15 Ways to Spend the Australia Day Public Holiday in Brisbane

Join a protest, count down the Hottest 100 and get amongst one of our favourite summer music festivals.

Sarah Ward
Published on January 24, 2017

'Survival Day', 'Australia Day', and 'Invasion Day': these are just a few of the ways Australia's annual national holiday has been characterised. Holding a public holiday and national celebration on January 26 is understandably controversial: it marks the anniversary of the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, when Indigenous Australians were dispossessed of lands they had inhabited for tens of thousands of years previously. However, it is still a public holiday, so we've put together a list of ways you can spend your day off.

By Sarah Ward and Siobhan Ryan.

List

Map

Event
Laneway Festival 2017

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills

Tame Impala leads a huge lineup for the festival's 12th year.

Buy Tickets

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Event
Invasion Day March

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
Queensland Parliament, Brisbane City

Rallying for the many concerns that come with Australia's national day of celebration.

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Event
The Triffid's Third Annual Hottest 100 Party

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
The Triffid, Newstead

Count down with the rest of the nation in Brisbane's go-to music haven.

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Event
Pineapple Throwing at the Pineapple Hotel

Tue, 26 Jan, 2016
The Pineapple Hotel, Kangaroo Point

Who doesn't want to fling some tropical fruit around?

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Event
Hottest 100 and Big Smokey Barbecue Party

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
Southside Tea Room, Brisbane

Try a new local beer collab in the 'burbs.

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Event
Palace Centro's $5 Australia Day Long Weekend

Thu, 26 Jan - Sun, 29 Jan 2017
Palace Centro Cinema, Fortitude Valley

Spend your Australia Day at the flicks for a fiver.

Buy Tickets

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Event
The Foundry Unofficial Laneway Party

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
The Foundry Brisbane, Fortitude Valley

Looking for the Laneway afterparty? This one doesn't require an invite.

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Event
Australia Day Seafood Festival

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
Gasworks Precinct, Newstead

The only event where you'll hear actual Australians come slightly close to saying something even similar to "shrimp on the barbie".

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Event
Chur Burger's Cheeseburger Eating Competition

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
Chur Burger Fortitude Valley, Fortitude Valley

How many can you eat?

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Event
Brunswick Hotel's Triple J Party

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
Brunswick Hotel, New Farm

Get comfy and start counting down.

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Event
We Can Bacon That Workshop

Thu, 26 Jan, 2017
Wandering Cooks, South Brisbane

Get really, really into your bacon with Shank Brothers.

Buy Tickets

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Event
Beacon Birthday Bash

Thu, 21 Jan - Tue, 26 Jan 2016
Green Beacon Brewing Co, Teneriffe

Because every birthday needs beer.

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Event
MELT Festival 2017

Wed, 25 Jan - Sun, 5 Feb 2017
Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm

Brisbane's celebration of queer arts and culture is back for its third year.

Buy Tickets

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Event
Great Australian Bites 2017

Thu, 26 Jan - Sat, 28 Jan 2017
River Quay Green, South Bank

This is Australia.

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Event
Lion

Thu, 19 Jan - Wed, 1 Mar 2017
Various cinemas in Brisbane

This incredible true story is packed to the brim with emotion.

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