The program for the 2025 edition of Brisbane Festival has arrived, with the stacked line up featuring world premieres, major collaborations, and loads more across the 23-day affair.

Kicking off on September 5th and running until September 27th, the expansive program is a massive undertaking, comprising 2,260 artists across 106 productions and 1,069 performances. Most impressively, over 39% of this year's program will be free to the public as well.

Additionally, it will be the sixth and final festival overseen by Artistic Director Louise Bezzina. For her last outing, the program is one that reflects her tenure by way of plenty of international collaborations, First Nations and culturally diverse talent, and community participation and homegrown talent.

“This year’s program is a love letter to Brisbane — bold, joyful, and created with and for the city,” says Bezzina. “My final festival is a celebration of everything Brisbane Festival has become: a world-class event with a fiercely local heart.

“From world premieres to deeply resonant community works, this year’s program is ambitious in scale and grounded in storytelling, deeply connected to the people and places that make this city so special. As the city comes alive this September, I welcome everyone to take their place in the story.”

The 2025 edition will be one filled with artistic installations, including the most notable commission via Brisbane's own Craig & Karl, with ANZ's Walk This Way seeing the pair transforming three of the city's most prominent pedestrian bridges – Neville Bonner Bridge, the Goodwill Bridge, and the new Kangaroo Point Bridge – into walkable, vibrant artistic installations. Meanwhile, their Double Vision exhibition will also continue over at Griffith University's Art Museum.

As Brisbane's skyline and streets are transformed by Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust on the opening weekend, Skylore returns with 400 drones telling a traditional story from Brisbane’s First Nations people, and Afterglow invites audiences on a stunning journey through a dreamscape of fire sculptures, candlelit artworks and live performances at the Roma St Parkland.

This year also sees impressive premieres by way of the likes of Bad Nature from Australasian Dance Collective and the Netherlands’ Club Guy & Roni; Preparing Ground, co-directed by leading First Nations Queensland choreographers Marilyn Miller, Jasmin Sheppard and Katina Olsen; and Gatsby At The Green Light, which will take over the iconic Twelfth Night Theatre.

Alongside, art, theatre, cabaret, installations, and more, the music program is also one that takes things to another level. While 100 Guitars is a powerful mass-participation performance that celebrates collaboration, connection and the joy of making music as one, the Common People Dance Eisteddfod serves as a high-energy, sequin-studded suburban dance battle sweeping the country.

Tivoli In The Round brings together a stellar line up of diverse acts, including Phantastic Ferniture, Odd Mob, C.W. Stoneking, and sets from Wolters, Franck, and Juice Romance, all performing in intimate in-the-round settings.

Night At The Parkland brings together massive Aussie names for a gorgeous night at Roma Street Parkland, including the likes of Icehouse, Lime Cordiale with Jack River, Xavier Rudd, Amy Shark, Grinspoon, Cut Copy with KLP, and James Johnston.

Other highly-anticipated events include shows from John Butler, Sarah Blasko, UK rising stars Wunderhorse, melodic stalwarts Winston Surfshirt, and more.

Meanwhile, Brisbane Serenades provides a series of free outdoor gigs celebrating the city's cultural diversity, while Community Choir: The Musical sees everyday voices turned into unexpected stars.

“The Crisafulli Government is proud to support Brisbane Festival to share the stories that define us and celebrate our state’s creativity, while growing our reputation as a thriving destination for arts,” says Minister for Arts John-Paul Langbroek.

“This year, we have focused on funding free community-based events to make sure all Queenslanders have access to this spectacular program of bold, colourful, and creative arts experiences.”

Full information surrounding this year’s Brisbane Festival – including the full program, dates, and ticketing information – is available via their official website.