Brisbane Festival’s 2026 Program Is Here & There’s A Lot To Get Excited About
come alive, brisbane
By Victoria Lewis | 9th June 2026It’s the annual month-long event that needs no introduction. Brisbane Festival has just unveiled its full 2026 program, and it’s safe to say our springtime calendars just got pretty full. Returning across the city from 4 – 26 September, the program will once again showcase a dazzling array of contemporary arts, world-famous musical acts, theatre, light shows, workshops, and more across an insane range of free and ticketed gigs – seriously, there are almost too many to count.
Under the vision of new Artistic Director Ebony Bott, the festival‘s lineup caters to all crowds, acting as a diverse celebration of the community, the arts, and, of course, the city of Brisbane itself. This year, the theme is “Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive,” so expect a unique and infectious energy to take over our beloved River City from first light to after dark.
With block parties, interactive sing-alongs, and nods to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics, this is the rundown on the best events in the Brisbane Festival 2026 program. Let’s see what’s in store, shall we?
The Festival Village Program highlights
Inspired by the Athletes Village to come to Brisbane at the 2032 Olympics, this year, the Festival Village will act as the epicenter of the program. This main hub will be at the South Bank Cultural Forecourt with an expansive program of free and ticketed events that start at sunrise and end late into the night throughout the festival.
This is where everything from sunrise ceremonies and morning yoga to a Giant Sing Along interactive installation will take place, acting as a tangible hub of activity for the month. Here are some of the highlights.
The Festival Village
Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent
The resplendent Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent will make its marked return after a 6-year-hiatus since COVID-19. The beloved traveling tent-like venue, complete with vintage energy, stained glass, and, as the name suggests, reflective mirrors, will act as the backdrop for a host of theatrical and musical performances in its much-anticipated return.
In the mix will be the likes of West End smash-hit The Choir of Man, The Listies’ anarchic family show This Show is a Joke, and a unique blend of country music and opera in Are You Lonesome Tonight with songs by Puccini, Verdi, Slim Dusty, Troy Cassar-Daly and Dolly Parton.
Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent
Giant Sing Along
Alongside world-class performances, the outdoor Village Green will be the site of an interactive installation that invites everyone to get in on the action. Giant Sing Along by Montreal-based studio Daily tous les jours will see a field of microphones, a curated community playlist, and a subtle sound system that encourages festival-goers of all ages to add their voice to a live mass choir.
DAYBREAKER
Bringing the globally celebrated alcohol-free “morning rave” movement to the Festival Village is DAYBREAKER, where uplifting DJ sets, yoga, dance, and community connection make for wholesome, energised mornings that will surely start your day right.
Bright Nights
In partnership with ANZ, the Festival Village will transform the Brisbane River into a spectacular display of lasers, light, and sound soundtracked by an exclusive playlist by The Veronicas. Opening nightly with a Welcome to Country and storytelling experience from Traditional Owner Shannon Ruska, Bright Nights is Brisbane Festival at its most powerful, where 80 -meter-tall water jets, floating fountains, and waterscreens make for a truly immersive evening on the river.
Bright Nights by ANZ. Image: Sean Dowling and Atmosphere Photography
Citywide program highlights:
Of course, it wouldn’t be Brisbane Festival without a citywide cultural takeover. Spanning world-first theatre productions to outdoor concerts, and starting with the iconic Riverfire Fireworks, this year’s program is certainly giving previous years a run for their money.
Night at the Parkland
Watch as the Roma Street Parkland becomes the city’s ultimate seasonal stage with Night at the Parkland. With a series of outdoor concerts from September 5 to 20, local and international artists will descend upon Roma Street for unforgettable evenings under the stars. This year’s line-up features the legendary The Temper Trap, Aussie icon Missy Higgins, electronic powerhouses PNAU, beloved ARIA Hall of Famers HumanNature, rock icons Icehouse, soul legend Aloe Blacc, a double bill of Cruel Sea and Magic Dirt, and the extraordinary Katie Noonan performing Jeff Buckley’s Grace in its entirety.
Nightland at the Park
ESCAPE
The latest from Los Angeles production company DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion, ESCAPE promises a breathtaking display of elite athletic performance across dance, acrobatics, stunt work, and circus arts. Brought to life through architectural structures and a pounding multi-genre soundtrack of pop, EDM, and rock, this contemporary performance showcases physicality and emotion at their most spectacular.
No One Gets Out of Here Alive
A twisted combination of voice, theatre, dance, and humour, No One Gets Out of Here Alive is the visceral and darkly funny theatre experience from Gold Coast company The Farm. Talking on some gloomy subject matter while touching on the more mundane, quiet everyday endings that shape a life, this unorthodox comedy will be anything but a funeral.
No One Gets Out of Here Alive. Image by Set in Stone Media
Fijian Flying Circus
Internationally renowned Fijian dance tribe VOU (‘new’ in the iTaukei language) is bringing their high-energy Fijian Flying Circus to town from 4 September – 4 October. Guided by the story of curious young Loma and her hilarious sidekick Tui as they navigate a mystical world of cheeky forest spirits, the one-of-a-kind production fuses unbelievable aerial acrobatics, gravity-defying stunts, and laugh-out-loud storytelling in a whimsical affair fit for the whole family to enjoy.
Shandy dance party
Take to the dance floor on 4 September because a queer dance party is taking over West Village’s Metro Arts. A taste of queer mayhem. A little bit chaotic, a little bit sweaty, and a totally euphoric occasion, a Shandy party is where immersive queer fantasia and a DJ-fuelled dancefloor combine in a night of epic proportions. We say, be there or be square.
Strong is the New Pretty world premiere
Showcasing the untold story behind the origins of the AFLW, acclaimed playwright Suzie Miller (of international phenomenon Prima Facie) brings grit, determination, and hope to the stage in a world-first production of Strong is the New Pretty. A co-production between Brisbane Festival, Sydney Theatre Company, and Trish Wadley Productions, the work is an anticipated re-enactment of the real-life events that saw a pipe dream turn into a nationally renowned sports league.
Strong is the New Pretty by playwright Suzie Miller
RocKwiz Rocks Brisbane
The equally iconic and hilarious musical trivia show, RocKwiz, is making the trip to Brisbane with a tailor-made celebration of our city’s extraordinary musical legacy – from the Bee Gees and The Saints to Savage Garden, The Veronicas, The Grates and The Go-Betweens. Hosted by Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis with the Orkestra, special guests, and punter contestants from the crowd, it is a live mixtape of trivia, breakout musical interludes, and some fun and friendly competition not to be missed.
New Zealand connections
As a dedication to Brisbane’s Pasifika peoples and the Festival’s ongoing connection to Aotearoa, the program will stage four uniquely New Zealand works. This includes a new adaptation of Witi Ihimaera’s epic historical tale Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking, the mischievous dance work Shel We, a staged reading of the fable Betsy Balloon and the Very Great Terrible Flood, as well as an immersive horror-comedy theatre show in Binge Culture’s Werewolf.
Moorooka Block Party
Celebrating its fifth year as a community staple, the Moorooka Block Party returns to Peggs Park for a streetside celebration featuring live music and dance, global food experiences, artisan markets, and family-friendly activities that showcase the rich spirit of Brisbane’s south side.
See what we mean, Brisbane Festival is really showing up and showing out this year. If you’re keen to check out their entire catalogue of events, check out the full program here. Until then, we greatly await September’s arrival.
Imagery: Night Moves Shandy Party / Riverfire – photographed by JD Lin / ESCAPE – photographed by George Simian
