Get ready, honey! The cultural climax of LGBTQ+ art and culture will sail into Brisbane from October 22 to November 9, and it’s unleashing a star-studded lineup on the River City. The initial program announcement includes everything from burlesque, to interactive art to parties, and here is just a taste of what you’ll have to look forward to.
Witness fearless, sharp-witted cabaret superstar, Reuben Kaye premier enGORGEd for Melt Festival 2025 at QPAC. Featuring Camerata — Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra and musical direction by Shanon D Whitelock, this is Kaye’s most lavish, loud and liberated show yet.
Another Melt debut just as fabulous, Ben Graetz’s (aka Miss Ellaneous) Miss First Nation drag pageant will catwalk into Brisbane, with the grand finale taking centre stage at Melt and the fiercest Aborigial and Torres Strait Islander queens giving jaw-dropping performanced and battling for the crown.
For the musical lovers, don’t miss new musical The Lucky Country, which asks the question, what does it mean to be Australian in 2025? And answers it through genre-defying music that confronts Australia’s cultural contradictions with honesty, heart and a rocking score. Or settle in for a glorious night of songs and stories from iconic star of stage and screen Bernadette Peters in her first Australian performance in over a decade!
If you’re in a participatory mood, River Pride Parade is returning once more, bringing a flotilla of fabulousness down the Brisbane River/Maiwar, from West End to Brisbane Powerhouse, and you can register to join the fleet or board Harry K’s fabulously Queer boat party! On a quieter, yet hilarious note, Queer PowerPoint is also back and you can watch a rotating cast of Queer creatives turn boring boardroom tools into niche hilarity, or apply to present yourself.
And, if you missed last year’s monumental installation by Spencer Tunick, featuring 5500 of Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community and allies gettin nude on the Story Bridge, don’t worry: this year Melt is asking you to get vocal! Join 1000 Voices, a major choral event uniting queer and ally choirs and solo singers in one monumental moment of song, spirit and solidarity that is sure to bring out goosebumps in all who hear!
There will be a variety of outrageous parties and drag shows to attend, hosted by queer royalty such as Naomi Smalls, Yvie Oddly, and Drag Race UK winner Kyran Thrax, as well as thought-provoking theatre and visual arts exhibition that delve into central themes like identity, belonging and colonisation.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane is ready to welcome visitors from all over Australia to this unique and beloved celebration, saying, “Melt is an amazing celebration of our LGBTQIA-plus community, creating so much to do in our vibrant arts and cultural scene.
“There’s no better place to have such an iconic festival, with our river, cultural precinct and Brisbane Powerhouse set to stage a program full of world-renowned acts, international artists and local talent.”
You can see the full announced program, get tickets or register to join events like the River Pride Parade here!