'Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive': Brisbane Festival Unveils a Bold New Artistic Vision for 2026 Shaped by Citywide Energy
From AFLW-inspired theatre to outdoor concerts and international productions, this major annual event returns with a fresh artistic vision.
The River City's major annual arts fest is back, with the Brisbane Festival unveiling its 2026 lineup. While every edition is special, it's worth paying just a little more attention to the latest program, as it marks the inaugural vision of newly appointed Artistic Director Ebony Bott. Presented under the banner of "Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive," visitors can expect Brisbane's streets, rivers and stages to look even brighter than usual.
Running from Friday, September 4–Saturday, September 26, Brisbane Festival will once again offer a complete day-to-night experience, where experiences begin at first light and carry through late into the evening. Spanning a huge variety of creative talent, the festival will ultimately present 700 performances, made possible by over 2000 local, national and international artists and arts workers, including a flurry of headline-grabbing names.
Credit: Sean Dowling.
With highlights abound, figuring out your festival schedule is easier said than done. However, one standout world premiere not to be missed is Strong Is the New Pretty. Presented at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, this new work by acclaimed Australian playwright Suzie Miller explores the untold origins of the AFLW, tracing the journey of numerous remarkable characters who, over seven years, transformed a 2010 report into a sporting reality.
Then, blending the worlds of architecture and dance (plus acrobatics, stunt work and high-flying circus acts), ESCAPE is the latest production from renowned LA-based company DIAVOLO. Also on the theatre front, Ireland's Attic Projects — the company behind Volcano, a 2024 Brisbane Festival highlight — presents Scorched Earth, a bold new dance-meets-theatre production spanning a murder and an interrogation with a dark fantasy twist.
Credit: George Simian.
Returning with a new instalment for 2026, Night at the Parkland is Brisbane Festival's top-billed music series. Taking over the Roma Street Parkland, this seasonal stage hosts one crowd-pleasing outdoor concert after the next. This year, the offering is as good as it's ever been, with soul legend Aloe Blacc, beloved ARIA Hall of Famers Human Nature, rock icons Icehouse, The Temper Trap, The Cruel Sea and Magic Dirt all featuring on the landmark lineup.
The program also features four uniquely New Zealand works, paying respect to Australia's largest Pasifika population, which calls the Brisbane-Gold Coast corridor home. Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking is a sweeping new adaptation of Witi Ihimaera's epic tale, directed by Katie Wolfe, while acclaimed choreographer Tupua Tigafua brings his delightfully mischievous dance work Shel We to Brisbane, offering a deeply felt tribute to family and the ties that bind.
Credit: Vanessa van Dalsen.
Then, explore beloved characters from screen history at Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company, or catch the return of Brisbane Serenades, a series of free outdoor concerts held in Brisbane's most enchanting parks, gardens and neighbourhoods. Plus, set against the backdrop of Minjerribah (North Stradbroke), the Quandamooka Festival invites guests to experience one of Queensland's most significant First Nations cultural gatherings.
"This year, Brisbane Festival is tuned to the frequency of this city — from first light through to after dark," says Brisbane Festival Artistic Director, Ebony Bott. "It is a festival shaped by Brisbane's energy, outdoor life and sense of momentum and possibility, bringing extraordinary artists from Queensland, across Australia and around the world into theatres, parks, riverbanks and the Festival Village, South Bank."
Credit: Brisbane Festival.
Credit: Sean Dowling.
Credit: Charlie Kinross.
Credit: Nikita Pere.
Brisbane Festival 2026 is happening across various venues and locations from Friday, September 4–Saturday, September 26. Head to the website for more information.
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Top image: Sean Dowling.