Terrific Things To Do In Brisbane and Beyond This May

If you’ve ever argued over who gets to be Monica, Rachel or Phoebe, this one’s for you. The FRIENDS™ Experience: The One in Brisbane will be in our city starting in April, bringing a fully immersive, walk-through celebration of the sitcom we’ve all quoted for decades.

Think meticulously recreated sets, real props and costumes, and enough photo ops to fill your camera roll faster than Joey finishes a pizza. It’s not a sit-back-and-look kind of exhibition—you’ll be stepping inside the moments you know by heart.

Bringing together surfers, filmmakers, photographers and ocean lovers, the Gold Coast’s very own Flotsam Festival is returning for the fourth year in a row, paying homage to the Gold Coast’s world-class surf breaks and iconic coastline through a maelstrom of short films, workshops, in-depth discussions with filmmakers and photographers, live music, and photo exhibitions.

Float away on the comforting glow of countless candles as professional musicians perform everything from gorgeous classical pieces and genre-defining songs, to chart-topping pop hits.

Enveloped by the touching music and surrounded by some of the most historic and imposing buildings in Brisbane, Candlelight is an experience not to be missed! Grab your tickets for this and all Candlelight concerts here!

Get ready for your sides to ache from laughing because the highly anticipated annual Brisbane Comedy Festival is coming back after a record-breaking 2025 season of more than 90,000 attendees and 400+ performances, and promises an even more hilarious 2026 edition from April 24 to May 24, spanning four iconic Brisbane venues: The Brisbane Powerhouse, The Tivoli, The Fortitude Music Hall, and The Princess Theatre.

From rooftop spa sessions to a boat picnic and scrumptious high tea, there are plenty of unique things you can treat your mum to — or, if you’re a mum, send to your loved ones as as subtle hint — for Mother’s Day this year.

If you love to relax with a glass of wine, or indulge in a bit of fromage, then we’ve got the perfect event for you: the tasty cheese festival Mould has once again paired up with the popular pinot party, Pinot Palooza. Expect over 50 varieties of artisan cheese and over 50 types of pinot noir from Australia and beyond.

For the fur-st time since 2024, Dog Lovers Festival is bounding back to Brisbane, with an array of themed attractions to look forward to!

Dog Lovers Festival is a fur parent’s paradise, with heaps of events where you can celebrate your love for all things canine: whether it be browsing the dog expo, getting some swag at the marketplace, meeting over 400 dogs at the Pat-A-Pooch Zone, or catching a show of impressive high-jumping feats at the VitaPet Arena.

Get ready to feel inspired and maybe even renew your space because the phenomenal Affordable Art Fair is returning to Brisbane after the success of its second edition last year — 12,000 attendees are expected this time around — with a four-day celebration of art. Prices start as low as $100 and there will be around 55 independent Australian galleries and over 400 artists exhibiting their work!

If you’ve ever wanted to walk through a wonderland where nothing is quite as it seems, TRICKD: Illusions, Fun, & More on the Gold Coast is about to become your new obsession.

This illusion experience invites you into a reality that shifts, bends, and surprises as you move through it. There are colours that change, proportions that don’t behave, and hands-on moments that turn perception into immersive fun. Designed as a continuous journey rather than a series of rooms, every step deeper into Dr. Enigma’s world reveals something more curious, more interactive, and more shareable.

Get your tickets before they’re gone!

The 6th edition of this city-wide music series will ignite Brisbane’s most iconic venues with over 30 thrilling performances! The Tivoli Group’s curated program of music and arts has unveiled its line-up and venues for this year, and it’s bound to be a special one.

Fatefully born in 2020, Open Season is celebrating its fifth anniversary in style starting May 25, and is taking its star-studded poster all over the city, going beyond its usual Tivoli and Princess Theatre, and adding QPAC to the mix!

Get your sequins on and get ready for the story of four sisters from country Victoria — Gail, Kay, Cynthia and Julie — who catch the eye of a big-city talent scout with their Supremes cover act, based on the incredible true story of writer Tony Briggs’ mother.

Packed with heart and a generation-defining soundtrack, this story is a powerful cultural anthem to the solidarity and soul of First Nations’ sisterhood.

Grab your tickets here!

Kalbar Sunflower Festival is set for another lap around the sun(flowers), which means you’ll be able to get up close to these bright beauties. Held in the Scenic Rim, about an hour and fifteen-minute drive southwest of Brisbane, the sixteen-acre sunflower field will be in full bloom with over a million sunflowers, ready for all the camera snaps you can imagine, from Friday, May 2 to Sunday, May 4.

Roma Street Parkland turns green with Sustainable BNE Festival: a free, family- and dog-friendly day out packed with inspiration, entertainment, and practical ways to live more sustainably. Soak up live music, artisanal market stalls, delicious food trucks, and thrift shopping. Plus, don’t miss your chance to become a plant parent and collect a free native plant!

If your idea of a perfect night out includes immersive storytelling, expertly mixed cocktails, and a touch of mischief, consider this your official warning: Alcotraz has landing in Brisbane. This bar visit is a fully interactive experience where you’re dropped into a living narrative and encouraged to engage as much as possible. Will you side with the guards, scheme with fellow inmates, or mastermind a full-blown prison plot? There’s only one way to find out: get inside.

Charming and rural Goomeri goes all out to celebrate autumn every year with their colourful and lively Goomeri Pumpkin Festival! The festival has continued to grown since its beginnings, and now consists of a host of events and competitions, each as fun and creative as the last.

Now that the cooler months are rolling in, winter getaways are on the radar, whether it’s seeking warmer climates or heading to the snow. Some of the most popular destinations booked by Australians from June to August include Queensland spots such as Cairns, Port Douglas and Sunshine Coast named among the top locations.

All-you-can-eat nights have been popping up around Brisbane, and they’re good value for money if you’re a big eater. You can get bottomless pasta for $40 on Wednesdays at VICI in South Bank, and $30 bottomless tacos at Mucho Mexicano Monday to Thursday!

Both the food and interiors play their part in the dining experience whole. So we’ve rounded up some of the prettiest restaurants around Brisbane you can book a table at, whether it be for date night, special occasions, or just a new spot to check out with your crew — from pink hued eateries to green rooftop jungles and more.

Autumn the perfect time for the no-phones, no-rules, no-holds-barred world of Late Night Vice — a decadent after-dark escape that is not your average night out. Nestled in the sultry heart of West End at The West End Electric, Late Night Vice is a two-hour fever dream that promises seductive chaos, jaw-dropping performances, and just the right amount of trouble. Get your tickets here.

Sure, autumn might be the time we start wearing our warmer gear as temps start to fall. But it’s also without question that one of the best quirks about autumn is the leaves of trees changing colour and falling to the ground. There’s nothing like taking a stroll and snapping photos of the reds, yellows, and golds. Here are some of the most stunning places.