There’s not much like a city-wide festival to awaken us from our winter slumber and get us moving again. This year, The Brisbane River and city landmarks will once again be transformed into a stage for an explosion of arts and performance to occur from September 5 to September 27 for Brisbane Festival. Whether it be watching on in wonder at a multicolour drone show, seeing a mindblowing glowing world at the City Botanic Gardens, or getting a good spot for Riverfire, there’s something for everyone this year. Take a look at our pick of events, installations and performances below.
Riverfire
The annual Riverfire fireworks display is a staple of Brisbane Festival. And each year, the spectacular light show seems to get better and better too. However, with huge crowds all trying to get the best spot, it can also feel a little overwhelming sometimes. We recommend heading to Wilson Reserve Outlook to catch the display over Story Bridge for free.
Riverfire is set to light up the Brisbane city skyline on Saturday, September 5.
Here are some Brisbane venues holding events for Riverfire, with fantastic views of the fireworks:
- Lina Rooftop, South Brisbane ($225 per person)
- Babylon ($120 per person)
- FIRMA, South Brisbane ($299 for all-inclusive package)
- Riverland ($139 for a two-hour drink package)
- W Brisbane (free with a stay in one of their 312 luxe guestrooms)
Bright Nights by ANZ
A rock-pop symphony of water, light, and sound, set to Brisbane music royalty The Veronicas, Bright Nights by ANZ will transform the Brisbane River into a dazzling, choreographed canvas of water, light, and sound!
Floating fountains, waterscreens, amazing animated water features and water jets shooting up to 80 meters high, all pierced by a stunning laser light show, you can enjoy this bold installation for free three times nightly throughout the Festival.
We recommend heading to South Bank to get the best views.
Most hyped
If you want to go straight for the main course, this year’s program is packed with experiences that will have the whole city buzzing!
ESCAPE is a boundary-breaking fusion of human movement and physical structures. Blending complex, moving architectural structures with multi-talented performers, this show is sure to leave you breathless.
Making its Australian debut, the jaw-dropping Fijian Flying Circus is a high-energy celebration of Spirit, Culture, and Joy. This dazzling spectacle fuses breathtaking circus with island storytelling in a way you’ve never seen before.
And, of course, there will be the much anticipated Jim Henson exhibition opening in QAGOMA, and featuring everything from concept arts, to over 90 films, to actual puppets!
Interactive Experiences
As part of the Jim Henson exhibition, you’ll be able to become both builder and performer in a hands-on experience inspired by the work of the iconic company, who believe you can make extraordinary characters from ordinary materials. Create your own character using simple materials like socks, pipe cleaners, and yarn!
Along the same lines, dive into one of Dead Puppet Society’s Sculptures & Sips workshops! Make and take home your own handmade puppet, working alongside Dead Puppet Society artisans in their Fabrication Workshop — where the puppets and props from their productions are imagined, designed, and brought to life.
On the other hand, award-winning Counterpilot’s has a whimsical, interactive experience in store for us that is sure to be memorable: A public spectacle of disconcerting joy, Not a Cult* will invite you to put on a pair of headphones, don a patriotic robe, and follow instructions from an enigmatic voice. A sharp satire disguised as a good time, this is a truly unique performance.
Music, Circus & Theatre
This year at Brisbane Festival, there are plenty of gigs to give you that live entertainment fix, but not just any regular show! Enter Mama Does Derby, a spectacle where Queensland Roller Derby League skaters circle a track-like stage in an action-packed show that follows a teenager and her mum’s struggle to fit in as they find their footing in a new town.
For something unforgettable, try Living Sculptures: How the birds got their colours, a stunning dance performance that combines traditional Indigenous dance with contemporary circus, telling a moving story through thrilling acrobatics.
Or, if you’re looking for another event that blends multiple disciplines, you can’t miss Ocean in Concert with David Attenborough, in which the legendary documentarian’s 2025 film Ocean will be screened, with the score played live by a full orchestra.
To avoid disappointment, make sure to check the Brisbane Festival program for specific dates and times for these events as some installations do not run for the full length of the festival program.
