Sequins At The Ready: Melt Festival 2025 Is Coming In Hot

Sequins? Packed. Calendar? Cleared. Crew? Assembled. Because from 22 October to 9 November 2025, Brisbane’s streets, stages and rivers will once again be drenched in glitter, music, protest and pride as Melt Festival returns. Now in full party mode, the festival promises to be bigger, bolder, and more fabulous than ever – an 18-day extravaganza that turns more than 60 venues across the city into a kaleidoscope of Queer creativity.

This is the festival where no corner of Brisbane is left untouched – where drag queens strut alongside circus performers, where cabaret collides with theatre, where laughter from comedy sets spills into late-night DJ sessions, and where rainbow flotillas light up the Maiwar. It’s about Queer joy, protest, community and celebration all rolled into one unapologetically fabulous program.

Glitter, icons and river pride

With Bernadette Peters dazzling audiences in her first Australian show in over a decade, Urzila Carlson returning to keep us laughing, and Reuben Kaye bringing pure drag brilliance, the festival’s big-name moments are unmissable. Cult faves like BRIEFS and Queer PowerPoint will keep fans coming back, while bold new works like Rhythmology and The Lucky Country ensure fresh voices are front and centre.

And of course, one of the most spectacular sights of Melt is back – on 8 November the River Pride Parade transforms the Brisbane River/Maiwar into a floating rainbow celebration. With boats, music, and fireworks, it’s a street party on water – and the best part is you can join the fun at the Pride Picnic in New Farm Park.

Here’s the full lineup

This year’s program is bursting with highlights, from international icons to homegrown trailblazers:

• Miss First Nation 2025 – The fiercest Blak drag pageant struts into Brisbane for the first time.

• Gerwyn Davies’ Shimmer – A bold photo exhibition celebrating trans and gender diverse young people.

• Bernadette Peters Live – Broadway icon in her first Australian performance in over a decade.

• River Pride Parade & Picnic – Rainbow flotilla, Pride Ride, food trucks, live music, and fireworks.

• Tomáš Kantor’s Sugar – Electric cabaret with pop hits and cheeky charm.

• Urzila Carlson – Comedy queen back with encore shows after her smash-hit 2024 tour.

• BRIEFS: Jealousss & Briefs Bus – High-octane drag circus and outrageous Queer history tours.

• Queer PowerPoint – Cult-fave low-stakes, high-heart presentations.

• Melting Pot @ Brisbane Powerhouse – Pop-up weekends of gigs, DJs, showcases, line dancing, and more.

• Rhythmology – Genre-bending theatre exploring a creative “factory reset.”

• The Lucky Country – Fearless look at protest, power, and identity.

• Zoe Terakes in Conversation – Actor, activist, and advocate on stage.

• Reuben Kaye: EnGORGed – Glamour, wit, and boundary-pushing brilliance.

• Play Date – High-energy disco fun for kids aged 2–7.

• Hole-Mania 2: The Second Coming – Shandy & GoGo Bumhole’s outrageous wrestling rematch.

• Reverie – Seductive burlesque spectacle.

• Architects of Sound – The comeback you didn’t ask for but absolutely need.

• Brisbane Spikers Volleyball Summer Meltdown Tournament – Sport meets Queer energy.

• Tropical Fruits & QUIVR DJs – Northern Rivers meets Magandjin on the decks.

• CULT Showcase – Burlesque, sideshow, drag, and performance art at their final show of the year.

• King for a Day Workshop – Zelphia Mann returns with their sold-out drag king masterclass.

• Meltdown Closing Party – A wild finale with DJs, surprise pop-ups, and unfiltered chaos.

A festival for all

Melt isn’t just for night owls – it’s for everyone. Families will love Play Date, a colourful disco designed for little ones (with Auslan-friendly moves to keep it inclusive), while community events like the Pride Picnic invite all of Brisbane to gather, celebrate and connect. From late-night gigs to daytime crafts, from pageants to panels, Melt serves up something for every member of the rainbow.

And when the glitter finally settles, Meltdown – curated by GoGo Bumhole and Shandy – will make sure the festival goes out with the kind of bang only Melt can deliver. Think DJs, surprise performances, pop-ups and pure chaos.

Ready to melt?

With pageants, parades, cabaret, comedy, concerts, family fun and everything in between, Melt Festival 2025 is shaping up to be Brisbane’s boldest celebration yet. For 18 days, the city will pulse with pride, protest and pure joy – and you’re invited.

See you on the dancefloor, the riverbank, and everywhere in between. Check out the full program here.