It’s Open Season and the target is boredom. 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 starting back up on May 25, and is taking its star-studded poster all over the city, going beyond its usual Tivoli and Princess Theatre, and last year’s QPAC, adding Clarence Corner to the mix!
And you better believe it’s making use of iconic places all over Brissy. With six venues in all — QUIVR and VENTspace, as well as the four previously mentioned — Open Season will truly light up the winter, allowing highly-anticipated shows, such as Mogwai, or electrifying Kae Tempest, to be added to the program.
But that’s not even close to all. Celebrated UK vocalist Clara La San will also take the stage, as will Sparks and hip-hop heavyweights Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE. Local favourites will also make an appearance with Wednesday and Sorryslot as part of the program, along with indie icons Stereolab and Hatchie, among many others!
Beyond the already unbelievable music acts lined up, Open Season 2026 is tailor-made to celebrate everything that makes Brisbane a thriving live music city! The festival even has its own brew, Green Beacon’s Open Season Lager, which you’ll be able to sip on throughout the venues and, with special deals on tasty food all along King Street, it’ll be a party for all senses.
David Sleswick, Creative Director of The Tivoli Group said it best: “This program is designed to inspire, to awaken our adventurous spirit, step out of the house and get amongst some seriously excellent live music.”
Practical info and lineup
Open Season will take place from Monday, May 25 to Saturday, July 25.
You can see the full program and get your tickets for all shows here.
This year’s lineup stands as follows:
- Monday, May 25 — Gil Scott-Heron by Brian Jackson and Yasiin Bey at The Tivoli
- Wednesday, May 27 — Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE at the Tivoli
- Wednesday, May 27 — Current Joys at The Princess Theatre
- Wednesday May 27 — Mogwai at QPAC
- Thursday, May 28 — Dry Cleaning at The Princess Theatre
- Friday, May 29 — Ben Gerrans at The Princess Theatre
- Friday, May 29 — Bradley Zero and Das Druid at Echo and Bounce
- Friday, May 29 — Mulga Bore Hard Rock at VENTspace
- Saturday, May 30 — Artificial at QUIVR
- Saturday, May 30 — Sparks at QPAC
- Sunday, May 31 — Matt Berninger at The Princess Theatre
- Tuesday, June 2 — Cate Le Bon with Hana Stretton at The Princess Theatre
- Thursday, June 4 — Alison Wonderland at The Tivoli
- Thursday, June 4 — Wednesday at The Princess Theatre
- Friday, June 5 — Sorry at St. Andrew’s Church Hall
- Saturday, June 6 — Centrefold ft. C.Frim, Damleeeela, nikitasilly & more at QUIVR
- Sunday, June 7 — Kae Tempest at The Princess Theatre
- Monday, June 8 — Saint Levant at The Princess Theatre
- Tuesday, June 9 — The Black Angels at The Princess Theatre
- Tuesday, June 6 to Monday, June 22 — Nowhere Fast Photo Exhibition at Woolloongabba Art Gallery
- Friday, June 12 — ACD’S Assembly Vol. 2 at The Princess Theatre
- Saturday, June 13 — Clara La San at The Princess Theatre
- Friday, June 19 — Rum Jungle at The Princess Theatre
- Saturday, June 20 — Against The Grain Festival ft. Stereolab, RBCF, Hatchie & more at The Princess Theatre and Clarence Corner
- Saturday, June 27 — South System Vol. 2 ft. RONA. at Fish Lane Arts Precinct
- Friday, July 3 — Shady Nasty at The Tivoli
- Wednesday, July 8 — Ben Kweller at The Princess Theatre
- Friday, July 10 — Hiatus Kaiyote at The Tivoli
- Sunday, July 12 — Deafheaven, Nothing and Spy at The Princess Theatre
- Tuesday, July 14 — Kiosk Films: Cruisin’ for a Bruisin’ at The Princess Theatre
- Thursday, July 16 and Friday, July 17 — VOiiiD Collective and Bcharre بشرّي: SKIN at The Princess Theatre
- Thursday, July 16 — Peach PRC venue TBA
- Friday, July 17 — Skin on Skin venue TBA
- Saturday, July 18 — Full Flower Moon Band at The Tivoli
- Friday, July 24 — Silversun Pickups at The Tivoli
- Friday, July 24 — Blak Day Out ft. Beddy Rays, Jem Casser Daley & more at The Princess Theatre
- Saturday, July 25 — Eddy Current Suppression Ring, Speeding Vehicle and Scraps at The Princess Theatre
