Arts & cultural events

PRECIOUS | NOW - 2027
Prepare to be amazed with Museum of Brisbane's exhibition, Precious, showcasing the most awe-inspiring collections across Brisbane with more than 3,000 items from around 30 remarkable collections and collectors. From international dolls to Queensland Rugby League memorabilia, model ships to ornamental eggs, immerse yourself in the incredible stories of some of the prolific collectors of Brisbane, and get to know what makes a keepsake and collectible truly Precious.   

THE BOOK OF MORMON | 31 JUL - 6 SEPTEMBER
Australia's biggest ever musical comedy show returns to QPAC's Glasshouse Theatre with the outrageous show that's been called "the best musical of this century" by The New York Times and "the funniest musical of all time" by Entertainment Weekly.  

BIGSOUND FESTIVAL | 1 - 4 SEPTEMBER 
Australia's most important music showcase festival returns to Fortitude Valley for four days and nights of live music again in 2026. Every September, BIGSOUND transforms Brisbane's live music heartland into a hub for the country's most exciting emerging artists. With hundreds of performances across the Valley's iconic venues and a packed conference program, BIGSOUND remains the essential destination for anyone who loves live music.

BRISBANE FESTIVAL | 4 - 26 SEPTEMBER 
For three weeks every September, Brisbane Festival transforms the city into a stage, filling parks, theatres, streets and the Brisbane river with world-class performances, bold new works and unforgettable spectacle. As one of Australia's largest and most celebrated arts festivals, Brisbane Festival brings together the finest local, national and international artists across theatre, dance, circus, music and large-scale events, culminating in the spectacular Riverfire. Whether you're a first-timer or a Festival regular, there's no better time to experience Brisbane at its most alive.

MAKE, BELIEVE, MAGIC - THE WORLDS OF THE JIM HENSON COMPANY | 12 SEPTEMBER 2026 - 18 APRIL 2027
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 the Company’s dynamic trajectory from practical puppetry to today’s animatronic and digital innovations, and will feature hundreds of objects from Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth, the Muppets and Sesame Street.

ESCAPE - ARCHITECTURE IN MOTION | 23 – 27 SEPTEMBER 
Blending elements of circus, experimental dance and physical theatre, ESCAPE – which makes it’s Brisbane debut as part of Brisbane Festival this September – is a live dance performance like nothing you’ve seen before. 

MELT FESTIVAL | 21 OCTOBER – 8 NOVEMBER 
Brisbane's biggest celebration of Queer arts and culture returns in 2026, with 100+ events across 70+ venues. With a city-wide program that spans landmark public art, world premieres, headline concerts, spectacular river celebrations and powerful new Queer storytelling, Melt Festival will once again transform Brisbane into one of Australia’s most vibrant destinations for art & culture.

RIVER PRIDE PARADE | 24 OCTOBER
For its third, and arguably biggest year yet, Brisbane’s iconic celebration of LGBTQIA+ arts and culture returns to the Brisbane River in October 2026 as part of Melt Festival. With a colourful flotilla of boats and watercraft cruising from West End to Brisbane Powerhouse, join thousands as they gather along the river to celebrate pride in all its colourful glory. 

THE LION KING | 15 NOVEMBER – 07 MARCH 2027
Having completely sold-out its entire 19 week run in Brisbane in 2014, the world’s number one musical – The Lion King – returns to Brisbane in 2026 bringing with it the spectacle, artistry and unforgettable music that has redefined musical theatre on a global scale.

Festivals & live shows

NIGHT AT THE PARKLAND | 11 - 20 SEPTEMBER
Back by popular demand, Night at the Parkland returns to the spectacular Roma Street Parkland Amphitheatre for a collection of unforgettable nights of live music under the stars. With great food and drink on offer and a laid-back atmosphere set against one of Brisbane’s best backdrops, this family-friendly event has grown to become of Brisbane’s most beloved events. 

HANS ZIMMER | 20 - 21 OCTOBER
Having sold out his previous three Australian tours, Oscar and Grammy-winning composer Hans Zimmer returns to Brisbane this October. Armed with a visionary new arena production, Zimmer’s new show will take audiences through his back catalogue, with iconic tracks from Interstellar, Dune and Bladerunner 2049 to Inception, The Lion King and Top Gun: Maverick.  

LILY ALLEN | 23 OCTOBER
British pop maverick Lily Allen returns to Australia this year for a one off show at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, making her biggest Australian headline show in seven years. In support of her most recent record, which has received global praise, the British icon will be performing West End Girl in full and in order.  

FOO FIGHTERS | 5 NOVEMBER
One of the biggest and most beloved rock bands of all time returns to Suncorp Stadium for a stadium-shaking night of pure rock power. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Foo Fighters bring their Take Cover World Tour to Brisbane, delivering the marathon, career-spanning performances they're legendary for.

JACK JOHNSON | 6 – 8 NOVEMBER 
For the first time since 2022, iconic acoustic-roots performer Jack Johnson returns to Australia for three massive headline shows in Brisbane, supported by fellow music icons John Butler and Ben Harper. In addition to showcasing hits from his extensive back catalogue, Johnson’s upcoming shows in Brisbane will also feature brand new tracks from his laid-back new record.

JOJI | 11 NOVEMBER 
For this first time in since appearing on stage at Laneway Festival in 2023, Japanese-American singer Joji will land in Brisbane, armed with a brand-new album and a back catalogue filled with his unique brand of lo-fi, emotionally crushing tunes.

KHALID | 11 NOVEMBER
Six years since his last tour, R&B-pop superstar Khalid brings the full-circle moment to Riverstage this November, with his first Brisbane performance since 2019.

IRON MAIDEN | 18 NOVEMBER 
After fifty years of galloping basslines, dual guitar harmonies, and pure on-stage chaos, Iron Maiden return to Brisbane. Celebrating their 50th anniversary, the British metal icons will take the stage in Brisbane at the Entertainment Centre with thrash titans Megadeth in tow.

ROBBIE WILLIAMS | 20 NOVEMBER
Global pop phenomenon Robbie Williams brings his authentic, emotionally intelligent, and refreshingly honest energy back to Brisbane in 2026 for a massive show at Suncorp Stadium. For the first time since 2018, Robbie Williams will take the stage in Brisbane, performing a mixture of iconic hits from his back catalog as well as tracks from his brand new album Britpop.

J. COLE | 25 NOVEMBER
Hip hop royalty returns to Brisbane Entertainment Centre for his first solo headline tour in five years - and his first full global arena run in nearly a decade. Grammy-winning rapper and producer J. Cole brings The Fall-Off Tour in support of his seventh and final studio album The Fall-Off.

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB | 25 NOVEMBER
Northern Irish indie charmers Two Door Cinema Club bring the nostalgia train to Riverstage in Brisbane this November, where they'll be performing their era-defining 2010 debut Tourist History in full for the first time since it's release over a decade ago.

GUNS N’ ROSES | 5 DECEMBER 
Having completed a massive run of dates across Europe, Asia and Latin America in 2025, global rock superstars Guns N’ Roses will land in Brisbane on 5 December at Suncorp Stadium, marking their first Australian performance in more than four years.

CARRERAS & FRIENDS | 5 DECEMBER
Hosted by legendary tenor José Carreras on his 80th birthday at The Gabba, this once-in-a-lifetime global music event brings together some of the world’s most iconic artists, including Robbie Williams, The Corrs, Ronan Keating and Ann Wilson in a live collaboration. 

GOOD THINGS FESTIVAL | 6 DECEMBER
Australia's favourite alternative music festival returns for its seventh massive edition this December. Since launching in 2018, the festival has established itself as one of Australia's biggest live music events, dedicated to highlighting rock, punk, metal and alternative music. 

WOODFORD FOLK FESTIVAL | 27 DECEMBER 2026 - 1 JANUARY 2027
One of Australia's most iconic and beloved gatherings, Woodford Folk Festival brings together more than 2,000 performers across six days and nights of music, dance, theatre, comedy, debate and ceremony. Spanning over 30 stages and performance spaces, Woodford is as much a way of life as it is a festival, drawing tens of thousands of attendees into a temporary city built entirely around creativity, community and culture. 

WILDLANDS | 31 DECEMBER
Before 2026 officially comes to an end, Wildlands Festival will take over the Brisbane Showgrounds for one massive day of live music, arts and dance. With a new reworked approach to the festival in place, the 2026 edition of Wildlands will see brand new set designs, new open-air stages and more tent space, allowing you to close out the year in style.

Sporting showdowns & endurance events

THE DAVIS CUP | 19 – 20 SEPTEMBER 
For the first time since 2018, one of the world’s most iconic tennis tournaments returns to Brisbane, bringing with it the passion, pride and drama that the Davis Cup has become known for globally. The milestone moment on Brisbane’s tennis calendar will also mark the first time in the event’s 126 history that Australian and Poland will face-off on Australian soil. 

SOCCEROOS VS BRAZIL | 29 SEPTEMBER 
As part of the 2026 Queensland Football Series, the mighty Australian Socceroos will take on five-time FIFA World Cup ™ winners Brazil in a blockbuster international event at Suncorp Stadium. 

RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP FINAL | 15 NOVEMBER 
Grab your crew, book your tickets and prepare for the ultimate day of NRL this November as one Men's and one Women's team become victorious across two epic final showdowns at Suncorp Stadium. It’s one day, two games and a lifetime of memories made in Brisbane.

T20I - AUSTRALIA VS ENGLAND | 27 NOVEMBER 
Grab your sunscreen, grab your mates and get ready to experience one of the most highly anticipated games on the cricket calendar in 2026, as Australia takes on England at The Gabba for the T20I. 

BLEDISLOE CUP | 25 APRIL 2027
For the first time in the 123-year history of the Bledisloe Cup, Australia and New Zealand will go head-to-head on ANZAC Day in Brisbane. With kick-off set to take place at a family-friendly early afternoon time slot, this historic event is more than just a milestone match between The Wallabies and All Blacks, it’s a special day that recognises the service of both nations.

RUGBY WORLD CUP 2027 | 2 - 31 OCTOBER 2027
The world's greatest rugby tournament is coming to Brisbane for a once-in-a-generation celebration at Brisbane Stadium. Discover 10 of the most heart stopping matches across the month of October, featuring a once in a lifetime chance to see the Wallabies go head-to-head with some of the world’s toughest opponents on home soil.

Family fun

 

MICRO MUSEUM | ON NOW
For maximum fun for mini museumgoers, the curators of tomorrow are invited to bring their imagination to life at Museum of Brisbane’s Micro Museum, offering immersive and interactive experiences. Little art lovers of all ages are encouraged to get hands-on and create their own 'Micro Museum' where children can select, sort and arrange their own curated collections from a huge range of vintage treasures. 

BLUEY’S WORLD | ON NOW
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!