Brisbane Festival 2026 - Festival Village, South Bank: The Guide

4–26 Sep

Welcome to Festival Village, South Bank

From sunrise to last call

Festival Village, South Bank is the civic heart of Brisbane Festival – a riverside gathering place alive with music, performance, food, art and nightlife from sunrise to late night.

As the city wakes, mornings begin with sunrise rituals, soundscapes, movement and daybreak dance parties by the river. Through the day, the Village hums with free activities for all ages – giant singalongs, pop-up performances, workshops, conversations and moments of surprise around every corner.

Then, as night falls, the energy shifts. Bright Nights by ANZ transforms the skyline in an explosion of sound, water and light, and the Festival switches on after dark with live music, DJs and late-night revelry.

Come for a headline show or stumble into something completely unexpected. Grab a drink, pull up a seat by the river, follow the lights, join the party and stay for one more. Festival Village, South Bank is where the city gathers to switch on, light up and come alive together.

4–26 Sep

Featuring an exclusive soundtrack from Brisbane music royalty The Veronicas.

ORACLE LIQUID | TRIBAL EXPERIENCES

A rock-pop symphony of water, light, and sound.

Bright Nights by ANZ transforms the Brisbane River into a dazzling choreographed canvas of water, light, and sound, with floating fountains, water screens, animated water features, and jets shooting up to 80 metres high. Pierced by a stunning laser light show and original pop rock soundtrack, this bold installation fills the Festival Village with colour, energy, and emotion. Free shows three times nightly throughout the Festival.

Presented by Brisbane Festival and ANZ

4–26 Sep Festival Village, South Bank

project is

through

Installation Free

The Choir of Man

“Wildly entertaining. Full of raucous cheer."

Broadway World

“The ultimate feel good show."

Edinburgh Evening News

“Leave your worries in your coat and grab a pint!"

Broadway Baby

The Choir of Man

ANDREW KAY | NIC DOODSON

Welcome to the best pub in the world.

Direct from London’s West End, sensational singers perform stunning harmonies and foot-stomping singalongs, brimming with hits — all with a real bar on stage.

Discover the international stage sensation featuring music from artists such as Queen, Sia, Paul Simon, Adele, Luther Vandross, Guns N' Roses, Avicii, and Katy Perry, to name just a few. A wildly talented group of incredible instrumentalists, world-class wordsmiths, and sensational singers — this cast of nine (extra)ordinary guys serve it all, live.

An uplifting celebration of community and friendship, with something for everyone. Enjoy 75 minutes of foot-stomping entertainment unlike anything else — come drink in the ultimate feel-good show.

3–26 Sep

Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent, Festival Village, South Bank Presented by Brisbane Festival, Andrew Kay, and Nic Doodson.

Time Out

The List

This Show is a Joke!

THE LISTIES

It’s a variety show gone bananas.

How many LOLs can Australia's favourite kids' comedians squeeze into one hour? Let's find out.

Hold onto your cowpats! After nearly two decades of seriously silly nonsense, Matt and Rich (aka The Listies) have whipped up their most ridiculous show yet — a turbo-charged mash-up of fan favourites, slapstick, songs, and a fresh batch of brand-new, freshly hatched gags. It's a comedy extravaganza for kidults aged four to four million (dinosaurs welcome).

20–26 Sep

Are You Lonesome Tonight

QUEENSLAND

Arrive in your jeans and boots, or your tuxedos and ball gowns.

A unique celebration of country music and opera, featuring arias and songs by Puccini, Verdi, Slim Dusty, Troy Cassar-Daly, Dolly Parton and more.

The result? A foot-stomping, heart-stirring performance that bridges two musical worlds in a way that feels fresh, exciting, and downright fun.

9–12 Sep

Family Fun Day

Supported by Brisbane Airport

Get ready for take-off!

Pack your sunscreen, grab the kids and glide onto the Green in Festival Village, South Bank for a first-class day of free family-friendly performances, entertainment and activities.

A relaxed and inclusive event for families to spend quality time together in the heart of the Festival with prizes, giveaways and surprise moments landing throughout the day. Get up, up and away to Family Day!

Sun 20 Sep

DAYBREAKER

Wake up and DANCE!

DAYBREAKER is the globally renowned sober dance, yoga and wellness movement that flips nightlife on its head. Gather in the morning to move, connect, and celebrate being alive. No alcohol. No phones. Just music, movement, and a space full of humans choosing mischief and joy.

Be present, be here, be in the now.

See you at daybreak!

Sunrise Ceremony: Bikki Wantimaa

SHANNON RUSKA | TRIBAL EXPERIENCES

Join the circle, dance and blessing.

Each Friday morning the Sunrise Ceremony: Bikki Wantimaa acknowledges and gives thanks to the lands on which the Festival takes place, honouring First Nations peoples who have witnessed the sunrise on these lands for thousands of years. Everyone is welcome.

Sat 12 Sep

11,18,25 Sep

Pasifika Made

Where Ancestral Knowledge Meets Contemporary Pacific Arts.

Pasifika Made returns to Brisbane Festival in 2026, bringing together Pacific and First Nations artists, cultural practitioners and community across a program of cultural and contemporary live performance, workshops, artist talks, knowledge sharing, live demonstrations and a cultural marketplace experience.

Transforming Festival Village, South Bank into a gathering place for art, culture and connection, Pasifika Made presents Pacific arts through both ancestral practice and a contemporary lens.

Sat 19 Sep Festival Village,

Generations & Dynasties: The Brady Family

UNCLE GRAHAM BRADY | JUNGAJI

A powerful night of story, song, and cultural legacy.

Experience an intimate evening with the Brady family: a lineage of First Nations artists whose creative practices are rooted in Culture, Country, and Connection. Together, the family offers a rare and moving insight into the passing of knowledge across generations. A story of legacy in motion: where Culture is lived, shared, and carried forward through music, memory, and kinship.

Generations & Dynasties: The Briscoe Sisters

DELINE BRISCOE | NAURITA BRISCOE | MERINDI BRISCOE

An unforgettable afternoon of music, conversation, and storytelling.

Yalanji trio, the Briscoe Sisters bring language and song to the stage with a powerful, grounded presence. Fusing rich sibling harmonies with Yalanji spirituality, their voices carry Country, Culture, and deep Connection. Reflecting on legacy, identity, and the deep cultural connections that shape their artistry, they reveal how inspiration flows across generations.

Tue 15 Sep

Thu 17 Sep

Your Festival Village

From first light to late night, Festival Village, South Bank pulses with free experiences that invite the city to gather, participate and connect. Across music, movement, creativity and collective ritual, the Village becomes a living meeting place – somewhere to linger, discover, dance, play and come alive together.

Make, See & Do

A place for curiosity, creativity and connection. Across the day, the Village invites audiences of all ages to get hands-on, discover new skills, share stories and experience moments of play, participation and imagination together.

Morning Workshops

Young Makers

Raving Kids

AFL Mentoring

Village on Show

The Festival Village, South Bank comes alive each afternoon with a rolling program of movement, music and spectacle. Expect bursts of energy, unexpected encounters and performances that spill out across the precinct, transforming the Village into a vibrant celebration of creativity and community.

Breakdance Shows

K-POP Dance Shows

Flipside Circus

Roving Performances

Afternoon Tunes

Art of Feeling Good

Ease into the morning with a series of wellness experiences designed to nourish the mind and body. Through movement, breath, music and moments of reflection, these gatherings invite audiences to slow down, reset and begin the day together.

Sound Healing

Wake Up & Sing!

Dance with Us

Loose, lively and open to everyone, these free dance sessions are all about giving things a go. Whether you’re stepping in for the first time or dancing like nobody’s watching, the dance floor is open.

Common People Dance Workshops

Latin Dance

Yin Yoga Bollywood Dance

Hip Hop Dance

Belly Dance

Night Vibes

When the sun goes down, the Village lights up! Live music, DJs and late-night energy keep the atmosphere buzzing, with plenty of reasons to stay for one more drink, one more song and one more dance.

Daily Music Acts Line Dance

Late Night DJs

The Knock ‘Em Downs

BOLSTER & LEE

Swing on by and try your luck at the side show!

Nostalgia has taken a curious twist, and the carnies have turned into clowns! Step inside Bernie and Roach’s carnival side-show tent, with odd-ball games to test your skill, strange surprises, and a plethora of prizes to be won!

Not a Cult*

COUNTERPILOT

A public spectacle of disconcerting joy.

By the creators of Adrift and Truthmachine, Not a Cult* is an interactive flash mob experience where audiences don robes, follow mysterious instructions, and take over South Bank in a satirical skewering of toxic positivity and Australian optimism. (*Depends how you define 'cult.')

Piano Man

FEATURING TREVOR JONES AND GUESTS

Gather round the baby grand for a wild late-night singalong.

Trevor's taking requests. Surprise guests, maximum volume, zero inhibitions — your favourite singalong is back. A perfect finish to your night!

Dance with Tom

THOMAS E.S. KELLY

Come for a dance and a yarn!

A joyful, interactive celebration of Yugambeh language, Culture and storytelling through music, movement and dance. Everyone is welcome — stream this ABC Kids Original on ABC iview.

The Sock Puppet Studio

QAGOMA

A hands-on experience

Inspired by The Jim Henson Company, which believes you can make extraordinary characters from ordinary materials like socks, pipe cleaners, and yarn.

4–26 Sep Festival Village, South Bank Image by Justin Ma

10–18 Sep Festival Village, South Bank

Coarse Language, Suitable for 12+ Image by Morgan Roberts

8–26 Sep Festival Village, South Bank

Suitable for 15+ Image by Trentino Priori

17–18 Sep

Village, South

See Website For Details

Village, South Bank Image by C Callistemon

Musical Mantras with Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra

CAMERATA

Come for the calm, stay for the crescendo.

Spend your Sunday morning with Queensland's Chamber Orchestra. Morning Mantras is a beautiful, musical way to kick-start your day. Bring the whole family, grab a coffee and soak in the relaxing vibes.

Puppet Construction Workshop

DEAD PUPPET SOCIETY

Craft and build your own tabletop puppet.

Take your puppetry skills to the next level. Explore character, mechanisms and the core principles of puppetry - focus, breath and gravity. Using simple brown paper techniques, young people will prototype and construct a one-of-a-kind creature.

Living Sculptures: How the Birds Got Their Colours

ARC CIRCUS & THE YUGAMBEH ABORIGINAL DANCERS

Let your imagination take flight.

A fusion of traditional First Nations dance, storytelling and contemporary circus.

Hosted outdoors, it is a beautiful re-telling of the traditional Dreamtime story delivering a powerful message of togetherness.

Warm-up with QLD Con

QUEENSLAND CONSERVATORIUM GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY

An energising musical warm-up to the day by the river.

Join Queensland Conservatorium Faculty and Students for behind-the-scenes glimpses of an artist's morning as they fill South Bank with explorations of sound. Grab a coffee and start the day with Australia's future stars as they warm up their instruments, bodies, voices and minds.

6 & 13 Sep

Festival Village, South Bank

Image courtesy of Camerata

20–26 Sept

Festival Village, South Bank

Image courtesy of DPS

5–9 Sep

Festival Village, South Bank

This show was originally commissioned by SWELL Sculpture Festival with support from Arts Queensland and City of Gold Coast.

Festival Village, South Bank

Image by Greg Harm

Giant Sing Along

DAILY TOUS LES JOURS

Mic check, one, two.

Giant Sing Along is an interactive installation that invites people of all ages to sing together in a shared, collective experience.

Set within a field of microphones and guided karaoke-style, participants contribute to a live mass choir, with songs chosen in advance by the local community. A subtle sound system gently harmonises voices in real time, creating moments of joy, belonging, and spontaneous connection.

By day, it’s a playful, welcoming experience for families and children; by night, it becomes a joyful gathering point for festival-goers and revellers alike.

4–26 Sept Festival Village, South Bank

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