Brisbane Festival 2025

Brisbane Festival has unveiled its most expansive and city-shaping program to date, in a dynamic celebration of art, culture and community from 5-27 September.  The entire city will become a stage — and everyone’s invited! 

The blockbuster 2025 program invites audiences to experience the city anew — from towering whale bones on the river to a world premiere dance trilogy, and bridges reimagined as vibrant works of art.

Spanning 23 days, the expansive 2025 program brings together 2,260 artists across 106 productions and 1,069 performances, including 21 world premieres, reaffirming the festival’s place as a defining event on the national cultural calendar. Significantly, over 39% of the program will be offered free to the public, reflecting an ongoing commitment to accessibility and bringing world-class art and performance to every corner of the city. 

This year’s festival marks the sixth and final festival curated by Artistic Director Louise Bezzina, whose creative vision has redefined what a contemporary arts festival can be. Bezzina’s last program is a powerful reflection of her tenure: rich in international collaborations, anchored by First Nations and culturally diverse voices, fuelled by community participation, and bursting with homegrown talent.

Craig & Karl

A major new public art commission from globally renowned Brisbane-born duo Craig & Karl, who will reimagine the city’s bridges and landmarks with large-scale inflatables and a massive retrospective exhibition.

Gems

A landmark Australian exclusive from internationally renowned choreographer  Benjamin Millepied (Black Swan) and L.A. Dance Project — a world premiere trilogy, Gems was commissioned by French luxury house Van Cleef & Arpels and is a collaboration between some of the world’s foremost creative talents — artist Barbara Kruger, composer Philip Glass, and Zegna’s designer Alessandro Sartori — in a striking fusion of dance, music, visual art and fashion. 

Baleen Moondjan 

A spectacular floating riverside performance from director & visionary First Nations artist Stephen Page, founder of Bangarra Dance Theatre and one of Australia’s most influential cultural voices, with Baleen Moondjan honouring his Moondjan, Ngugi and Nunukul ancestry with towering whale bones rising from the river.

Bad Nature 

A world premiere of epic scale, Bad Nature is a bold, immersive international collaboration between Australasian Dance Collective and the Netherlands’ Club Guy & Roni, featuring collaborations with acclaimed designer Boris Acket and fashion provocateurs MAISON the FAUX, to push the boundaries of perception in a bold, multisensory experience.

Back to Bilo 

Told with heart and humanity, this world premiere show is the powerful true story of Sri Lankan refugees Priya and Nades Nadesalingam and their two daughters, and the extraordinary grassroots campaign that fought to return them to their home in Biloela, Queensland.

Gatsby at the Green Light

The iconic Twelfth Night Theatre is revived in spectacular fashion with Gatsby at the Green Light, the glittering new cabaret, variety and contemporary music show — a dazzling homage to F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, led by burlesque star Betty Bombshell and a cast of nightlife royalty.

And so much more! From The Lovers, a riotous reimagining of Shakespeare set to a pop soundtrack, to William Yang's retrospective Milestone, AMPLIFIED: The Exquisite Rock and Rage of Chrissy Amphlett a bold new cabaret starring Sheridan Harbridge,  mass participation projects 100 Guitars and Common People Dance Eisteddfod, and a music program featuring John Butler, ICEHOUSE, Amy Shark and Sarah Blasko. 

Good to know - Photography and recording during in-theatre performances is generally not allowed, however please check the individual info at the venue on the day/evening of the performance.

Need to know - The program that is accessible to all arts lovers. Each venue and production offer specific accessibility provisions; please consult the Accessibility page for detailed info.