Your must-read guide to this year's Brisbane Festival

Attention parents: Brisbane Festival is your chance to explore the city like never before. There are just so many events and activities for the whole family, both free and ticketed.

One of this year’s most anticipated premieres, Fancy Long Legs, is a sparkly, vibrant musical adventure based on a new book by Rachel Burke, Brisbane’s tinsel queen (of international tinsel jacket fame). The play tells the story of a creative spider called Fancy and her journey to self-discovery while offering relatable insight into neurodivergence. Playing at La Boite Theatre from 12 – 24 September, it’s a welcoming event recommended for 3 – 8-year-olds, with select Auslan interpreted and relaxed performances, as well as audio description and tactile tour.

Bring the family to South Bank to watch storytelling and meet a captivating drone display during Skylore – The Rainbow Serpent (19 – 21 Sep), enjoy a day among culture and community at the free Moorooka Block Party (7 Sep), or grab tickets to help solve a part mystery, part game Adrift, a participatory theatre experience that older teens and parents will love (11 – 28 Sep).

Brisbane Festival’s epicentre of gathering and celebration, the ANZ Festival Garden, will return as an all-ages inner-city wonderland of food, entertainment and discovery set among the lush South Bank Parklands. Nearby, South Bank Piazza hosts a range of family-friendly performances throughout the festival, including the gravity-defying Cirque Bon Bon (18 – 20 Sep) and sequin spectacular Common People Dance Eisteddfod (21 Sep).

And be sure to find your spot along Brisbane River and cast your eyes to the sky to watch it sparkle as Riverfire makes its bold return with a big bang and plenty of fireworks on 31 August.

For a night at the theatre

A little eccentric, very funny and extremely fashionable, Brisbane Festival’s 2024 showstopper, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show (30 Aug – 15 Sep), promises to amaze audiences with a visually spectacular musical performance celebrating 50 years of pop culture – and a hit soundtrack to match.

Award-winning Brisbane author Trent Dalton scored fans around the world for his novel turned mini-series Boy Swallows Universe, and another of his beloved books will be adapted to the stage for a Brisbane Festival first. Love Stories is the culmination of heartwarming, funny and wise tidbits Trent collected from willing passersby as he set up his desk in Brisbane’s CBD for a few months in 2021 and asked locals ‘Can you please tell me a love story?’. What was shared became a truly touching book of short stories, and this pondering – about what really is love anyway and the beauty that perhaps everyone does have a love story – is transformed for the theatre, at QPAC’s Playhouse (10 – 29 Sep). 

Straight from the Strait will have its world premiere during the festival at QPAC’s Playhouse (30 Aug - 1 Sep). It’s an uplifting musical that shares the stories of Torres Strait Islanders who ventured far from their homes in pursuit of employment in mainland Australia. Showcasing traditional Torres Strait music and languages fused with a contemporary band, the musical is led by a team of First Nations creatives, performers and cultural advisors.

Fans of the Warumpi Band shouldn’t miss the epic rock and roll theatre show coming to QPAC – Big Name, No Blankets – which celebrates the phenomenal journey and impact of founding member Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher.

A serialised live performance miniseries spanning four 45-minute episodes, Volcano crosses the boundaries of experimental theatre, contemporary dance and psychological sci-fi thriller by acclaimed director and choreographer Luke Murphy (30 Aug – 14 Sep).

Internationally acclaimed LIMBO makes its way to Australia with an intoxicating mix of cabaret, circus, acrobatics and ecstatic heart-pounding live music (30 Aug – 21 Sep). Other highlights include Blak Social’s Alethea Beetson incredible one-woman show, Meet Your Maker (31 Aug – 7 Sep) and reimagined fairytales at Shake & Stir Theatre Co’s haunting new show GRIMM (31 Aug – 22 Sep).

For music and dance lovers

What does it mean to be a young Aboriginal man in 2024? Dear Brother, presented with BlakDance, explores the experiences and struggles of young men from different corners of Queensland who arrive in the city to find their future and stay connected to Country too – and it’s a form-defying performance that incorporates dance, music and poetry. (Bille Brown Theatre, 7 – 28 Sep).

Brisbane Festival’s unique dance program is joined by Dancenorth Australia’s new work Lighting the Dark created by and starring Chris Dyke, a dancer living with Down Syndrome (12 – 14 Sep). While Private View shares unspoken stories of those living with disability through music and dance (18 – 21 Sep).

Music lovers can explore all genres at venues across the city – including a one-night-only opportunity to catch Aussie legends The Cat Empire share the stage with Queensland Symphony Orchestra to perform some of the band’s greatest hits and newest tunes, with extra flair from flamenco artists (19 Sep). Jonathan Mills’ new opera Eucalyptus is based on the Miles Franklin Award-winning novel by Murray Bail (4 – 5 Sep), and The Serenades series is back for its fifth year with five free outdoor concerts across Brisbane suburbs – grab your friends and family and discover talent from St Lucia to Portside Wharf.

Let Queensland Symphony Orchestra lead you down a garden path of sounds during Spirit of the Wild: A Vision of Nature (QPAC Concert Hall, 13-14 Sep). And don’t miss Ngapa William Cooper - a powerful story of Yorta Yorta man and activist, Uncle William Cooper. The music is a creative collaboration between acclaimed Australian composer Nigel Westlake, singer-songwriter Lior, and performer Lou Bennett – in a special, unconducted arrangement for Queensland’s chamber orchestra, Camerata (QPAC Concert Hall, 7 Sep).

For art immersion

Three weeks of Brisbane Festival performances are joined by endless opportunities to discover – and be part of – art installations across the city. Step aboard and immerse yourself in an unforgettable voyage along Brisbane River with DJs, drag, and burlesque on the Art Boat (30 Aug – 21 Sep). Indulge in a night of extravagance, glitter and glam at The Alexander Ball (7 Sep), or wander through the illuminations of Lightscape, returning with a new display to transform Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens into an after-dark wonderland of light, colour and sound – including two incredible sculptural installations created by Queensland First Nations artists Paul Bong (aka Bindur Bullin) and Michelle Yeatman (29 Aug – 12 Oct).

Want to Write Your Heart Out­? Inspired by Trent Dalton’s Love Stories, you’re invited to type your own love letter and contribute to local love stories on show at the Museum of Brisbane’s gallery (30 Aug – 21 Sep). Prefer to bust a move? ANZ Festival Garden’s ChronoHARP invites participation, reacting to human movement by casting light animations and music.

Local First Nations designer Grace Lillian Lee’s world premiere of The Dream Weaver: Guardians of Grace, merges culture, heritage and innovation with First Nations art and design, while Brisbanites can discover Cairns Indigenous Art Fair’s touring exhibition Big Sculpture at Brisbane Powerhouse (2 Sep – 6 Oct), sharing thought-provoking First Nations’ stories.

Looking for more Brisbane Festival events? Discover the full program here.

Brisbane Festival tickets

All tickets can be booked online or over the phone. See here for more information.

How to get to Brisbane Festival

The heart of the festival: South Bank

Train: Arrive into South Brisbane Station

Bus: Arrive into Cultural Centre Station

Ferry: Arrive into the South Bank Ferry Terminal

Walk: Cross the Victoria or Kurilpa Bridge

Where to get a lay of the land

New to Brisbane? Take a guided tour with Walk Brisbane or Brisbane Greeters. Not only will you familiarise yourself with the city and how to get around, you’ll also learn about its rich history. Connect with the world's oldest living culture on a Blackcard Cultural Tour that will take you through South Bank's galleries, exhibitions and public art. Or take to the water, and explore the Brisbane via the river on a kayak tour.

Climb to the top of the Story Bridge and see Brisbane city from a bucket list-worthy vantage point. You’ll get spectacular river views and a breathtaking panorama of South Bank and the CBD. And if you climb at twilight, you’ll witness an incredible sunset and watch as the city lights start to sparkle.

Need help planning?

• Find accommodation options here
• Find out more about South Bank here
• Discover cool things to see and do in Brisbane here
• Want to come back for another event? Check out the line-up of Brisbane events here
• Want to take a sneaky trip to the beach? Here’s a guide to Brisbane's best beaches.
• Hiring a car while you’re here? Check out this list of the best day trips from Brisbane.
• Here for a good time, not a long time? Here’s everything you need to know.