The Coolest Things Happening This Weekend In & Around Brisbane
the weekend is calling
By Victoria Lewis | 4th September 2026If your group chat is asking, “What are we doing this weekend?” you’ve come to the right place.
Spring is finally and officially here, and that means Brisbane’s social calendar isn’t slowing down for anyone. From Brisbane Festival’s opening weekend to archive sales, plenty is happening across the city and beyond this weekend. Whether you’re in the mood for a road trip, a long lunch, a little retail therapy, or simply an excuse to leave the house, these are the events and experiences worth knowing about.
Here’s what’s on in Brisbane this weekend.
Brisbane Festival Opening Weekend
Yes, it’s finally that time; Brisbane Festival is officially upon us. Opening the month of all-out artistic celebration, Riverfire will light up the night sky on Saturday night, before an innovative program spills out into the city during the rest of the month. For more info on the full program, read here.
What: Brisbane Festival 2026 When: Now until 26 September Where: Multiple locations
LINDELLI opening on James Street
James Street’s retail scene is adding another notch to its already very glamorous belt this weekend, with luxury jewellery brand LINDELLI opening its permanent QLD flagship. As LINDELLI‘s largest boutique to date, the new Brisbane space brings its full offering of engagement rings, custom design, and fine jewellery together under one roof in a relaxed, design-led environment, with James Street style front of mind.
What: LINDELLI Brisbane store opening When: Saturday, 5 September Where: James Street Precinct, Doggett Street
Unpack the digital world at Jon Rafman: Memento Hikikomori
Canadian artist Jon Rafman unpacks our relationship to the contemporary digital world with an immersive exhibit in Fortitude Valley’s Institute of Modern Art. Works featured include his ongoing project Nine Eyes (2008–), where billions of Google Street View photographs are used to demonstrate moments of humanity, as well as Main Stream Media Network (2025–6), an evolving, AI-generated TV channel where curiosity about brainrot is put front and centre.
What: Jon Rafman: Memento Hikikomori When: Now until 27 September Where: Institute of Modern Art, Judith Wright Arts Centre, Ground Floor/420 Brunswick St, Fortitude Valley
Immerse yourself in Koreaboo at La Boite Theatre
Discover the story of Hannah, an Australian-Korean woman who travels to Seoul to reconnect with her birth mother, in the tender yet hilarious production of Koreaboo. An original work from the mastermind who’s worked on The Newsreader, Utopia, and Play School, Michelle Lim Davidson, the production, which is part of this year’s Brisbane Festival, navigates culture, language, and the peculiar distance between who we hope someone will be and who they actually are. This is the last leg of their season run, so book those tickets before this production jets off for good.
Score a bargain at Practice Studio’s garage sale
West End’s creative hub and independent boutique practice Studio is hosting its monthly garage sale this weekend, and good news for all the swers out there: this one is entirely devoted to fabric, trims and haberdashery. So, if you’re in the mood for a bargain (we know we are), head on down to West End this Saturday and see what you can score.
What: Practice Studio garage sale When: Saturday, 5 September, 10am – 2pm Where: Practice Studio, West End
A stacked weekend of music, markets, and art at Echo & Bounce
Woolloongabba’s fave multi-purpose community hub, Echo & Bounce, always puts on a show on the weekend. From live music and late-night antics to good food, local artists, and their signature makers market, there’s always plenty happening. Whether you’re stopping by for a bite, settling in for some tunes, or seeing where the night takes you, there’s always something going on. Honestly, if you’re stuck for plans this weekend, Echo & Bounce is the place to be.
What: Echo & Bounce’s weekend events and gigs When: All weekend; check out the full program here Where: Echo & Bounce, 596 Stanley St, Woolloongabba
Stuck for Saturday plans? Central is serving up a bottomless underground lunch party and it’s seriously delicious. Dim sum meets disco at Central’s long lunch banquet ($59pp) that combines traditional Cantonese flavours with bottomless iced tea and specialty cocktails. Arrive for lunch, then linger until the disco ball drops at 2pm for the perfect way to greet your Saturday night.
What: Dim Sum Club When: Every Saturday, from 12pm Where: Central 中環, 340 Queen St, Brisbane City
ClubHaus Friday
For those of us wishing we could summer in Italy all year round, Fridays at Greenhaus from 4pm onwards are the perfect way to indulge Euro-style. Settle in at the ideal spot for that much-anticipated end-of-week debrief (because dropping gossip over some Aperols and a plate of olives has never sounded like a bad idea).
What: ClubHaus Fridays When: Fridays, 4pm Where: Greenhaus Coffee, 29 Doggett St, Teneriffe
Funk You Fridays
Funk your Friday at the Alligator Club, one of Brisbane’s best-kept secrets. They’re bringing energetic live music – funk, soul, and more – to keep the drinks flowing and the party grooving well into the night. P.S. Standing still is absolutely not allowed.
What:Funk You Friday When: Fridays, 5pm Where: The Alligator Club, Warner Lane, 8 Warner St, Fortitude Valley
So there you have it, the best things to do in and around Brisbane this weekend. Whether you’re after a long lunch, a road trip, a little retail therapy, or something completely different, we’ve got your plans covered.
For even more inspiration, check out our guide to the best things to do in Brisbane year-round. See you out there.
