Brisbane Festival returns this September, and today it reveals its itinerary of live music, theatre, community productions, and more.
Leading the music line-up is the return of Night at the Parkland, held at the Roma Street Parkland.
Performers on this year’s line-up include soul icon Aloe Blacc, ARIA Hall of Fame inductees Human Nature and Missy Higgins, rock stars ICEHOUSE, The Temper Trap, The Cruel Sea, and Magic Dirt, plus dance music outfit PNAU and Katie Noonan, who’s performing Jeff Buckley’s Grace in its entirety.
This year’s Brisbane Festival also marks the return of RocKwiz. Hosted by Julia Zemiro and Brian Nankervis – joined by the RocKwiz Orkestra, special guests, and contestants from the crowd – the event will feature trivia, performances, and some friendly competition.
Theatre events include Mama Does Derby, Bleachers, Koreaboo, and more. Elsewhere, the programming announcement includes the Festival Village – a takeover of the South Bank Cultural Forecourt – which is home to plenty of live entertainment. It also welcomes exclusive productions, the Moorooka Block Party, and much more.
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Brisbane Festival returns on Friday, 4 September, and continues until Saturday, 26 September. Tickets to the event’s performances will be available from 7 am local time on Tuesday, 9 June.
Head to the Brisbane Festival website for more details about tickets, updates, and the full program.
The 2026 Brisbane Festival is presented by new Artistic Director Ebony Bott. Introducing this year’s program, as well as making her debut in the role, 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.”
Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner added, “Brisbane Festival is back again, ready to light up our river and turn every corner of our city into a stage. From spectacular performances in iconic city spaces to hidden gems in neighbourhood venues, this year’s festival is packed with unforgettable experiences across Brisbane.
“Brisbane continues to attract world-class events and bold artistic talent from around the globe while proudly backing local performers, businesses and communities that continue to help shape our reputation as Australia's lifestyle capital.
“We’re proud to support Brisbane Festival and the incredible opportunities it creates for our local artists and local economy. So, grab your friends, plan your calendar and dive headfirst into this year’s program. There’s truly something for everyone.”
