culture

Brisbane Events & Festivals 2026, What's On

Complete 2026 Brisbane events guide: Ekka, Brisbane Festival, Riverfire & QPAC. See what's on, dates & tickets for Queensland's best festivals.

By Brisbane Daily · Published 2 July 2026

Unverified figures: the specific numbers in this article are not backed by any source linked on this page, so they have not been independently checked here. This page is held out of search results until it is re-sourced.

How we reported this

This article was written by AI and was not reviewed by a journalist before publishing. The Daily Brisbane is part of The Daily Network and follows our reasonable editorial care. No sources are linked on this page, so its claims cannot be independently checked here.

Brisbane Events & Festivals 2026, What's On — AI-generated illustration

Brisbane's Major Annual Events and Festivals

Brisbane's events calendar has been transformed by the city's rapid growth and its role as host of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Queensland capital now hosts a mix of world-class cultural festivals, major sporting events, community celebrations and arts programs that reflect the city's increasing confidence as a destination.

August, Ekka (Royal Queensland Show)

The Ekka, the Royal Queensland Show at RNA Showgrounds in Bowen Hills, is Queensland's largest annual event, drawing over 400,000 visitors across 10 days. Agricultural competitions, the famous Ekka strawberry sundaes, rides, animal nurseries and pavilion displays make Ekka a beloved Queensland tradition. The Wednesday public holiday (RNA Show Day) applies only to the Brisbane area.

September, Brisbane Festival and Riverfire

The Brisbane Festival is one of Australia's largest arts festivals, running for three weeks in September with theatre, dance, music, circus and free events across South Bank, QUT and city venues. Riverfire, the spectacular fireworks display over the Brisbane River that traditionally opened the festival, has returned as a standalone event. The Story Bridge and Kangaroo Point cliffs are prime viewing spots.

October to November, QPAC Performing Arts Season

Queensland Performing Arts Centre at South Bank presents its major performance season from October, including touring Broadway and West End productions, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra's flagship concerts and Queensland Ballet performances.

April to May, Brisbane Comedy Festival

The Brisbane Comedy Festival at the Powerhouse and Brisbane City Hall presents national and international comedians across several weeks in autumn.

March, Brisbane Queer Film Festival

One of Australia's leading LGBTIQ+ film festivals, screening at the New Farm Cinemas and Palace James St in March.

Year-Round, South Bank

South Bank Parklands is Brisbane's outdoor living room and hosts regular free events, markets, beach swimming and cultural programming year-round. The Streets Beach free pool, restaurant precinct and the Queensland Museum and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) are key attractions.