New to Brisbane Festival? We have you covered!

Is this your first Brisbane Festival? Trying to figure out what the Festival is all about? We have you covered!

What can I expect at Brisbane Festival?

Brisbane Festival is an incredibly diverse arts festival. This year’s program includes theatre, dance, visual art, concerts, comedy, and so much more. With so much on offer Brisbane Festival is unlike anything else you can experience in the world.

Where is Brisbane Festival?

Across venues on both sides of the river, inner and outer city, Brisbane Festival’s locations are as diverse as its lineup! A highlight of the festival is the Brisbane Serenades program, a series of five incredible outdoor concerts, taking place from north and the south, amongst the city’s gorgeous green spaces, gardens, parks and rivers. Brisbane Festival is a great way to explore the river city.

What are this year’s biggest Brisbane Festival events?

The most iconic part of Brisbane Festival is of course Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, an incredible fireworks display that kicks off the Festival on Sat 31 August. Some of the many highlights of the Festival include, Trent Dalton's Love Stories, Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show, BRIEFS FACTORY - on The Art Boat!, and Lightscape.

I still don’t know what to see!

We have created a series of articles to help you Find Your Fit this Brisbane Festival. Head to this page for more hot tips on this year’s Festival offerings.

FInd My Fit

30 Aug — 15 Sep

Jean Paul Gaultier's Fashion Freak Show

Jean Paul Gaultier is set to shake up Australian audiences when his stunning creation, Fashion Freak Show — fifty years of pop culture through the eyes of fashion’s enfant terrible — takes up residence in Brisbane as a sensational centrepiece of this year’s Festival.

Sat 31 Aug

Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust

Celebrating Brisbane at the city’s favourite event, Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust ignites Brisbane Festival 2024 with one of the most electrifying displays in Australia for an unforgettable night of community celebrations. Save the date and mark your spot for an unforgettable night of community celebrations and vibrant lights on Saturday 31 August 2024.

30 Aug — 21 Sep

BRIEFS FACTORY - on The Art Boat!

The Art Boat, reimagined, is curated by the world-class local legends BRIEFS FACTORY. Resident artists Fez Faanana, Mark Winmill and Brett Rosengreen will be joined by a dazzling array of special guests selected from Brief’s fabulous friends and artists from across the Festival. Step aboard and immerse yourself in an unforgettable voyage through the heart of Brisbane. Against the stunning backdrop of the ever-expanding city skyline, journey along the iconic waterways, tracing the mighty banks that shape the Brisbane River.

29 Aug — 12 Oct

Lightscape

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. This one-of-a-kind experience will immerse audience in an inspiring, after-dark journey along a 1.8km trail through the iconic City Botanic gardens. Wander beneath towering tree canopies illuminated in colour, stroll beneath larger-than-life flowers, alongside shining neon roots, and through dynamic glowing tunnels.

30 Aug – 21 Sep

ANZ Festival Garden

Your inner-city Festival playground, the place to gather, be delighted, and wowed is back. With food, wine, installations, and live performances, our riverside place of celebration will return to South Bank for 20 days and nights. The gateway to the wonder of Festival, ANZ Festival Garden is a joyous world that is playful by day and mesmerising by night.

19 — 21 Sep

Skylore — The Rainbow Serpent

Back by popular demand and following the huge success of last year’s Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale, our three-dimensional multicolour drone show returns for another glittering spectacular. Join us at ANZ Festival Garden in South Bank or at Queen's Wharf as 400 drones dazzle over Brisbane’s iconic skyline with a spectacular storytelling of The Rainbow Serpent.

Sat 21 Sep

Common People Dance Eisteddfod

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. The competition is fierce, the outfits are bold, and the moves are body rollin'. But who will be crowned the champion and take home all the glory?