In a celebration of queer arts, culture and community, the Melt Festival’s 2026 expanded program includes a Dolly Parton night, a high-speed sewing showdown, and Surf Lifesaving Queensland to join the River Pride Parade flotilla.
Festival-goers will be able to get their first glimpse of Florentijn Hofman’s 15-metre, five-storey-high Rubber Duck outside Brisbane Powerhouse on October 21, before it joins the River Pride Parade on October 24.
There will be more than 100 events across 70 venues with the city-wide program spanning landmark public art, world premieres, headline concerts, spectacular river celebrations and powerful new storytelling from October 21-November 8.
The Dolly Hoe-Down will be hosted by drag Queen Vollie LaVont. It includes DJs, drag performances and a line dancing lessons on a dancefloor packed with rhinestones, big hair, denim and sequins at the Powerhouse Theatre on October 30.
Fresh from the release of her second album Desire Is An Angel, Asha Jefferies will hold a special performance at Black Bear Lodge on November 7.
Artist Adele Varcoe and sewing superstar Gayleen Tuckwood will race against the clock to create a onesie from scratch at the Queen Street Mall on October 18 at 11am.
And for the first time, Surf Lifesaving Queensland will join this year’s River Pride Parade with at least three boats forming part of the flotilla on the Brisbane River.
For the full program and tickets click here.
