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Brisbane's cultural magnetic pull is getting stronger every year. As a long-standing arts partner to many not-for-profit arts and cultural organisations, we've been onboard to see our city's art scene attract exclusive global artists, performances and exhibitions creating a don't-miss-this vibe that travellers from around Australia and the globe flock here for.
More importantly, we've watched our Brisbane-based art community elevate their practice to the world stage, marvelled at their increased commitment to connect Queensland's regions with their programs and deliver phenomenal cultural development to our city that our community loves.
Every year, our arts partners deliver a bigger and bolder season of thought-provoking, world-changing and deliciously fun events and we're proud to support their full theatres, teeming galleries and creative ideas.
We'll be in the audience showing our support, will you?
Encores: Epic Plays From the Archive presented by La Boite Theatre
La Boite Theatre
28 April – 1 July 2025
In 2025 La Boite is celebrating 100 years of opening nights and opening minds.
Join us to celebrate La Boite’s 100-year history through La Boite Encores, a captivating play-reading series that brings 10 iconic Australian fan favourites from the La Boite archives to life.
This series, perfect for theatre lovers, reunites original cast members and directors along with emerging Brisbane talent, offering an intimate journey through La Boite’s rich history.
Play readings include X-Stacy, ZigZag Street, The Narcissist, Boy Girl Wall, Holding The Man, Prize Fighter and Single Asian Female. Hurry! On for one night only.
Rhinestone Rex & Miss Monica presented by Queensland Theatre
Billie Brown Theatre
28 May – 21 June 2025
Odd couples don’t come much odder than Gary and Monica in this comedic gem from national treasure David Williamson, where double Gold Logie-winner Georgie Parker (Home and Away) and Glenn Hazeldine (Colin From Accounts) reprise their performances 15 years after its debut.
When a cultured inner-city aesthete hires a knockabout true-blue tradie to renovate her kitchen, she gets more than she bargained for. The pair argue about everything, including the kitchen sink, but when the witty banter turns to music, things heat up faster than Monica’s new six-burner cooktop!
She’s an embittered former classical violinist who loves Mahler more than life itself. He’s a glib former Country and Western singer now spinning tracks as DJ Rhinestone Rex. They have nothing in common except that they’re both middle-aged and single. But as the arrows fly and the digs land, will this duo discover they’re accidentally harmonising on their own sweet duet?
David Williamson (Don’s Party, Emerald City, Family Values) returns to Queensland Theatre with this up-close and highly flammable two-hander that sparks with the spitfire comedy we've come to love from this legend of Australian theatre.
Art Box for Kids: Mandy Quadrio presented by Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
31 May – 26 October 2025
This exciting ‘Art Box for Kids’ project invites children to discover the work of Trawlwoolway/Pairabeene and Laremairremenner (Tasmanian Aboriginal) artist Mandy Quadrio. Mandy’s people have been using Tasmanian bull kelp as a material for thousands of years.
The kelp is used in many ways, including to make carriers to hold water, food or seeds. In the activity 'Paper Treasure Carrier', children are invited to create their own unique paper carrier to hold their special objects and treasures.
Brisbane Festival
Brisbane and surrounds
Tickets on sale 11 June 2025 (5 – 27 September 2025)
Every September, Brisbane Festival transforms the city into a vibrant playground of music, theatre, dance, and spectacle. From jaw-dropping performances to dazzling riverfront installations, it’s a celebration that captures the heart of Queensland’s cultural calendar.
Whether you’re chasing big nights out or unforgettable moments under the stars, this is the perfect excuse to book a Brisbane escape. The full program drops June 11 – start planning your trip now.
Beethoven & Brahms presented by Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Concert Hall, QPAC
13 & 14 June 2025
It’s time for THAT Beethoven song. You know, “dun-dun-dun-duunnn,” or as it’s less commonly known, Beethoven’s 5th Symphony. It doesn’t matter how famous it gets, or how many times you hear it – it’s always thrilling to hear it and it’s representation of fate knocking at the door. With Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Chief Conductor, Umberto Clerici, at the helm, audiences are in for a stunning rendition of this rip-roaring symphony.
Before Beethoven takes centerstage, we welcome a modern-day classical legend. Pianist Sir Stephen Hough will deliver the solo in Johannes Brahms’ Piano Concerto, a piece made famous by its use in the film The L-Shaped Room. Considering it will be performed by the first classical musician ever to be awarded the MacArthur Fellowship, concertgoers will surely be in for a musical treat!
Mozart’s Piano presented by Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Queensland Conservatorium Theatre, Griffith University
19 & 20 June 2025
The pinnacle of refinement: dine in three delights of the classical era with an Operatic Overture, a piano Concerto, and a sombre Symphony.
The concert begins with the Overture from La Cenerentola (Cinderella) by the Italian man synonymous with the word “Opera,” Gioachino Rossini. This Overture is bright, bold and energetic, as only an Opera about Cinderella could be. Then, Australian pianist Daniel de Borah will join the Orchestra to perform the solo of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 27, his final composition of this form. De Borah along with QSO Chief Conductor, Umberto Clerici, have a history of acclaimed Mozart interpretations, forming a duo guaranteed to deliver grace and sensitivity in their approach to this miraculous work.
Haydn’s Symphony No.49 (La passione) concludes our concert, as a rare touch of darkness in the composer’s catalogue, where the sombre and stormy reign supreme.
Brief Encounter in Concert presented by Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Concert Hall, QPAC
19 & 20 June 2025
Set the scene for your next date night with the most romantic film of all time performed with a live Orchestra! David Lean’s Brief Encounter will play on the big screen as Queensland Symphony Orchestra performs the music, including a stunning rendition of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No.2, performed by pianist Konstantin Shamray.
Brief Encounter follows the star-crossed affair of a married doctor and suburban housewife who meet on a train platform. They inadvertently but quickly progress to an emotional love affair, which brings about unexpected consequences.
Echo presented by Australasian Dance Collective
Judith Wright Arts Centre Performance Space
20 & 21 June 2025
Echo, Australasian Dance Collective Youth Ensemble’s signature season, is a bold expression of self and collective, individuality and synergy through the presentation of new works that highlight the importance of providing platforms for younger generations of dance artists.
AUSTI. Dance & Physical Theatre joins the ADC Youth Ensemble to share in the season with an original work, alongside two brand new works by Queensland creators Kate Harman and ADC Youth Ensemble Director Courtney Scheu.
Orava Quartet: Chamber Masterpieces presented by Camerata
Opera Queensland Studio, South Bank
26 June 2025
Armitage Centre, The Empire, Toowoomba
27 June 2025
In an historic 11th year in residence with Camerata, the ARIA-nominated Orava Quartet returns with three epic masterpieces of chamber music by three of the great composers: Beethoven, Schumann and Shostakovich.
Beethoven’s String Quartet No. 1 heralded the beginning of what would become one of the greatest cycles of music in the entire Western Classical canon, the sixteen quartets of Beethoven which spanned the whole of his creative life. This early string quartet is purely classical in style, much like those of Haydn and Mozart, yet already bursting with energy, drama and powerful expressiveness.
The eighth string quartet by Shostakovich remains, for good reason, one of the enduring favourites of the genre and the Oravas’ renowned performances of this work have been described by Limelight as “hair-raising”, “visceral” and “edge-of-the-seat” compelling.
Crowning the program is what is often called one of the greatest chamber works of all time: Schumann’s piano quintet Op.44, of such majesty and artistry that it is also widely regarded as the composer’s most magnificent chamber piece.
Joining the Orava Quartet for this thrilling performance is award-winning Polish pianist, Lucas Krupinski.
Triple Bill presented by Queensland Ballet
Playhouse, QPAC
27 – 5 July 2025
Queensland Ballet’s 2025 Triple Bill celebrates Australian artistry with works by Natalie Weir, Jack Lister and Greg Horsman, performed live with Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra.
From Weir’s poetic 4Seasons, to Lister’s thrilling world premiere, and Horsman’s elegant A Rhapsody in Motion, this dynamic program showcases evocative music, diverse and masterful choreography and the rich creative voices shaping Australian dance today.
Peter and the Wolf presented by Queensland Ballet
Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
27 – 5 July 2025
Queensland Ballet’s Peter and the Wolf is a symphonic fairytale for families, blending ballet, narration and Prokofiev’s iconic score. Greg Horsman’s choreography brings cheeky animal characters to life, with each instrument representing a role.
Featuring colourful designs and narration by Hugh Parker, this enchanting production from the My First Ballet series introduces young audiences to the magic of music and ballet.
Studio Series: Amy Lehpamer sings Cole Porter presented by Opera Queensland
Opera Queensland Studio, South Bank
27 & 28 June 2025
Cole Porter’s lyrical wit and sophisticated melodies make for a songbook of pure delight.
Following her Studio Series recital The Best of Broadway and celebrated role as host of Opera Queensland’s 2024 Gala, musical theatre star Amy Lehpamer returns in 2025 to explore the timeless music of Cole Porter. Join her for an unforgettable evening filled with wit, charm and signature songs like “I Get a Kick Out of You”, “Night and Day”, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, and many more.
Wonderstruck presented by Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
28 June – 6 October 2025
'Wonderstruck' explores the wonder that can be found in the ordinary and the extraordinary. Presented throughout the ground floor of the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), the exhibition invites visitors on a journey from spectacular large-scale artworks to captivating small treasures and immersive experiences.
Dear Son presented by Queensland Theatre
Billie Brown Theatre
28 June – 19 July 2025
Author, editor and proud Kaurareg, Kalkalgal, Erubamle Torres Strait Islander man Thomas Mayo invited 12 Indigenous men to write a letter to their son, father or nephew in a gentle and honest compendium of love and reflection.
The celebration of First Nations manhood featured letters from Stan Grant, Troy Cassar-Daley, Johnny Liddle, Charlie King, Joe Williams, Yessie Mosby, Joel Bayliss, Daniel James, Jack Latimore, Daniel Morrison, Tim Sculthorpe and Blak Douglas.
In 2025, renowned First Nations theatre makers Isaac Drandic (37, Dear Brother) and John Harvey (Spear, Black Ties) adapt these deeply personal letters into a powerful world premiere, alongside leading First Nations actors Jimi Bani (Othello, My Name Is Jimi) and Trevor Jamieson (The Secret River, Storm Boy).
Through story and music, Dear Son honours the rich traditions and wisdoms of fathers passed down through generations, interrogating the challenges faced by First Nations men and honouring the importance of family, the power of culture and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
La Boite Theatre's 100th Birthday Party presented by La Boite Theatre
La Boite Theatre
5 July 2025
Join La Boite Theatre for a spectacular evening as it celebrates a century of storytelling, creativity and community.
Be part of this landmark moment celebrating Australia’s oldest continuously operating theatre company.
My Fatherland Metro Series Concert #2 presented by Brisbane Philharmonic Orchestra
Old Museum Concert Hall, Bowen Hills
6 July 2025
Ma Vlast (My Fatherland) and Sibelius’s Second Symphony come together as a celebration of far-off lands.
Opening with the harpsong of the mythic bard Lumír, Prague’s castle, Vysehrad, looks down on the river Vltava (or Moldau) in Smetana’s ode to his native land of Bohemia. Soloist Emily Granger then takes centre stage for the elegant and refined Morceau de Concert by Saint-Saens, in which the harp luxuriates in true French style.
Sibelius’s achingly beautiful Symphony No. 2 is, in his own words, a “confession of the soul”. The work opens with a simple three-note motif, and ends with a power and majesty that has grown from the roots of what came before.
World Press Photo Exhibition 2025 presented by Brisbane Powerhouse
Brisbane Powerhouse
19 July – 17 August 2025
Visit the World Press Photo Exhibition 2025 at Brisbane Powerhouse on its world-wide tour, showcasing the best and most important photojournalism and documentary photography of the last year.
Witness the power of visual storytelling as the exhibition showcases the winning works of the prestigious annual contest, celebrating its 70th anniversary this year.
Don't miss this opportunity to explore the diverse narratives that shape our understanding of the world as the exhibit visits Brisbane for a very limited time.
Image credit: Asia Pacific and Oceania Singles by Jerome Brouillet, Agence France Presse.
Studio Series: Voxalis Opera – featuring Katie Stenzel, Alex Raineri and Camilo Lopez – Ravel 150 presented by Opera Queensland
Opera Queensland Studio, South Bank
25 & 26 July 2025
A musical party celebrating Maurice Ravel’s 150th birthday.
Join sparkling soprano Katie Stenzel, piano virtuoso Alex Raineri, and rising baritone, Camilo Lopez, for a musical party of fiery coloratura, whimsical animal characters, dashing Spanish knights, and Ravel’s signature lush harmonies.
From the composer of the majestic Boléro, this recital features a selection of his finest vocal works, alongside songs and arias from his friends and musical inspirations, including Debussy, De Falla, and many more. Presented in association with Brisbane based Voxalis Opera.
Sing Sing Sing: July presented by Opera Queensland
Opera Queensland Studio, South Bank
26 July 2025
Sip, sing and socialise with Opera Queensland’s next Sing Sing Sing, a fun-filled night of music making and merriment for singers of all levels of experience.
With cocktails and cosy camaraderie, opera lovers and newcomers gather together to become performers at Opera Queensland’s community participation event, Sing Sing Sing.
Guided by host Jason Barry-Smith, you are invited to sing familiar songs from the world of opera. As voices soar, the room resonates with the passion and power of opera, creating a truly unforgettable fusion of high culture and casual conviviality.
It’s an ode to the democratising force of music, reminding us that the magic of opera can be found in the most unexpected places and that the power of song can unite people from all walks of life in a shared appreciation of the arts.
Arrive at 4.30pm for a 5:00pm start. Complimentary drink on arrival. Additional drinks and snacks will be available to purchase from the bar.
WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! presented by La Boite Theatre
La Boite Theatre
30 July – 16 August 2025
WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! is a high-octane comedy that will leave you on the edge of your seat, brought to life in a large-scale production in collaboration with Dead Puppet Society.
Equal parts climate change thriller, schlock horror, and live-action comic book, WE’RE ALL GONNA DIE! is Godzilla meets The Betoota Advocate, created for a post - Greta Thunberg world.
Written by Maddie Nixon, directed by David Morton (Dead Puppet Society), with original music by Dean Hanson (Ball Park Music), this is a show you don’t want to sleep on!
Bespoke presented by Queensland Ballet
Talbot Theatre, Thomas Dixon Centre
31 July – 9 August 2025
Queensland Ballet’s Bespoke returns in 2025 with three world premieres by Amelia Waller, Yolande Brown and Robert Binet. This bold contemporary program invites audiences into vivid worlds of innovation, storytelling and artistry.
Now in its eighth year, Bespoke challenges expectations with dynamic choreography inspired by music, art and culture—captivating audiences and leaving a lasting impression beyond the stage.
Lior & Westlake presented by Queensland Symphony Orchestra
Concert Hall, QPAC
9 August 2025
Australian award-winning singer-songwriter Lior will lend his dulcet tones to Queensland Symphony Orchestra as they perform his and Nigel Westlake’s collaboration, Compassion. Australian composer Nigel Westlake felt a deep emotional connection to the voice of Lior when he initiated a collaboration that would result in Compassion – their resonant song cycle sourced from ancient Hebrew and Arabic texts, which became an ARIA Award-winning classical album. Allow Lior’s voice to envelop you in these stunning songs that advocate for peace, wisdom, and love for one another.
Before audiences sink into Compassion, Australian composer Mary Finsterer’s rich and meditative symphonic work Stabat Mater will see its first movement open the show. Then QSO Artist in Residence, Kristian Winther, will spirit you away with his violin to deliver Pēteris Vasks’ ethereal concerto, Distant Light.
JULIA presented by Queensland Theatre
Playhouse, QPAC
15 – 30 August 2025
In 2012, Julia Gillard gave a speech that sent shockwaves around the world as our first female Prime Minister thundered across the Despatch Box: “I will not”.
Over a decade later, one of Australia’s most esteemed playwrights, Joanna Murray-Smith, tells the human story behind the extraordinary speech in a stirring and inspiring re-examination of that moment and a revelatory portrait of the woman who made it happen.
Directed by Helpmann Award-winner Sarah Goodes, Julia is a critical and box office triumph, dazzling audiences across the country with its profound, wry and intoxicating exploration of gender, privilege and power.
The phenomenal Justine Clarke delivers a “heroic performance” (The Sydney Morning Herald) that takes us through key moments in Prime Minister Gillard’s life — from her childhood through to her foray into and across the battlefield of Australian politics — culminating in an “electrifying” (The Guardian) verbatim performance of the ‘misogyny speech’.
As women around the world continue to fight against oppression, Julia is a provocative rallying cry that is not to be missed.
Congratulations, Get Rich! presented by La Boite Theatre
La Boite Theatre
4 – 20 September 2025
It’s a big night for Mandy. Her heart and soul—her karaoke business—is failing. In a lastditch attempt to save it, she’s hosting a mega-event: a reunion dinner special!
Congratulations, Get Rich! is a fresh Asian-Australian story exploring transformation, legacy, and hope. With humour and heart, it asks if we are all bound to our fate – or whether we can in fact escape the shadows of our past to create our own future.
Penned and performed by Merlynn Tong (Golden Blood), this explosive musical comedy celebrates the vibrancy of Singaporean culture, centering on three powerful women in a supernatural tale.
Perspectives of Brisbane presented by Museum of Brisbane
Museum of Brisbane
Open daily
Perspectives of Brisbane offers a captivating insight into the people, events and changing landscape that is our city. The evolving life of Brisbane, its history and its culture, is revealed through stories, photographs and film. The place we now call Brisbane has a rich history going back 65,000 years and beyond. Situated on Traditional Lands, it remains home to some of the world’s oldest living cultures. Since European settlement began in the 1820s with the Moreton Bay penal colony, Brisbane has experienced conflict, growth, innovation and celebration.
Today, Greater Brisbane is home to more than 2.5 million people from diverse backgrounds. The city continues to transform, its cultural landscape shaped by the ongoing care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, waves of migration and powerful social change. Museum of Brisbane respectfully acknowledges ‘Warunghu’, Aunty Raelene Baker, for her insight, conversation and participation in writing the text presented in this exhibition.
Clock Tower Tours presented by Museum of Brisbane
Museum of Brisbane
Open daily
Discover the hidden secrets of your heritage-listed City Hall building with a guided tour of Brisbane’s iconic Clock Tower. The Clock Tower Tour is a “must do” while in Brisbane.
For many years, City Hall’s Clock Tower elevated the building to Brisbane’s tallest, offering visitors a magnificent 360 degree view of the city around them. Whilst the view has changed significantly over the last 90 years, the time-honoured tradition of “taking a trip up the tower” happily continues at Museum of Brisbane.
The Clock Tower Tour includes a ride in one of Brisbane’s oldest working cage lifts, a look behind Australia’s largest analogue clock faces and time to explore the observation platform that shares a unique perspective of your city. See if you can catch a glimpse of the bells!
Make a booking online today to secure your spot! Spaces are limited and fill up quickly.
Micro Museum presented by Museum of Brisbane
Museum of Brisbane
Open daily
What will you collect?
Welcome to Micro Museum – a space for telling stories through objects. You are invited to explore the fascinating world of collecting, and uncover the memories that objects hold.
Inspired by major exhibition Precious in this space you are the curator. You can select, sort and arrange a wide array of items, many of which are second-hand or vintage. Each object holds memories, and now you can create your own.
Micro Museum is generously supported by Ian and Cass George, and Holly and John Livingstone.
Free entry >
Precious presented by Museum of Brisbane
Museum of Brisbane
Open daily
What makes a collection?
Museum of Brisbane is giving you the keys to some of the most awe-inspiring collections across our amazing city. An irresistible array of breathtaking curiosities, Precious brings together thousands of remarkable items from more than 20 public and private collections.
From textiles to tin-toys, micro-architectural marvels to marine treasures, this exhibition is a joyful celebration of the art of assemblage.
We invite you to immerse yourself into the incredible stories of some of the prolific collectors of Brisbane, and get to know what makes a keepsake and collectible truly Precious.
Free entry >
Artist in Residence: Sara Nejad presented by Museum of Brisbane
Museum of Brisbane
Open daily
Museum of Brisbane is excited to welcome Sara Nejad as the Artist in Residence from January 2025. Sara’s residency will harness the mandala as a motif to explore themes of identity and belonging. Mandalas have a rich history in Persian art and architecture. Sara is drawn to the significance of these symbols in her own life, but also their resonance across other cultures and spiritualities.
During her residency, she will engage with various Brisbane communities to create a series of collaborative mandalas. Over several months, these works will be added to the MoB entrance as an evolving installation.
TSara’s project celebrates the beauty of our multicultural city, encouraging us to stand together in our differences.
MoB’s Artist in Residence program is supported by Tim Fairfax AC. This residency has been produced by Museum of Brisbane as part of Brisbane City Council’s BrisAsia Festival 2025, produced by Sounds Across Oceans.
New Light: Photography Now + Then presented by Museum of Brisbane
Museum of Brisbane
Open daily
A mesmerising display of photography spanning 1890 to 2024. With the power to freeze and preserve time, photography has captured imaginations for centuries. This August, step into New Light: Photography Now + Then, an exhibition where past and present converge in a mesmerising display of photography spanning 1890 to 2024. Immerse yourself in the remarkable tale of amateur Brisbane photographer Alfred Henrie Elliott (1870-1954), whose extraordinary images lay dormant for decades until they were discovered in 1983, stored in cedar cigar boxes beneath a home in Red Hill. Initially thought to comprise 300 glass-plate negatives and a trusty tailboard camera, the collection’s narrative took an unexpected turn in 2014 with the discovery of an additional cigar box brimming with over 400 film negatives and 92 prints.
Drawing on this treasure trove of an archive, seven contemporary Brisbane photographers will debut exciting new commissions responding to different parts of the Elliott Collection. By layering their own perspectives, knowledge and experiences onto the collection, the artists will encourage new ways of looking at our past, our present and this place.
Contemporary artists: Marian Drew, Jo-Anne Driessens, Joachim Froese, Tammy Law, Carl Warner, Nina White and Keemon Williams.
Vertigo Brisbane presented by Brisbane Powerhouse
Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Available Friday - Sunday
Step over the edge where gastronomic excellence meets heart pounding adrenaline.
Experience the first vertical restaurant as you dangle from the precipice of Brisbane Powerhouse. Push your limits. Dine on the edge.
Your exclusive locally sourced Vertigo menu includes a two-course meal from fine dining restaurant Bar Alto and a matching wine to be enjoyed while you’re suspended from the edge of Brisbane Powerhouse.