Donor ENews, April 2026

Since my last note, I’ve had the privilege of getting to know Brisbane in ways that continue to surprise and energise me. Experiencing the rhythm of this city — its mornings full of possibility and its unmistakable sense of warmth and openness — has deepened my understanding of what makes Brisbane so magnetic.

There is a generosity here that reveals itself over time, not only in the welcome people offer, but in the way Brisbane gathers, shares space and instinctively participates in the life of the city. This energy is guiding us as we shape the 2026 Festival.

Recent conversations across Brisbane, along with time spent at festivals in Perth, South Australia, New Zealand, the USA, have offered valuable perspective. They have reinforced something we feel strongly: Brisbane Festival is where art, community and the world meet.

What’s emerging is a program full of vitality, curiosity and joy — a Festival that awakens early, builds energy throughout the day and plays well into the night. As we finalise the program, we’re mindful of the wider context in which people are living and making choices. This highlights our longstanding commitment to experiences that bring communities together, including participatory projects, workshops, neighbourhood collaborations and free programming that will keep the Festival accessible and welcome to all.

This Festival will also reflect a city entering a defining decade: confident, outward‑looking and increasingly sure of its own identity. There is a quiet but undeniable momentum in Brisbane as we approach the 2032 Olympics — a sense of a city growing into itself and opening its doors more widely to the world. We look forward to celebrating that spirit when September arrives, and in the Festivals to come.

In this spirit, it is my pleasure to introduce Jane Wilson as the new Chair of Brisbane Festival. Jane brings deep commitment to the arts, strong local insight and an understanding of the role the Festival can play as Brisbane continues to evolve.

Philanthropy remains central to this evolution. In the years ahead, your support will continue to open pathways, and we warmly welcome your involvement as we enter the final stages of development.

Thank you for your continued belief in the Festival.

Ebony Bott Artistic Director Brisbane Festival

The Easter full moon arrived with images of a small, beautiful Earth, beamed from the crew aboard the first lunar space mission in 50 years. In science as in art, a different way of seeing something, otherwise familiar, yields new insights and brings a better understanding of our world. 

This is the tenth year of the Brisbane Festival giving program.  Thank you for your support. You have seen the Festival and the City transform together. You have helped honour traditions and write new chapters in Brisbane’s story. You have seen the community rally after challenges. You have celebrated the moments of connection, creativity and shared experience. Just now, that spirit feels as important as ever.

The 2026 festival program is taking shape. It is the first to draw on the insights and experiences of artistic director Ebony Bott, who shares her thoughts in this eNews. Ebony has bold plans to set a morning alarm in this early-rising city, to sow Festival activities throughout the day, and to light up the evening with Festival delights. It is a Festival for an open, warm, confident city sharing itself with the world.

I encourage your support to bring the 2026 festival program to life. Your generosity and enthusiasm will make it possible to realise a Brisbane Festival of ambition and scale, accessible to the broad community, featuring new work by local champions and exciting experiences from around the globe. 

Your contribution will help fulfil Ebony’s artistic vision — including opportunities in family programming, music and community building — enriching the Festival repertoire to reflect the life of this river city from first light to dark.

You can support a specific area of the program or discuss how your contribution can have the greatest impact with the Philanthropy team. Direct contributions can be made via the website; all donations are tax deductible. To be acknowledged in the 2026 Festival program, I encourage you to make your contribution or confirm your support by speaking to the Philanthropy team, before 29 April 2026.

Thank you for your continued generosity, and for the role you play in shaping the Brisbane Festival. I look forward to sharing more news with you in the weeks and months ahead.

The Honourable Justice Thomas Bradley Chair, Giving Committee Brisbane Festival