What’s Hot & Happening This Long Weekend In & Around Brisbane
Booked & Busy
By Matilda Daniel | 30th April 2026If your weekend is starting to feel a little too open-ended, consider this your cue to change that with our guide to the long weekend in Brisbane. With the beginning of May in Brisbane comes that subtle shift, cooler mornings, crisp evenings, and every excuse to trade in staying home for something a little more social. It’s the season of layering up, lingering longer, and making plans that carry you from day into night. So rally the group chat, lock something in, and make it count.
Here’s what’s worth stepping out for this weekend in and around Brisbane.
Here Comes The Sun Festival
Returning bigger and better than ever, Here Comes The Sun defends its title as the most progressive music festival in Australia, and it’s happening right here on the Gold Coast. Featuring an incredible line-up including Lime Cordiale, The Jungle Giants, Young Franco, Sycco, Eliza & The Delusionals & Mariae Cassandra, this celebration of music is not one you’ll want to miss. Tickets are still available, but be quick because the night is set to be hot and heavy, and is selling out fast. Say no more, mark your calendars and charge those digis team!
What: Here Comes The Sun Festival When: 2nd May, 2:15 PM Where: Queen Elizabeth Park, Colangatta Tickets: Available here
GOMA Friday Nights: Presence
GOMA Friday Nights are relaunching this week, and that means your post-work plans are officially sorted. Step inside the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art after dark for exclusive access to Olafur Eliasson: Presence, where immersive light and colour installations transform the gallery into a sensory playground. Paired with a moody vinyl listening bar, local DJs, pop-up performances around the gallery, and Japanese-inspired cocktails, this is far from your average gallery visit. Tickets are priced from $30 for adults and $20 for children.
What: GOMA Friday Nights: Presence: Presence When: Every Friday from May 1 – June 26, 5:30PM – 8:30PM Where: GOMA, Stanley Place, South Brisbane Tickets: Available here
Told You So Tenth Birthday Festival
Cult favourite coffee spot, Told You So, is marking a major milestone this weekend, celebrating ten years of community, culture, and seriously good espresso with a festival in collaboration with Single O. Set to feel equal parts neighbourhood hangout and curated coffee moment, the event will bring together food trucks, free limited-edition brews, music, and the signature sense of community that Told You So has become known for over the past decade. As a thank you to their loyal following, the team is also giving away a year’s worth of free coffee – yes, really. To enter, simply head to their Instagram, tag your friends (each tag counts as an entry), and consider your morning ritual officially upgraded.
What: Told You So Tenth Birthday Festival When: 4 May, 7AM – 12PM Where: 1/14 Discovery Drive, North Lakes
Jac + Jack’s James Street Residency
Beloved Australian label Jac + Jack is collaborating with Mud Australia to launch a three-week-only capsule available within Mud’s James Street store. A capsule of the Jac + Jack AW26 collection of timeless staples for both men and women is now available to shop in person, alongside Mud’s sculptural ceramics.
What: Jac + Jack’s James Street Residency When: Until 10 May Where: Shop 12/19 James St, Fortitude Valley
Stones Corner Festival
In a moment where Australia’s major music calendar has seen a noticeable pause, Stones Corner Festival returns this long weekend as a reminder that live music doesn’t need scale to make an impact, it just needs community. Back for its 11th year, the free, street-wide festival will once again transform Stones Corner into a full-day celebration of live music, local food, and neighbourhood energy. What began as a small community gathering has evolved into one of Brisbane’s most quietly powerful grassroots success stories. Make sure to mark those calendars because this is one you really don’t want to miss.
What: Stones Corner Festival When: May 3, from 12:15PM Where: 346 Logan Road, Greenslopes
Brisbane Comedy Festival
Up for a laugh? Don’t let the woes of winter get you down. Instead, round up your crew for endless nights of side-splitting humour at Brisbane Comedy Festival. Comedy greats from near and far are descending upon Brisbane Powerhouse and other iconic Brisbane venues – quick wit and all – setting the stage for flushed cheeks, schoolgirl-like giggles, and some seriously good old-fashioned LOLs.
What: Brisbane Comedy Festival When: Until 24 May Where: Brisbane Powerhouse, Dendy Powerhouse, The Fortitude Music Hall
LUCIDITY Community Sound Session
Built for the community and driven by sound, Lucidity is a space where everyone feels welcome to the party: no guest list, no barriers, just insane energy. Bringing together a stacked lineup of local DJs and collectives, you can expect everything from underground beats to high-energy sets that keep the dancefloor moving all night long. With a focus on inclusivity and connection, it’s less about who you are and more about where you are, and trust us, you’ll want to be at Warehouse 25 this weekend.
What: Lucidity Community Sound Session When: May 3, from 6PM Where: Warehouse 25, Milton Tickets: Book Tickets
Bead Yourself Workshop
As DIY lovers, we’re too excited to hold off talking about the Bead Yourself Workshop. Create upcycled beaded necklaces over two hours of creative play, going analogue and designing your own one-of-a-kind necklace using secondhand beads. Whether you’re in need of some solo self-care, a long overdue catch-up with friends, or refinding your spark, this is the perfect event! Sessions are filling quickly, so message your group chat and secure your tickets for $90 per session, including all materials and complimentary iced herbal tea.
What: Bead Yourself Workshop When: 3 May, 9AM, 12PM, & 3PM Where: Vacant Assembly, 266 Montague Rd, West End
frank green’s first QLD pop-up
It’s the brand behind everyone’s favourite emotional support water bottle, frank green is officially touching down in QLD, with the launch of its first pop-up in Robina. From now until April 30, shop the cult brand’s full range, just in time for school holidays and Mother’s Day. They will also have a monogramming station, so this is one pop-up not to miss.
What: frank green’s Robina pop-up When: Until 30 April Where: Ground Floor, Robina Town Centre
Central 中環 Dim Sum Club
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 Fridays
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
Bottomless brunch on the river
Not that you needed any convincing, but this is your sign to embark on a bottomless brunch with your mates while the Brisbane River glistens below. Bar Pacino is hosting a 2-hour free-flowing brunch and drinks package priced at $75 a head. Feast on their crowd-favourite pizzas and generous sharing boards, accompanied by cocktail jugs, spritzers, wine, and beer. Open from 12PM this ANZAC Day, this is your last-minute Saturday hangout sorted. Book your table now here.
What: Bar Pacino Bottomless Brunch When: Saturday from 12PM Where: Bar Pacino, Brisbane City
COMING UP
Affordable Art Fair Brisbane
Paintings, prints, photography, and sculptures are just some of the different media that are being showcased at the Affordable Art Fair this year. Returning for the third time, this year is set to be the biggest exhibition yet. This art has been showcased by over 55 independent galleries across Australia and now you get to enjoy it all in one place. During these four action-packed days, you can attend live painting demonstrations, emerging artist showcases, and the Children’s Art Studio with free face painting for budding young creatives. Grab your complimentary ticket here and mark those calendars.
What: Affordable Art Fair Brisbane Where: 600 Gregory Terrace, Bowen Hills When: 7 – 10 May
