Whale bones on the river, fireworks in the sky, and a dance trilogy backed by Philip Glass — Brisbane Festival is back, and bigger than ever.
Clear your September schedule, Brisbane, the 2025 Brisbane Festival program has just dropped, and it’s the most ambitious yet. Spanning 23 days from 5–27 September, this year’s festival will transform the entire city into a stage, with more than 1,000 performances across parks, bridges, theatres and riverbanks. It’s a citywide celebration of creativity that’s bold, joyful, and fiercely local.
Artistic Director Louise Bezzina signs off on her final Brisbane Festival with a bang. “This year’s program is a love letter to Brisbane,” she says. “From world premieres to deeply resonant community works, it’s a celebration of everything the festival has become—a world-class event with a fiercely local heart.” And what a swan song it is.
The 2025 program features 106 productions, 21 world premieres and more than 2,000 artists—with over 475 performances offered free. It spans dance, music, cabaret, public art, circus, drag, film, food and community events, reflecting Lousie’s signature mix of international prestige and homegrown spirit.
Whether you’re a diehard arts fan or just looking for an unforgettable night out, there’s truly something for everyone. You can browse the entire program at brisbanefestival.com.au, but we’ve done the heavy lifting for you. Here are 15 unmissable highlights to bookmark now.
1. Gems – L.A. Dance Project & Benjamin Millepied
A dazzling fusion of dance, music, fashion and visual art, this world premiere trilogy is choreographed by Black Swan’s Benjamin Millepied and features music by Philip Glass and artwork by Barbara Kruger. High art meets high fashion in a spellbinding, cinematic experience.
QPAC | Ticketed
2. Baleen Moondjan – Stephen Page
One of the festival’s most powerful centrepieces, this large-scale ceremony from Stephen Page (founder of Bangarra Dance Theatre) transforms the river into a sacred performance space, complete with floating barge and sculptural whale bones. It’s elemental, moving, and utterly unforgettable.
Brisbane Riverbank | Free
3. Walk This Way – Craig & Karl
Pop-art dream team Craig & Karl return home to paint the town — literally. Three major bridges will be transformed into vibrant art pieces, connected by a public trail that invites you to see the city through the artists’ playful, technicolour lens.
Citywide | Free
4. Bad Nature – Australasian Dance Collective x Club Guy & Roni
A sensory onslaught of movement, fashion, music and emotion. This Australian–Dutch collaboration pushes the limits of performance, using dance to explore the chaos and beauty of our relationship with the natural world — and each other.
Brisbane Powerhouse | Ticketed
5. Gatsby at the Green Light – Variety Spectacular
Twelfth Night Theatre is reborn with this glittering, champagne-soaked cabaret bursting with jazz, humour and 1920s glamour. It’s part concert, part party, and completely fabulous—a love letter to decadence with a modern twist.
Twelfth Night Theatre | Ticketed
6. The Lovers – Shake & Stir Theatre Co.
Shakespeare gets a neon-soaked remix in this pop musical version of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. With a cast of misfit lovers, thumping beats and razor-sharp humour, this is theatre that’s cheeky, charming and dancefloor-ready.
QPAC | Ticketed
7. TINA – A Tropical Love Story
First Nations drag royalty Miss Ellaneous delivers a fierce, funny, high-heeled tribute to Tina Turner. Expect powerhouse vocals, sequins, sass and a story that celebrates survival and soul — with a tropical twist.
Brisbane Powerhouse | Ticketed
8. Elements of Freestyle – ISH Dance Collective
Think BMX stunts, skateboarding, breakdance and theatre — all choreographed into a jaw-dropping spectacle. This Dutch import blurs the line between sport and art in a heart-racing celebration of gravity-defying movement.
Brisbane Powerhouse | Ticketed
9. Afterglow – Fire Garden Spectacle
City Botanic Gardens becomes a dreamscape of fire sculptures, candlelit pathways and live performances. Afterglow is pure magic — a twilight experience to wander, wonder and lose yourself in.
City Botanic Gardens | Free
10. AMPLIFIED: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett
Acclaimed performer Sheridan Harbridge channels the raw power and defiant spirit of Chrissy Amphlett in this electrifying rock cabaret. It’s loud, gritty, emotionally raw and unmissably fierce — just like the woman it celebrates.
Brisbane Powerhouse | Ticketed
11. Skylore – Drone Light Show
Look up! 400 drones take to the sky to tell a traditional First Nations story through stunning visuals. It’s high-tech storytelling with ancient roots, and one of the most visually spectacular nights of the Festival.
City Skyline (locations TBA) | Free
12. Common People Dance Eisteddfod
Sequins. Sweatbands. Suburban dance-offs. This high-energy, hilariously wholesome event brings together teams from across Brisbane in a battle of rhythm, joy and sheer unfiltered fun. Don’t miss the final showdown.
Edmund Rice Performing Arts Centre | Free
13. The Alexander Ball – Josh Taliani
A dazzling celebration of ballroom culture, this magnetic solo debut by Father of the House of Alexander, Josh Taliani, fuses vogue, street dance and powerful storytelling. Expect fierce poses, high drama and a celebration of queer excellence that pays homage to the roots of ballroom while pushing it into the future.
The Princess Theatre | Ticketed
14. Night at the Parkland – Outdoor Music Series
Your festival playlist, live under the stars. With Amy Shark, ICEHOUSE, Xavier Rudd, Lime Cordiale, Cut Copy and more, this concert series in the City Botanic Gardens delivers good vibes and big sounds in the great outdoors.
Brisbane City Botanic Gardens | Ticketed
15. Riverfire
The sky’s the limit for this festival favourite. Riverfire returns to light up the skyline on opening weekend with an epic fireworks spectacular launched from barges, bridges and rooftops. It’s Brisbane’s big bang, and it’s not to be missed.
Brisbane River & Skyline | Free
Brisbane Festival 2025 is shaping up to be a city-defining celebration of art, identity and imagination. So whether you’re there for the fireworks or the fringe shows, a riverside ceremony or a rooftop gig — this September, take your place in the story.
WHAT: Brisbane Festival 2025
WHEN: 5–27 September, 2025
TICKETS: On sale now at brisbanefestival.com.au
In her spare time, she likes long walks down the makeup aisle and performing in Brisbane theatre. You can follow her adventures on Instagram and TikTok @thebeautypalate.
