For a dynamic 22 days in September, Brisbane Festival will transform the city into a place where anything can happen and where art can be found in every corner, from breathtaking fireworks on the river to a exclusive international acts, and spaces in the city reimagined as vibrant works of art.
Last year, it brought together 2,260 artists across 1,069 performances, including 21 world premieres, so the festival is always an absolutely unmissable date on the cultural calendar. And, with accessibility in mind and a commitment to bringing world-class art to the whole city, a large portion of the program tends to be free!
Introducing this year’s program, Artistic Director, Ebony Bott said, “This year, Brisbane Festival is tuned to the frequency of this city – from first light through to after dark. It is a Festival shaped by Brisbane’s energy, outdoor life and sense of momentum and possibility, bringing extraordinary artists from Queensland, across Australia and around the world into theatres, parks, riverbanks and the Festival Village, South Bank.”
This is perhaps the most exciting development this year: There will now be a Festival Village in South Bank serving the ultimate, non-stop hub for Brisbane’s creative energy, and a thrilling nod to the upcoming 2032 Olympic Athletes’ Village. As the only major arts festival in the country with programming that stretches across the full breadth of the day, it perfectly captures the rhythm of the city!
The vibrant space will bring people together from first light with sunrise ceremonies and morning yoga, all the way through to after dark for world-class performances and riverside drinks beneath the stars.
It will also be home to the dazzling Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, which will transform every evening into a working bar as the home of West End smash The Choir of Man, a raucous, roof-raising celebration of music and community that has taken audiences around the world by storm. The Village Green, on the other hand, will host circus acts, dance workshops and more family-friendly fun!
There will also be plenty to do for the kids: notably, a massive Jim Henson exhibition coming to QAGOMA! Celebrating 70 years of creativity, innovation, and beloved characters, the exclusive-to-Brisbane exhibition Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company is bringing the antics of the world’s most famous puppets to our city!
The festival will also be lighting up the city — literally. Riverfire will ignite the opening weekend with one of Australia’s most spectacular fireworks displays, and Night at the Parkland will have Roma Street Parkland thrumming with energy thanks to artists like Missy Higgins, The Temper Trap, PNAU, Human Nature, Aloe Blacc, and more!
And those are not the only nighttime spectacles to look forward to: The Festival Village will be the perfect vantage point for Bright Nights by ANZ, the festival’s nightly show that will transform the Brisbane River into a choreographed canvas of floating fountains, waterscreens, lasers and water jets soaring up to 80 metres high, set to an exclusive soundtrack by The Veronicas.
Other highlights include the much-anticipated world premiere of Strong is the New Pretty, which reveals the untold story of how the AFLW was born; visceral and high-octane ESCAPE, an elite ahtletic performance blending moving structures, acrobatics and more, all set to a thrilling sountrack; Dead as Dodo, a mesmerising musical odyssey infused with puppetry, humour, music and stunning visual effects; and much, much more!
The jam-packed program will also feature stunning acrobatic performances by Fijian Flying Circus, photography exhibitions, comedic performances and a concert series at some of Brisbane’s most iconic venues and outdoor spaces.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said this iconic arts festival, under Bott’s direction, would be a unique opportunity for residents and visitors to support local artists and experience the city’s creative spirit: “Brisbane Festival lights up our suburbs each year with vibrant colour, creativity and community spirit. It’s one of the biggest events on our calendar supporting hundreds of local artists and businesses. Ebony Bott’s appointment opens an exciting new chapter, and we look forward to seeing her vision elevate the Festival and Brisbane’s global reputation as Australia’s lifestyle capital.”
Practical information
This year’s Brisbane Festival will take place from Friday, September 4 to Saturday, September 26.
There will be a mix of free and ticketed events. You can find the full program and tickets to each event on their website!