Weekend of 9 – 11 October 2026
ANASTASIA and Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) continue at QPAC this weekend, as the Brisbane Writers Festival fills Brisbane Powerhouse with author talks and Queensland Ballet presents Bespoke at the Thomas Dixon Centre, while Make, Believe, Magic brings the worlds of The Jim Henson Company to GOMA.
Events are arranged per suburb.
Lord Mayor's Photographic Awards 2026
9 – 11 October 2026 | Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane City
The finalist exhibition of the 2026 Lord Mayor’s Photographic Awards brings together striking photographic works capturing Brisbane’s spirit, from familiar streets and riverside scenes to the fleeting moments that make the city feel like home. Open daily 10am–5pm at Museum of Brisbane in City Hall. Running until 1 November.
Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose
9 – 11 October 2026 | Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane City
An exhibition exploring the cultural heritage and design traditions of Magpie Goose, celebrating First Nations fashion, storytelling and craftsmanship at the Museum of Brisbane. Open daily 10am–5pm, running until 22 November.
Warrajamba
9 – 11 October 2026 | Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane City
Quandamooka artist Delvene Cockatoo-Collins leads visitors into the ancestral story of Warrajamba, the mermaid, through powerful sculpture and hands-on art-making using artist-designed stamps. Open daily 10am–5pm at Museum of Brisbane in City Hall, running until 22 November.
Live at MoB: Sachém Parkin-Owens
9 October 2026 | Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane City
Artist in Residence Sachém Parkin-Owens performs live at Museum of Brisbane from 6pm to 8pm to mark the final weeks of their residency.
Ghost Stories of South Brisbane Cemetery
9 October 2026 | South Brisbane Cemetery, Dutton Park
Award-winning cemetery historian Tracey Olivieri and historical archaeologist Liam Baker lead a torchlit walk through South Brisbane Cemetery’s ghostly folklore, including tales of the Spectral Flower Girl, the Lady in Black and unexplained lights in the dark. 7:30–9:45pm, $20 per person.
Brisbane Writers Festival 2026
9 – 11 October 2026 | Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Brisbane Writers Festival returns to Brisbane Powerhouse with more than 110 events over four days featuring Australian and international authors across fiction, crime, journalism, comedy, poetry and more. Sessions from $29, some free events included.
ANASTASIA the Musical
9 – 11 October 2026 | QPAC Lyric Theatre, South Brisbane
ANASTASIA the Broadway Musical, inspired by the beloved film, follows a young woman’s journey through imperial Russia and 1920s Paris as she searches for the mystery of her past. Performances continue until 18 October at QPAC’s Lyric Theatre, from $79.90.
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
9 – 11 October 2026 | QPAC Playhouse, South Brisbane
The Olivier Award-winning musical comedy arrives in Australia for the first time, with five fearless women reimagining Jane Austen’s most beloved love story through pop classics including “Young Hearts Run Free” and “You’re So Vain”. $69–$149.
Music on Sundays 5: Old Worlds, New Sounds
11 October 2026 | QPAC Concert Hall, South Brisbane
Chief Conductor Umberto Clerici leads the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and violinist Catherina Lee in Bruch’s Violin Concerto, alongside Dvořák’s Slavonic Dances and Bizet’s Carmen Suite. The 90-minute concert starts at 11.30am, with tickets from $83.
Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company
9 – 11 October 2026 | Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane
This exclusive-to-Brisbane exhibition at GOMA explores the world of Jim Henson’s creative legacy, from Fraggle Rock to The Muppets and beyond, with props, puppets, original artwork and immersive displays. Open daily 10am–5pm, running until 18 April 2027.
Archie Moore: Kith and Kin
9 – 11 October 2026 | Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane
Kamilaroi/Bigambul artist Archie Moore’s major exhibition, which won the Golden Lion at the 2023 Venice Biennale, is on display at the Queensland Art Gallery. The work explores First Nations genealogy and connection to Country through a vast accumulation of handwritten family trees. Open daily 10am–5pm.
Bands in Parks: Twilight Jazz by the River
9 October 2026 | Queensland Maritime Museum Park, South Brisbane
Swingalicious Big Band performs big jazz by the river from 5–7pm at Queensland Maritime Museum Park near the Goodwill Bridge, as part of Brisbane City Council’s Bands in Parks program. Entry is via Dock Street alongside the ferry terminal.
Justene Williams: Once We Were Mudskippers
9 – 11 October 2026 | Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane
The first major survey of Brisbane artist Justene Williams at a state gallery spans 20 years of performative video, sculpture, sound and installation, including a wealth of new works. Open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Richard Dunn
9 – 11 October 2026 | Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane
A Collection display of 1980s works by the influential artist and educator Richard Dunn (1944–2024), whose painting, installation and photography examine the social, political and economic aspects of culture. The display closes on 11 October.
Queensland Ballet: Bespoke
9 – 11 October 2026 | Thomas Dixon Centre, West End
Queensland Ballet’s ninth Bespoke season presents three world-premiere contemporary works by choreographers Claire Voss, Victor Zarallo and Paul Knobloch, exploring themes of identity, environment and belonging. Performances run from $45 child, $89 adult.
Several of the city’s gallery and museum exhibitions are free and open across the weekend without bookings.
Weekend of 2 – 4 October 2026
The Book of Mormon played its final weekend at QPAC, alongside ANASTASIA, Bell Shakespeare’s Macbeth at Brisbane Powerhouse and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra’s Joe Hisaishi concerts, while Justene Williams opened at the Queensland Art Gallery.
Events are arranged per suburb.
Brisbane Illustration Fair
3 & 4 October 2026 | Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills
More than 180 local and national illustrators sell zines, comics, prints and original art at the city’s biggest illustration fair, with a creative zone for all ages.
Ho Rui An: Ultimate Coin Test China High-Speed Rail
2 – 4 October 2026 | Institute of Modern Art, Fortitude Valley
Singaporean artist Ho Rui An’s video work uses viral coin-balancing clips to explore labour, technology and capital in the global age.
Bell Shakespeare's Macbeth
2 & 3 October 2026 | Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Bell Shakespeare stages the bloody tale of ambition and prophecy, with an Auslan-interpreted performance on Friday night.
Witch Perfect
4 October 2026 | Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm
Drag stars Tina Burner, Scarlet Envy and Alexis Michelle lead an all-live-singing comedy parody inspired by a certain trio of Salem witches.
The Two Tenors Featuring the Best of Josh Groban
2 October 2026 | Sandgate Town Hall, Sandgate
Vavachi Entertainment’s tenors return to Sandgate with a late-morning concert of Josh Groban favourites and classical crossover hits.
The Book of Mormon
2 – 4 October 2026 | QPAC Glasshouse Theatre, South Brisbane
The nine-time Tony Award-winning musical comedy from the creators of South Park plays its final weekend in Brisbane.
ANASTASIA the Musical
2 – 4 October 2026 | QPAC Lyric Theatre, South Brisbane
Georgina Hopson, Rhonda Burchmore and Nancye Hayes star in the Broadway musical that sweeps from Imperial Russia to 1920s Paris.
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
2 – 4 October 2026 | QPAC Playhouse, South Brisbane
The Olivier Award-winning comedy retells Jane Austen’s love story with five fearless women, karaoke classics and plenty of chaos.
Art of the Score: The Music of Joe Hisaishi
2 & 3 October 2026 | Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre, South Brisbane
Queensland Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Buc with pianist Aura Go, performs Joe Hisaishi’s Studio Ghibli scores including Spirited Away.
Radiohead for Solo Piano: Live AV Set
3 October 2026 | QPAC Concert Hall, South Brisbane
Berlin-based Australian pianist Josh Cohen reimagines Radiohead’s songs through improvisation and a live audiovisual set.
Studio Sessions: Chamber Players 3
4 October 2026 | Queensland Symphony Orchestra Studio, South Brisbane
A small group of QSO musicians introduce and perform hand-picked chamber repertoire, opening with Crespo’s Suite Americana.
Justene Williams: Once We Were Mudskippers
3 & 4 October 2026 | Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane
A major survey of Justene Williams’ performative videos, sculpture, sound and installation opens at the Queensland Art Gallery, with an artist talk on Saturday morning.
The God of Small Things: Faith and Popular Culture
2 – 4 October 2026 | Queensland Art Gallery, South Brisbane
The final weekend to see this exhibition of devotional imagery and popular visual culture from the QAGOMA Collection.
Brisbane Portrait Prize 2026
2 – 4 October 2026 | State Library of Queensland, South Brisbane
The finalists’ exhibition of the Brisbane Portrait Prize celebrates the people who make up the city, including the Next Gen winners.
Brisbane Sculpture Festival 2026
2 – 4 October 2026 | Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mt Coot-tha, Toowong
Sculptors Queensland’s outdoor exhibition showcases the work of local sculptors throughout the Gardens.
Performance schedules varied across the weekend and some seasons did not run every day.
