It’s finally the weekend! Time to make the most of the first week of February, because there’s heaps happening. Whether you want to let your appetite lead the way, get in the holiday spirit, or want to unwind with some art, we’ve got you covered.
Journey to Middle-Earth
đź’˛From $45pp.
Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and Candlelight are bringing the magic of Tolkien’s genre-defining saga to life with Candlelight: The Lord of the Rings — a classical music concert. From January 29, strap in for this 60-minute journey with a string quartet performing iconic scores from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.
Surrounded by thousands of candles, you will get revisit epic themes as the franchise nears its 25th anniversary! You can buy your tickets now for this stunning tribute to the legendary film trilogy’s powerful soundtrack.
Make some Memories at Cats
đź’˛From $79.90pp.
From February 6 to February 22, experience the 40th Australian Anniversary of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s record-breaking musical CATS! On just one special night of the year, all Jellicle cats meet at the Jellicle Ball where Old Deuteronomy, their wise leader, makes the Jellicle choice and announces which of them will go up to The Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a whole new Jellicle life.
Don’t judge a book by its cover (or a musical by its cinematic adaptation). This show is the cat’s meow, and you won’t want to miss it! Get your tickets here.
Or watch love bloom at this campy classic
đź’˛From $89pp.
The little show that could, going from Off-Broadway to a cult Broadway hit and even gracing the big screen, sci-fi smash musical Little Shop of Horrors will be back — bigger, bolder, and hungrier than ever! — until February 15 at QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre.
Spy or betray at Saboteurs
đź’˛From $35pp.
Enter the world of Saboteurs in Brisbane, a live AmongUs-style game where Crew members complete tasks while Impostors secretly eliminate them. Work together, form alliances, and use deductive skills to identify the Impostors before they outnumber the Crew. Get your tickets here.
Dance to Sofi Tukker
đź’˛From $101pp.
For their first headline tour in seven years, on February 5, this GRAMMY-nominated duo are bringing their globally acclaimed, high-energy live show with hits like Purple Hat to Fortitude Musical Hall. With a border-crossing sound that blends Brazilian rhythms, bossa-nova grooves, and Portuguese poetry, every show is a kaleidoscope of rhythm.
Travel to other worlds at the immersive Virtual Room
đź’˛$55pp.
Imagine blending the challenge of an escape room with the cinematic immersion of a VR blockbuster. That’s Virtual Room in a nutshell—a multi-sensory, puzzle-driven experience where communication, teamwork, and storytelling collide in mesmerising 3D worlds.
Kick the year off with music
Kick off the summer and your 2026 dancing on your feet with Southwave: Summer Electronic Series, a program of free events until February 21 that’ll bring some of the most internationally renowned electronic artists to Brisbane, not to mention some of our brightest local talent, including Maribou State and Rose Gray.
Enter a horror story at Prison Island
đź’˛From $40 per adult.
Prison Island is an electrifying, immersive experience that fuses the excitement of escape rooms with the challenge of obstacle courses. This high-octane, 90-minute gameplay will put your team’s strategy, intelligence, and agility to the test. And this Halloween, the cells aren’t empty. Brave Brisbane’s most haunted escape adventure, if you can handle it. There’ll be live actors, eerie lighting, and a few… unexpected guests.
Learn about the ultimate predators
đź’˛$29.90 per adult.
Queensland Museum Kurilpa is snapping at the chance to honour crocs and is doing so with their awe-inspiring Croc! Lost Giants to Living Legends exhibition.
Dive deep into the savage beauty and ancient power of one of the most extraordinary creatures on the planet and go on a journey through time, taking in everything from prehistoric super crocs to the powerful living legends we share our waterways with today.
Swing your way through this installation
đź’˛From $25 per adult.
Swingers – The Art of Mini Golf arrives at the Brisbane Powerhouse and it’s a hole new kind of interactive exhibition! You’ll get to play your way through nine adventurous mini golf holes, each designed by leading female artists, and explore the game’s subversion history and the untold obstacles along its path: it was invented in the 19th century by Scottish women as a response to being banned from the real deal.
You can take a swing from January 10, and book your spot here!
Explore the beauty of the everyday in Precious
Precious brings together a fascinating array of breathtaking curiosity, with over three thousand remarkable items from more than 20 public and private collections.
With everything from textiles to tin-toys, this exhibition is a joyful celebration of the art of assemblage, and will immerse you in the world of keepsakes and the everyday stories tied to each and every one of them. Best of all, it’s free!
Take a dip for just $2
If you’re looking for somewhere to go swimming this summer, but don’t want to leave Brisbane or go to Streets Beach, then look no further, because Brisbane City Council is launching $2 summer dips at their 22 public pools around the city.
Until February 28, entry prices will be slashed across Brisbane’s public swimming pools, from $6.40 per person to just $2. All the info here!
Be starstruck at AACTA Film Festival
The Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts (AACTA) is coming back to HOTA from February 4 to February 8 with the best AACTA Festival you’ve ever scene! With over 100 events — many of them free! — including an expanded music program, there is something for everyone from film buffs to music lovers and pop culture enthusiasts.
Get your hands dirty with Contraptions
In an increasingly digital world, Contraptions dares artists to use machines for play, experimentation and the hand-on implementation of their ideas. Discover the mechanical qualities of contraptions and fall back in love with the analogue at this free exhibition until February 2026!
Or with Banksy’s outspoken art
đź’˛From $39 per adult.
This new Banksy exhibition made its world premiere in Brisbane, and is continuing into 2026. Another iconic showing of the insightful street artist, this unprecedented collection brings over 300 pieces — three times as many as in previous editions! — of which 100 are original pieces. Not just that, but visitors can truly experience the world of Banksy through immersive installations, digital mapping shows, sculptures and even holograms.
Go on a foam-tastic run
đź’˛From $129.99pp.
Run and dive through 2.5 million cubic feet of foam at the 5K Foam Fest, happening February 7 at the iconic Sirromet Winery! The family-friendly fun run also includes access to the large beer and wine garden, a free kids zone, and live DJ. Plus, you’ll be running for a good cause, as Foam Fest supports Make-A-Wish!
Get chills at this glowing ballet
đź’˛From $63.50.
The already elegant art of ballet gets elevated at Ballet of Lights, which reimagines much-loved fairy tales such as Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella through luminous dance and storytelling. Each performance blends classical ballet’s poise with the visual poetry of light, as every costume glows gently with fibre-optic threads that bring movement to life. With just five or six dancers, this one-hour production distils the grandeur of the world’s most enduring ballets into a captivating experience!
Get your tickets for these brilliant shows here!
Go on an affordable summer escape
From historical train stations to stunning National Parks, idyllic beaches and even a giant stone pyramid, there’s plenty of little hidden gems only a few hours from Brisbane, offering affordable fun and interesting activities for the whole family! Read more about them here.
Be wowed at an adult-only theatre show filled with French flair and sizzling circus acts
đź’˛From $64pp.
Blanc de Blanc’s acclaimed international cast has returned to Brisbane to bring Blanc de Blanc Encore to The West End Electric this summer. This one-of-a-kind, adult-only production will immerse you in a world of vintage French flair, risqué humour, and Gatsby-esque glamour – not to mention fantastic dance numbers and aerials! Don’t miss this champagne-soaked show from the masterminds behind Madonna’s Rebel Heart tour.
Catch a flick at this outdoor cinema
đź’˛From $18.50.
The January program for Moonlight Cinema is chock-full of great films, and you’ll be able to catch big summer titles like Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2 and Anaconda, alongside preview screenings of upcoming films including Song Sung Blue, Hamnet and global phenomenon Six the Musical.
Moonlight Cinema returns to Roma Street Parkland until February 18. See the full program and get your tickets here!
Or take a walk on the wild side at Wild Summer
đź’˛$15 per adult.
Until Feburary 15, Lost Worlds Cinema is roaring into Rainforest Green with Wild Summer, a program with more excitement than you’ll know what to do with.
Together with South Bank, BIFF is making every kid’s (literal or figurative) dream come true by bringing a fourth dimension to films set in cinema’s favourite backdrop: the jungle. Imagine watching Jurassic Park from inside the park, or seeing Arnie take down Predator from inside the jungle!
Go on a multi-sensory journey with Olafur Eliasson: Presence
đź’˛$33 per adult.
Icelandic-Danish artist Olafur Eliasson invites us until July to engage our sense of perception through a primordial landscape spanning the artist’s three-decade career. Across GOMA’s ground floor galleries, the exhibition includes important early works and expansive site-specific installations, many developed especially for Presence.
Grab your tickets here!
Find connections at un/tethered
This moving exhibition brings together the personal stories of six Papua New Guinean women living in Queensland, exploring their experiences of identity, community, and cultural connection in the diaspora.
Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Papua New Guinea’s independence, Un/tethered invites visitors to reflect on cultural survival, sovereignty, and the ways communities remain tethered to their roots even when far from home through personal objects and narratives.
Take your dining to new heights
đź’˛From $159pp.
Brisbane’s unmissable rooftop and dining adventure is back and better than ever. Brisbane Powerhouse’s Vertigo offers memorable moments, with a shared charcuterie offering and alcoholic drinks to enjoy. Once you’ve satisfied both your appetite and your hunger for pulse-raising views, you’ll get to feel the thrill of an iconic 17-metre leap down the side of the Powerhouse!
Try your hand at Quiz Room
đź’˛From $45 per group of 3-6 people.
At Quiz Room, you’ll be stepping onto a real game show set, complete with buzzers, dazzling lights, music, smoke effects, and the adrenaline rush of competition. Think Who Wants To Be A Millionaire meets Family Feud, but with you and your friends as the stars of the show.
Light up at Astra Lumina
đź’˛From $50pp.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary’s beautiful flora comes alive as the stars come out thanks to Astra Lumina, its newest immersive installation. This luminous adventure will immerse you in the magic of light and projection with a moving soundscape, set against the enchanting backdrop of Australian bushland.
Read all about it and get your tickets here.
Compete in this adults-only mini golf
đź’˛$35 per adult.
Take on The Jungle Adventure Play’s 16 hole Mini Golf Safari with other kidults every Saturday night, journeying through caves, ancient ruins, and even a giant snake! The best part? You can get refreshments at their tiki bar, making it the most fun mini golf experience, par none. Book here!
Join a class
It’s never a bad time to learn something! Why not join a workout class or learn how to cook something new? Whatever you choose, find the fun in it and try not to pressure yourself too much. Remember: slow and steady wins the race!
Take stroll through history
Make the most of the weather by doing your learning outdoors! Museum of Brisbane is offering 90-minute walking tours delving into stories of Traditional Custodians, convicts, public art and one of Brisbane’s towering cathedrals on select Saturdays. Check availability and get your tickets here.
Relax and rejuvenate at a day spa
Who doesn’t want to start the year out at their most relaxed? Weekends are the perfect opportunity to treat yourself to a spa day. Offering an extensive menu of tailor-made treatments — from facials to full-body massages and everything in between — the W’s AWAY® Spa, with its soothing, curated playlist is sure to leave you glowing.
Try to catch a murderer
đź’˛$16pp.
When travel influencer Bella Wanderlust is found dead, it’s up to you to figure out who the murderer is. With plenty of shady characters, red herrings and plot twists, Brisbane Murder Mystery will keep you on your toes. Watch your back as you investigate real locations, search for clues and interrogate suspects in order to solve the case!
Cheer on your favourite NFL team at a Super Bowl party
NFL fans to the front, because America’s massive Super Bowl game is back again on Monday, February 9. See the action screened at one of Brisbane’s local watering holes, such as Felons, The Boundary Hotel or Fridays, which are serving up a slew of American-themed food, beverages and more for fans of all teams!
Sing your stress out at karaoke
Belting out your favourite tunes — whether with some liquid courage or not — is a time-honoured remedy for any leftover stress. Dazzle your friends in a private karaoke room or delight strangers with your Grammy-worthy performance in a public one, and leave your cares behind!
Feel the magic at this sultry stage show
đź’˛From $55pp.
Fire up the group chat and book your spot for an unforgettable night out with Australia’s top-rated male revue, Magic Men. This electrifying two-hour show features some of Brisbane’s hottest hunks, known for their incredible moves and equally impressive physiques. If you’re in the mood for a heart-pounding night out that promises pure entertainment, this is the weekend event for you. Find out more — and book your tickets — here.
Get drawn into Bluey’s World
đź’˛From $59.90pp.
Named one of the top places in the world in 2025, the much-anticipated immersive experience Bluey’s World is a must-visit.
Based on the hit TV show, the attraction is decked out with a recreation of the iconic Heeler Queenslander home, where you can walk around and interact with life-size sets of Bluey and Bingo’s playroom and bedroom, the family lounge room, as well as the backyard with the poinciana tree in it. Get your tickets for the perfect outing for the whole family!
Skipper you and your mates down the Brisbane River on these BYO electric boats
đź’˛From $149 per boat of up to 8 people.
Now that summer is in full swing, GoBoat have become the easiest way for you and your friends to enjoy time on the water. The boats—constructed from fibreglass, which uses recycled PET bottles instead of virgin glass—are powered by an electric motor and have a top speed of seven kilometres per hour.
This means that you don’t need a license to skipper them and anyone over the age of eighteen can be captain for a day.
Take a cool dip at one of these magical swimming holes near Brisbane
Even though it’s winter, you may still be craving a dip or a splash. Just outside of the city, you’ll find some of the best swimming holes in Australia. These natural freshwater pools are filled up and ready for you to take a dip, and the hike to get to some of them will make them feel twice as refreshing!
Feel the rush of the weekend at Dopamine Land
đź’˛$30 per adult.
Get ready to step into a world where all your childhood daydreams have come to life. The experience makes use of sight, sound, touch and smell to create a truly immersive experience. From wading through a giant ball pit, to creating melodies by hopping on musical tiles, every one of the ten unique rooms has a new surprise in store for you.
Grab your tickets here!Get your telescope out at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
Surrounded by the scenic Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, you can marvel both at our world and those beyond at the Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium. Home to the Cosmic Skydome — a 12.5-metre-diameter projection dome, the space offers visitors a chance to witness immersive shows that take them on journeys through the known universe and time.
Passport to the Universe, for one, is narrated by Tom Hanks and will take you on a thrilling journey through the Solar System, beneath the rings of Saturn, into the heart of the Orion Nebula, out of the Milky Way Galaxy and to the edge of the observable universe, returning home via a black hole. To infinity and beyond!
Escape to Moreton Island
đź’˛From $179 per adult.
Over a long weekend, the urge to take a break from the city becomes almost irresistible. What better way to live a long weekend to its fullest than a day trip to nearby gem, Moreton Island? Although its pristine beaches are ideal for a lazy day, this slice of paradise might be even better for adventurous travellers, with surfable waves and thrilling activities awaiting them. Book your day trip here.
Hit the trails near Brisbane
Want to have a healthier weekend? South East Queensland is home to some of the most breathtaking hikes in the country, and there’s no denying it. Just a short drive from Brisbane, you’ll find national parks full of trails and walking tracks that you can tackle, many of them boasting spectacular views and nature therapy.