As the pink mist begins to settle, sequin curtains start to fall and the city skies illuminate, get ready for a breathtaking Brisbane Festival 2024 final weekend.
This year’s festival has brought us everything from the eccentric and scandalous to existential fever dreams, to uncovering mysteries to feelings of what is to be human, and connection to community and place — and there’s still so much more to experience!
Culminating at the ANZ Festival Garden for the closing of this year’s festival, here are just some of the incredible free and ticketed art you can enjoy this weekend.
19—21 Sep
Join us at ANZ Festival Garden as 400 drones dazzle over Brisbane’s iconic skyline with a spectacular storytelling of The Rainbow Serpent. Back by popular demand and following the huge success of last year’s Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale, the three-dimensional multicolour drone show returns for another glittering spectacular.
30 Aug — 21 Sep
Voyage into circus, drag, burlesque and comedy with resident artists and special guests for what many have described as the party of the year. Step aboard and immerse yourself in an unforgettable voyage through the heart of Brisbane.
30 Aug — 21 Sep
Don't miss this extraordinary journey where history's threads are woven into the fabric of the present, celebrating cultural heritage and the enduring power of art. Grace Lillian Lee is a multicultural artist known for her contemporary interpretation of a traditional weaving practice and groundbreaking collaborations with Indigenous communities, creating a platform for cultural expression and celebration.
20 — 21 Sep
An epic rock ‘n’ roll theatre show celebrating the phenomenal journey and impact of Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher, one of the founding members of Australian music icons Warumpi Band.
You’re invited into the world of these central desert legends, follow as the band navigates divides between bush and city, white and black, fame and family. Stomp your feet, clap your hands and get swept away by this big-hearted story.
18 — 21 Sep
Private View breaks down societal myths and misinformation and sets the viewer on a path to twist their preconceived attitudes around sexuality and disability. The production is an intimate exploration of unspoken stories and secret longing from Australia’s leading creator of dance theatre by dancers with and without disability.
Sat 21 Sep
More than just a show, Pasifika Made is a celebration that amplifies the voices of Polynesian, Melanesian, Micronesian, Māori and Indigenous artists. From across the Australian and Pacific Island diaspora, a dynamic line up of artists ignites the stage in the spirit of the Moana, weaving together a vibrant fabric of cultural and contemporary Pasifika dance, music and storytelling with a bit of quirk and island humour!
Sat 21 Sep
Now a bona fide tradition here in our fair city, teams from across South-East Queensland are set to battle it out over one epic night. Dressed in sequined armors, the mighty suburban gladiators will meet on neutral territory and dance it out to see who will be the 2024 Common People Dance Eisteddfod winner.
Sat 21 Sep
An electrifying fusion of music and dance, where Australasian Dance Collective and 4000 Studios collide featuring four extraordinary performances from Danny Harley of The Kite String Tangle, Dominik Felsmann of Felsmann + Tiley, Louis Frere-Harvey of $0.003 and the acclaimed dance artists of ADC.
And it doesn’t end there. As this year’s festival draws to a close, there is still plenty of stunning work to continue to be moved and inspired by.
29 Aug — 12 Oct
Reimagined for 2024, this globally renowned, multisensory phenomenon of light, colour and sound showcases Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens in a new light, with breathtaking installations created by acclaimed local and international artists.
A must for the school holidays, families can attend for just $78, with single adult tickets from $24 and child tickets from $18. Use the code ‘CHANNEL9’ to redeem. Available for a limited number of orders, so get in quick!
8 — 29 Sep
Inspired by a personal moment of profound love and generosity, bestselling author Trent Dalton (Boy Swallows Universe) spent two months in 2021 gathering stories on a prominent street corner in Brisbane’s CBD. What followed was a joyous collection of warm, wise, poignant, funny and moving love stories.
7 — 28 Sep
Young men from across Queensland blow into the big smoke burning with unbridled energy, desire and confusion. This high-energy theatre work is all about giving today’s young Murri men a voice, and one that challenges the narrative around public perceptions of Aboriginal masculinity.
View the full program on our What's On page.
