Queensland Performing Arts Centre Announces Return Of First Nations Arts & Culture Festival, Drops Line-up

Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) has announced the return of their First Nations Arts & Culture Festival, Clancestry, for the twelfth consecutive year running. 

Set to take place in Brisbane from July 23 to August 10, Clancestry boasts an exciting program of live music, workshops, theatre, and children’s events. The line-up itself is stacked, featuring a performance from Eurovision’s own ARIA-winning Electric Fields - accompanied by the Queensland Symphony Orchestra.

The 2025 iteration of the festival also includes the multi-award-winning play The Visitors, written by Jane Harrison and directed by Wesley Enoch, following its critically acclaimed sold-out seasons. And, in one of the most innovative and energising works to emerge, composer and pianist Paul Grabowsky will bring the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Yolŋu songmen Daniel Ngukurr Boy Wilfred and David Yipininy Wilfred together for Wata: a gathering for songmen, improvising soloists and orchestra. 

On top of that, Australia’s leading Indigenous performing arts company, Bangarra Dance Theatre, will present the Queensland premiere of their first-ever visual arts collaboration, Illume, an exciting new presentation from Mirning woman and Bangarra Artistic Director Frances Rings and Goolarrgon Bard visual artist Darrell Sibosado. Illume will delve into artificial light pollution and its disruption to land and sky - devastating First Nations people’s connections to sky country and limiting their ability to share celestial knowledge and skylore - by drawing together music, visual arts and dance.

“This collaboration uses both choreographic and visual art perspectives in a unique approach that conveys complex themes about light, culture, and environmental issues,” Rings said in a press release. “I hope that by intersecting our artistic practices, we potentially create something more innovative and impactful that honours our First Nations cultural storytelling.”

Though Clancestry’s full line-up is yet to be announced, the first few acts are enough to whet the appetite.

QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy assured punters that the best is yet to come. “This year’s line-up will wow audiences with some of the most captivating First Nations artists in the country on our main stages. We can’t wait to unveil even more of our free program in the coming months and look forward to welcoming our community to share this celebration of culture.

“Clancestry has long been a signature festival for QPAC that highlights the rich and diverse creativity and performance culture of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We always look forward to announcing the festival line-up.”

Find details for the already-announced shows here.