The Brisbane Festival 2026 program features an expansive celebration of art and community as imagined by new Artistic Director Ebony Bott.
Tickets are on sale for performances from September 4-26, 2026.
Bott’s debut program titled Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive is the only program in Australia that stretches from sunrise ceremonies and morning yoga to late-night performances and riverside drinks beneath the stars.
Opening with the return of Riverfire on September 5, highlights include the world premier of Suzie Miller’s Strong is the New Pretty, about AFLW, at QPAC; DIAVOLO’s adrenaline-fuelled dance production ESCAPE, and Luke Murphy’s critically acclaimed Scorched Earth fresh from New York.
These join a program that spans puppetry, circus, immersive theatre, and live music.
Some of the free highlights include Brisbane Serenades, Manly Serenades and St Lucia Serenades which are a series of free outdoor concerts.
The South Bank Cultural Forecourt will become the Festival Village, a direct nod to the concept of an Athlete’s Village and a statement of intent as Brisbane heads towards 2032.
The jewel in the Village’s crown is said to be the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent which makes its long-anticipated return. Each evening it will be transformed into a working bar as the home of West End musical hit The Choir of Man.
Spiegeltent will also host The Listies’ family show This Show is a Joke, plus a unique collision of country music and opera in Are You Lonesome Tonight.
The outdoor Village Green has some special entertainment for the school holidays with Indigenous contemporary circus Living Sculptures: How the Birds Got Their Colours, dance workshops with the ABC’s Dance with Tom and Queeensland Ballet, sock puppet and circus workshops, and a Giant Sing Along.
During the day there will also be the chance to catch global morning dance and wellness phenomenon DAYBREAKER which combines high-energy DJ sets, yoga and movement.
The Common People Dance Eisteddfod – Brisbane’s dance battle of the ‘burbs returns with seven southeast Queensland teams dancing their way to glory at Chandler.
Each night the Brisbane River will be transformed into a canvas of floating fountains, waterscreens, lasers and water jets soaring up to 80 metres high and set to an exclusive soundtrack by The Veronicas.
A Night at the Parkland returns to Roma St with soul legend Aloe Blacc, ARIA Hall of Famers Human Nature, Aussie rock icons Icehouse, plus the Cruel Sea, Temper Trap, Magic Dirt, Missy Higgins, PNAU, and Katie Noonan.
There will be 700 performances and more than 2,000 artists and arts workers participating.
Minister for the Environment and Tourism Andrew Powell said the festival would deliver more than $27 million into the economy.
For the full program or to purchase tickets click here.
