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As one of the world’s earliest-rising cities, Brisbanites sure know how to maximise every single hour of the day – and that energy reaches its peak during the city’s major international arts festival. Stretching across three spectacular weeks from September 4 to 26, Brisbane Festival 2026 is set to ignite the city’s streets, rivers and stages with 160 epic productions. Best of all? An incredible 70 per cent of the program is totally free.
Running from the first light of dawn until well after dark, this is Australia’s only major arts festival with a program that spans the full breadth of the day. From mindful mornings at the museum and sunrise ceremonies to late-night cabaret and starlit riverside cocktails, there’s heaps to look forward to this year.
As always, Brisbane Festival will kick off with a bang at Riverfire (Saturday, September 5) – the city’s biggest annual fireworks spectacular. You can expect sparks to fly from the tallest bridges, barges and rooftops, preceded by a crowd-favourite RAAF flyover.
What sets the festival’s 2026 program apart from other Aussie cultural celebrations is its exciting lineup of morning events. Our top pick for early risers is Daybreaker – a sober, high-energy movement and dance party at the Festival Village, South Bank on September 12. Think coffee over cocktails, and connection over convention.
Those keen for some late-night action can return to the Village after dark for both free and ticketed activity spanning puppetry, circus, immersive theatre, live music and more. The Village will also double as the perfect vantage point for Bright Nights, the festival's new, free nightly show that will light up the Brisbane River with floating fountains, lasers and water jets soaring up to 80 metres high – all set to an original soundtrack by The Veronicas.
Other 2026 highlights include West End smash-hit musical The Choir of Man; the world premiere of Aussie playwright Suzie Miller's Strong is the New Pretty, sharing the untold beginnings of the AFLW; a live screening of David Attenborough’s Ocean In Concert, accompanied by a live score from Queensland's Chamber Orchestra; and the Transurban Bridge to Brisbane fun run on September 13. Of course, there’s also Roma Street’s Night at the Parkland outdoor concert series, featuring soul legend Aloe Blacc, Aussie darling Missy Higgins, ARIA Hall of Famers Human Nature and more.
You can explore the full Brisbane Festival program – did we mention 70 per cent of the events are free? – and get your tickets here.