. For space to spread out, Avani Living Queen's Wharf Residences sits right at The City's glittering Queen's Wharf precinct.
After dropping your bags, it's time to start your festival experience. On Friday 4 September, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra sets the festival in motion with Maestro 6: La Mer, a sweeping, sea-inspired concert that captures the ever-shifting moods of the ocean. Over at the Festival Village in South Bank, The Choir of Man turns the world's best pub into a feel-good night of song, dance and community spirit, while Strong is the New Pretty and the heartfelt Koreaboo bring bold, moving theatre to the program's first fortnight.
Evening
When the sun has officially set on day one of your Brisbane adventure and it’s time for dinner, you’re spoilt for choice, with a wave of new openings across Brisbane City. Seek out The French Exit for authentically cosy French cuisine in a Parisian bistro themed nook, savour the vibrant Middle Eastern flavours at Golden Avenue, or indulge in refined modern Korean fare at SUUM.
Also dotted across The City, you can also find a host of dining spots that consistently top the list of every foodie; Naldham House is perfect for classic European flair, The Fifty Six for refined Cantonese plates in an elegant setting, and Walters for incredible steak and an immaculate wine list.
For Asian flavours, a vibrant mix of modern dining and hidden laneway gems are found within The City. Discover contemporary Asian plates at Longwang, or venture underground to Central, a secret restaurant serving Chinese flavours beneath the glow of a disco ball, and, tucked away in Burnett Lane, Hideki pairs modern Japanese cuisine with inventive Japanese-inspired cocktails.
If you’ve timed your trip with the opening weekend, be sure to stop and watch Riverfire. This exciting fireworks spectacle will paint the night sky in colour, lighting up the Story Bridge, South Bank and the surrounding city skyline. Beyond the fireworks show, Brisbane Festival also delivers incredible live music, with Night at the Parkland taking over the Roma Street Parklands from 11 - 20 September, hosting everyone from PNAU to Missy Higgins.
Day two
Morning
Fuel up for a day of adventure with coffee and pastries at one of Brisbane’s best bakeries. Scattered across Brisbane, these local gems are never far, just follow the irresistible smell of buttery, flaky goodness, often just a short walk away from your accommodation. Prefer a sit-down breakfast? Brisbane has no shortage of standout cafés, whether it's The Green on James Street, Café Disco, Morning After in West End or Mulga Bills in The City.
You'll need the energy because some of the best things to do in Brisbane take place in September, from blockbuster exhibitions and boutique shopping to nights of unforgettable performances at Brisbane Festival.
Midday
Begin your cultural crawl with a visit to one of Brisbane's beautiful museums. Start at Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) in South Bank, home to Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company, an immersive, Brisbane-exclusive journey through the imagination of the studio behind The Muppets, Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. It's bold, playful and unlike anything else in the country.
From there, keep the momentum going at the Institute of Modern Art, whose sharp contemporary program never plays it safe, and the Museum of Brisbane, where the city's own stories, history and creativity take centre stage.
If you’re in need of a new outfit for one of the upcoming events, take the opportunity to experience Brisbane’s open-air shopping precincts. Find luxury brands and international retailers in the heart of Brisbane City, at Queen Street Mall. Spend a few hours browsing through over 500 brands that feature in this mall, spoiling you for choice. For Australian brands and boutique stores, James Street is the hub for fashionistas. Or for unique and quirky finds, we recommend strolling through the suburban streets of Paddington.
Later in the afternoon, make sure to carve out an hour to climb one of Brisbane’s most iconic structures with the Story Bridge Adventure Climb. Here you can enjoy 360- degree views of the city skyline and beyond, with one of their unique climb packages.
Evening
When the sun dips below the horizon on day two of your Brisbane Festival adventure, it’s time to kick things into high gear. Before the shows officially start, there’s time for a quick tipple. Thankfully, Brisbane is home to some memorable wine and cocktail bars. The Gresham is an institution which has been serving some of Brisbane‘s best drinks for decades, while venues like Death & Taxes hide moody, low-lit lounges down Burnett Lane, and Bar Miette pours European-inspired cocktails with perfect Story Bridge views. For something more intimate, seek out Maker, Brisbane's smallest bar with some of its biggest cocktails, or settle into a glass of something interesting at Fountainhead Wine House, tucked down a Newstead driveway.
Now - it’s showtime. Mid-festival, the Brisbane Powerhouse hosts Scorched Earth, a gripping part-crime-drama, part-psychological-thriller that blurs dance and theatre, Dead as a Dodo, which is an epic battle between life and death, and Werewolf - a gripping blend of thriller and dark comedy.
Day three
Morning
Ease into Sunday with a gentle start at one of Brisbane's bustling weekend markets. The Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Milton Markets or the West End Markets, to name a few, are packed with fresh produce, live music and strong coffee, the essentials after a night out. Wander through the stalls and snack your way through breakfast with a pastry (or three) in hand.
If you'd rather trade the city for something greener, start the day with the animals at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, the world's oldest and largest koala sanctuary, get up close with koalas and kangaroos whilst you discover more than 100 native species. Alternatively, make for Mount Coot-tha, just fifteen minutes from The City, where the lookout serves up the full panorama of Brisbane, the bay and the islands beyond. Stretch the visit out with a wander through the neighbouring Brisbane Botanic Gardens and their tropical dome, Japanese garden and rainforest walks.
Midday
If you're craving a bit of movement, sign up for a Riverlife Adventure and kayak down the Brisbane River or abseil the Kangaroo Point Cliffs for one of Brisbane's most memorable adventures. Or, if speed is more your thing, jump on a jet ski with Jet Ski Tours Brisbane and zip across the water as you watch Brisbane's cityscape fly by.
Prefer to keep things leisurely? Hop aboard a CityCat and let the river do the work, gliding past South Bank, New Farm and the university before hopping off wherever catches your eye. South Bank, the riverside parklands are made for a slow afternoon, with the man-made Streets Beach lagoon, leafy boardwalks and plenty of spots to cool off. For one last dose of culture the Festival Village is filled with activities to see, do and feel - or see it all from a birds eye view on the Wheel of Brisbane.
Evening
Before the curtain falls on your trip, treat yourself to one last unforgettable meal. For pure spectacle, STILTS perches ten metres above the river atop the Kangaroo Point Bridge, Queensland's first restaurant on a bridge, while Stanley serves adventurous Cantonese in a stunning two-storey space at Howard Smith Wharves. For a moody, memorable finale, descend into the Boom Boom Room, an opulent supper club hidden in a heritage bank vault, serving yakitori and sashimi alongside live soul, jazz and burlesque.
If you're chasing spectacle after dinner, ESCAPE by DIAVOLO delivers a gravity-defying fusion of acrobatics, dance and moving architecture at QPAC, while the free, world-premiere Bright Nights by ANZ turns the riverside into a symphony of water, light and sound every evening of the festival.
Round things off in true Brisbane style at the Spiegel tent, where Piano Man gathers the crowd around a piano for a wild late-night singalong. Then raise a final toast to the city that wakes with the sun and rarely wants the night to end.
Beyond the Festival
After an action-packed few days of Brisbane Festival, it's worth carving out a little time to slow down. An hour in almost any direction, you'll find the perfect place to unwind.
For sun, sand and sea, Moreton Island/Mulgumpin is closer than you'd think. On the world's third largest sand island you can snorkel the Tangalooma Wrecks, sandboard the towering dunes, or simply find a quiet stretch of beach and do absolutely nothing for a while.
If lush and green is more your speed, the World Heritage-listed Scenic Rim is just an hour's drive away. Think rainforest walks and waterfalls, mountain-air lookouts, and long, lingering afternoons at the region's wineries, distilleries and farm-gate eateries. It's the ideal full stop on a festival well spent.
