At dawn on September 4, 2026, the first light over the Brisbane River will meet the sound of song and ceremony as the city begins its most vibrant cultural moment yet — the Brisbane Festival under the visionary leadership of Artistic Director Ebony Bott. For 23 days, from sunrise to long past midnight, the city will pulse with art, movement, and connection, transforming parks, riverbanks, and theatres into stages for a celebration that truly belongs to everyone. This isn’t just a festival; it’s Brisbane coming alive on its own terms.
With the theme ‘Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive,’ the 2026 programme marks a bold new chapter, one that reflects the city’s outdoor spirit, cultural momentum, and growing global presence as it looks ahead to the 2032 Olympics. As the only major Australian arts festival to span the full rhythm of the day, it invites residents and visitors alike to wake with morning yoga and Indigenous sunrise ceremonies, dance through the afternoon with free community workshops, and close the night with world-class performances under open skies.
At the heart of it all is the Festival Village in South Bank — a lively, riverside hub inspired by the energy of an Athletes’ Village. Here, the Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent will host hits like The Choir of Man and The Listies’ This Show Is A Joke, while outdoor spaces come alive with Living Sculptures: How The Birds Got Their Colours, a stunning Indigenous-led contemporary circus, and dance sessions with the ABC’s beloved Tom the Dancing Teacher. Each evening, the river itself becomes a stage for Bright Nights, a dazzling fusion of floating fountains, lasers, and water screens that turns the Brisbane River into a choreographed spectacle.
The festival proudly launches major new Australian works, including the world premiere of Suzie Miller’s Strong Is The New Pretty, a powerful theatrical retelling of the birth of the AFLW, co-produced with Sydney Theatre Company and Trish Wadley Productions. International highlights include New York’s Wakka Wakka with the darkly whimsical puppet musical Dead As Dodo, and New Zealand’s Tupua Tigafua bringing his mischievous dance piece Shel We. At Roma Street Parkland, Night At The Parkland returns with a stellar line-up featuring Missy Higgins, Icehouse, The Temper Trap, and PNAU.
And of course, it all begins with Riverfire — the city’s iconic fireworks festival, now even grander with an RAAF flyover and pyrotechnics launched from bridges, barges, and rooftops, uniting tens of thousands in collective awe.
As Brisbane continues to rise as Australia’s lifestyle capital, this festival isn’t just entertainment — it’s a statement of identity, community, and creative ambition. From the Common People Dance Eisteddfod to free Brisbane Serenades in local parks, the message is clear: this city belongs to its people, and this festival is for all of them.