Brisbane Arts Festival returns from 30 August to 21 September, weaving a rich program of culture, celebrations and community events across the city..
Artistic Director Louise Bezzina’s fifth program invites audiences to experience the artistic pinnacle of world premieres, Australian exclusives, Queensland commissions and Brisbane Focus over 23 days.
Brisbane Arts Festival’s 2024 program will unite, inspire and inspire people with more than 1,000 performances across the city’s leading arts venues, unique landmarks and close-knit communities.
European eclectic and exciting toast, Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Showa collision of fashion, music, pop culture, cabaret and art, struts down the catwalk at South Bank Plaza for its exclusive Australian premiere season (30 August to 15 September).
Queensland Aboriginal artist Grace Lillian Lee added a local flair to the burlesque-style party. debuted in.
Lee, the creative force behind 2021 debut Aboriginal fashion: walking two worldswill lead another world premiere in 2024, her first solo exhibition, Dream Weaver: Guardian of Grace (August 30 to September 21). Lee’s blend of contemporary art, traditional weaving techniques and sleek, stylish style will take you on an unrivaled journey through your ancestry.
volcano (August 30-September 15) is a never-before-seen hybrid production of four 45-minute episodes, combining drama and dance with a television science-fiction thriller.
In the breaks between episodes, viewers at Brisbane Power Station are invited to “binge-watch” Australia’s first production that blurs the lines between fact and fantasy.
The remarkable true story of how Torres Strait Islander workers laid 7 kilometers of track in one day in 1968 Come directly from the strait (August 28-31), a world premiere opera produced in association with Opera Queensland and presented at QPAC’s Playhouse.
The world premiere of Queensland-based Dancenorth Australia’s new work, illuminate the darkness (September 12-14), developed in partnership with dancer and emerging choreographer Chris Dyke, who has Down syndrome.
Inspired by Decker’s real-life heroes Banksy, David Bowie and Freddie Mercury, Hero’s Journey It tells the story of Deckard’s deeply moving and life-affirming adventures around the world.
Also set to have their world premieres in 2024 are Trent Dalton love story (September 10-29) at the QPAC Theater and fancy long legs (September 12-22) at La Boite Theatre.
Both are adapted from books by Brisbane authors – Dalton’s acclaimed anthology of true love stories, and a book about inclusion, acceptance and belonging by tinsel and craft queen Rachel Burke Children’s books—their stage adaptations are exciting and unpredictable.
Queensland premieres include Eucalyptus (September 4-5), new opera based on Murray Bell’s Miles Franklin Award-winning novel Eucalyptus; Operation Ghul Era (11-14 September), celebrating Torres Strait Islander culture and a call to climate action; Restless Dance Theater private view (September 18-21), an original and illuminating exploration of sexuality and disability; kitchen studio (30 August to 26 October), Recipes for Food and Art with artist Elizabeth Winning; and Queensland Theater Company dear brother (September 7-28)
Big name, no blanket (September 20-21) is a rock event celebrating the Warumpi Band, the first Australian rock band to sing in an Aboriginal language.
Inspired by the story of founding member Sammy Tjapanangka Butcher, Ilbijerri Theater Company presents two large-scale unified performances at QPAC Concert Hall.
Big name, no blanket is one of 14 Aboriginal-led productions, continuing the Brisbane Festival’s proud history of inviting Aboriginal storytellers and artists to create and perform works of cultural and creative significance.
During its opening weekend, Meeanjin Songlinez (1 September) invites everyone to celebrate and commemorate the extraordinary talent of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities and Queensland Aboriginal artists.
Following the huge success in 2023 Nirgu: Spirit of the WhaleBrisbane Festival will partner with Nova Sky Stories and Tribal Experiences to create a dazzling drone show on the city’s iconic skyline, Skylore – Rainbow Serpent. More than 400 drones will bring fascinating Aboriginal stories to life in 3D color performances, celebrating culture and place during the festival’s closing weekend (19-21 September).
All eyes are on the sky on Saturday, August 31st Riverfire Australian Retirement Trust Return to Brisbane and light up Brisbane with the city’s biggest and most popular fireworks extravaganza.
The biggest hits of 2023 will also return to light up the city scene (August 31 to October 12), Brisbane City Botanic Gardens will present a completely redesigned neon lighting route, colorful installations and carefully designed soundscapes.
All aboard art boat (August 30-September 21), the touring arts venue will once again set sail from the South Shore aboard a luxury new ship, bringing with it a program of guest artists and performers.
The Brisbane Festival is an event by and for Brisbane, continuing its long tradition of hosting free community productions throughout the 23-day festival. The festival’s 2024 Community Program works in partnership with the Department of Communities, Housing and the Digital Economy to provide a safe and creative space for people in the Brisbane community to connect.
Brisbane Serenade Brisbane suburbs will host free mini music festivals and curated music experiences including mooruka block party (September 7), Portside Serenades, North Shore, Brisbane (September 15), St Lucia serenade (September 14) Made by Pacific Islanders Kurabi (September 21) and Victoria Park Sound (September 8).
Brisbane Music Festival returns from August 30 to September 21. Tickets are on sale now. View the full program, subscribe for updates and purchase tickets: brisbanefest.com.au.
