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It’s here, it’s queer and it’s gonna make you shake your rear! Melt Festival is strutting back into Brisbane this spring with its biggest-ever celebration of queer art and culture. Running across 70 venues with more than 100 events, the 2026 lineup features everything from the popular Pride Rally and Fair Day to the inaugural Mr First Nation drag king contest and headlining sets by Melanie C and Jude York.
Painting the city in sparkles and glitter from October 21 to November 8, Melt Festival will kick off with its most ambitious opening weekend to date. For the first time, Brisbane Pride’s Rally and March and Fair Day will align with the twilight River Pride Parade on Saturday, October 24. You can join thousands of flamboyant friends on the riverbank to watch the colourful flotilla of boats – including a 15-metre, hot pink rubber duck – cruising from West End to Brisbane Powerhouse. Here, Melt’s free Opening Party will keep the music and energy going late into the night (or early morning, if you're game).
We’re most excited for the star-studded music lineup, featuring Sporty Spice Melanie C, Queensland singer-songwriter Jude York, Māori soul singer Teeks and ARIA-winner Courtney Barnett. Other 2026 festival highlights include the inaugural Mr First Nation – a world-first competition spotlighting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drag kings, and Onesie World – a massive collaborative wearable art project by designer Adele Varcoe and celebrated Queer First Nations artist Dylan Mooney.
Across the full two weeks, partygoers can get stuck into line dancing, pickleball socials, drag burlesque, Heated Rivalry trivia, improv comedy, pop-up art galleries, open-mic nights and more. Tickets are on sale now, and you can explore the full program here.