Brisbane Festival has unveiled its 2026 program – the inaugural vision of new Artistic Director Ebony Bott. Under the banner Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive, this bold, expansive celebration ignites Brisbane’s streets, river, and stages with world-class dance, theatre, circus, and performing arts from 4-26 September.
For decades the civic heart of the city, Brisbane Festival this year moves to the rhythm of its people. From sunrise ceremonies and morning dance rituals to late-night performances and riverside spectacles, it is the only major arts festival in Australia with a program that stretches across the full breadth of the day.
Bott’s debut program commissions ambitious new Australian work, presents exclusive international productions, and opens its doors wide with expansive free and low-cost events. At its core is an energetic celebration of dance, physical theatre, circus, and live performance that reaffirms Brisbane’s place as a dynamic cultural destination in the Asia-Pacific.
Dance and movement take centre stage across the program. Los Angeles company DIAVOLO | Architecture in Motion brings ESCAPE, a visceral, adrenaline-charged work where elite athletes and dancers propel themselves across moving architectural structures in a spectacular fusion of dance, acrobatics, stunt work, and circus. New York’s Wakka Wakka presents the mesmerising puppetry-musical Dead as Dodo, while Gold Coast company The Farm delivers No One Gets Out of Here Alive — a darkly funny, cathartic blend of opera, ballet, dance, and music exploring mortality and everyday endings.
The Festival Village at South Bank becomes the vibrant beating heart of the festival. The iconic Magic Mirrors Spiegeltent returns with The Choir of Man, a raucous, roof-raising celebration of music and community. DAYBREAKER brings its global phenomenon of high-energy, alcohol-free morning dance and wellness to Brisbane, inviting audiences to sweat, move, and connect at first light. As evening falls, Bright Nights by ANZ transforms the river into a choreographed spectacle of fountains, lasers, and water jets set to a soundtrack by The Veronicas.
Other dance and performance highlights include Shel We by acclaimed New Zealand choreographer Tupua Tigafua – a mischievous, heartfelt dance tribute to family and Shel Silverstein. There is also Bleachers, a visually striking new disability-led dance theatre work by Sprung Dance Theatre, created by ten d/Deaf and disabled artists from Bundjalung Country. The beloved Common People Dance Eisteddfod returns, where southeast Queensland teams battle it out with jazz slides, body rolls, and high kicks. Dance workshops with Queensland Ballet and the ABC’s Dance with Tom add to the movement focus, alongside Fijian Flying Circus (VOU) – a dazzling high-energy celebration of aerial acrobatics, stunts, and Pasifika storytelling under the big top.
The program also honours Brisbane’s deep connection to Aotearoa New Zealand with powerful theatre works including Tiri: Te Araroa Woman Far Walking, and introduces fresh Australian stories such as Suzie Miller’s Strong is the New Pretty (world premiere) and Virginia Gay’s rollicking Mama Does Derby, which explodes the roller rink with punk energy, theatre, and derby culture.
The festival opens in spectacular fashion with Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust on Saturday 5 September – one of Australia’s most breathtaking fireworks events, complete with RAAF flyover.
In introducing the 2026 program, Brisbane Festival Artistic Director Ebony Bott, said: “This year, Brisbane Festival is tuned to the frequency of this city – from first light through to after dark. 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.”
Lord Mayor of Brisbane Adrian Schrinner added: “Brisbane Festival is back again, ready to light up our river and turn every corner of our city into a stage. From spectacular performances in iconic city spaces to hidden gems in neighbourhood venues, this year’s festival is packed with unforgettable experiences across Brisbane.”
Brisbane Festival returns 4-26 September 2026. Tickets are on sale now at brisbanefestival.com.au.
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