Brisbane Festival 2021

Brisbane Festival is set to return in September with a Brightly Brisbane program of exciting events and experiences for all ages and interests, from young families and late-night revelers to four-legged friends, from September 3 to 25, 2021.   

The uniquely Brisbane program invites locals and visitors alike to re-emerge, re-connect, and celebrate our city with a spectacular line-up of world-class talent, cutting edge collaborations, award-winning performances, surprising venues, and a brand new Festival hub. 

Held over 23 days, the Festival will commission 18 new works, stage 15 world premieres and deliver 139 productions across a staggering 223 locations - and more than half of the events free. 

The hugely-anticipated, world premiere season of Boy Swallows Universe by Brisbane's best-selling author Trent Dalton will run throughout the Festival from August 30 to October 3 at QPAC...more 

A new floating art experience cruising between South Bank and Northshore, Brisbane's Art Boat is guaranteed to be a Festival highlight, with multisensory inflatable installations, live performances and a pop-up bar...more 

Landing on Brisbane’s Art Boat for the first two weeks of the Festival before grounding at Northshore, Hamilton for the remainder, Airship Orchestra is set to light up your September days and nights...more

Discover bright times at Northshore, where on Wednesday evenings you can check out Brisbane's Art Boat while it's moored, explore the magical art installations, and enjoy a drink at the riverside bar while listening to free live music...more

Discover an enchanting wonderland of extinct and endangered floral illuminations, created by Australian artist Amanda Parer, glowing in the garden at West Village throughout the Festival when you visit Lost - entry is free!...more

Created by internationally renowned artist Florentijn Hofman, the glorious Gouldian Finches will fly back to Brisbane this September and perch atop iconic Brisbane locations to surprise and delight passers-by...more

Gatsby meets Coachella at Razzle Dazzle Riot! This roaring evening brings together a glam squad of drag bombshells and badass babes for an opulent overload of sequins, song and circus, at South Bank Piazza from September 3 to 7...more  

Weredingo entertains as it challenges what audiences think they know about shape-shifting in its world premiere season at Metro Arts from September 3 to 11...more

South Bank Piazza will host a fashion show like no other on September 5, with Walking in Two Worlds involving designers from across Australia and local models, showcasing Indigenous fashion, dance, film and live music...more

Playing at the industrial riverside precinct of Northshore from September 8 to 12, RED is a must-see contemporary dance piece from Townsville-based Dancenorth that is both epic and intimate...more

Imaginaria allows you to immerse yourself in shimmering light sculptures and vast architectural inflatables, including a giant inflatable bubble, navigate a futuristic light maze or jump into a cosmic abyss from September 3 to 25...more

See Hugh Sheridan in a new light in Hughman as they spin beats from Whitney Houston and George Michael to Olivia Newton-John and Frank Sinatra in this entertaining mash-up of music, colour, and costume - at South Bank Piazza on September 17 and 18...more

Collision is a cross-pollination of contemporary circus and street dance, teaming together two Brisbane dynamos, Casus Circus and Mad Dance House from September 17 to 2 . Casus Circus is a pioneer contemporary circus company known for ground-breaking acrobatics and physical poetry...more

Let's Be Friends Furever is a crowd-sourced homage to our four-legged friends that will transform the Brisbane Powerhouse Theatre into our city's artiest off-leash dog area from September 16 to 25...more

At Auntie's Fiafia Night, you'll experience a celebratory night of Pacific song and dance with Casus Circus and ‘pati pati po’ the night away at South Bank Piazza...more

A Festival favourite, Sunsuper Riverfire returns in 2021 after COVID-19 forced the pyrotechnic spectacular into hiatus in 2020, adding the final big-bang sparkle to this year's Festival on Saturday, September 25...more 

A standout smash in 2020, Street Serenades hits the burbs again with big-name artists such as Boy & Bear, Christine Anu, Montaigne and Queensland Ballet, as well as showstopping performances spanning circus, cabaret, dance, DJ sets and live music...more

Plus, BOQ Festival Garden, the brand-new hub at South Bank, will feature free live entertainment, roving performers, school holiday fun, delicious street food, pop-up bars and a mysterious interactive adventure...more

In case Ms. Rona pays Brisbane a visit and events can’t go ahead, Brisbane Festival will do quick and easy refunds for everyone. So, grab your tickets and dive into the Festival – it's going to be a blast! 

Brisbane Festival is a valued partner of Must Do Brisbane.com