Artie's Festival Favourites

The city’s favourite event, Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust, ignites Brisbane Festival 2025 with one of the most electrifying displays in Australia for an unforgettable night of community celebrations. The stunning display will once again fill the night sky and will be viewable in a variety of locations.

Immerse yourself in cabaret, variety, and contemporary music, and enjoy a martini. GATSBY at The Green Light is a vaudeville-inspired show filled with flying acrobatics, breathtaking bar tricks, time-twisting theming, and more, in one incredibly choreographed spectacular. 

Romance meets chaos in this swipe-era remix of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Directed by Shake & Stir’s Artistic Director Nick Skubij (Frankenstein), this high-energy musical blends a killer soundtrack and a stellar cast. 

In this explosion of extreme urban sports, dance, music, and theatre, the Netherlands’ ISH Dance Collective create breathtaking poetry with every movement. Whether you float on ballet shoes or soar on skates, with ISH, it’s all dance.

The City Botanic Gardens come alive with Afterglow — a breathtaking new after-dark experience that invites you to follow the flame into a world of wonder. Afterglow is a slow-burn multisensory journey.

Set amongst giant whale bones floating on the Brisbane River, Stephen Page's critically acclaimed commission features dramatic storytelling, striking choreography, and haunting live music.

Drawing on his vast collection of documentary photographs and poignant personal reminiscences, William Yang weaves together themes of family, cultural, and sexual identity with his signature blend of warmth, disarming humour, and total candour.

Pulsing with energy and sensuality, The Chronicles explores the cycles of life and the inevitability of change. Stephanie Lake’s signature choreography accompanies Robin Fox’s evocative score as Australia’s leading contemporary dancers navigate what it means to be human.

Slap on some sequins, bring some attitude, and come join the fun at the ultimate dance showdown! The annual competition is fierce, the outfits are bold, and the moves are body rollin’. But there can only be one winner! Who will be crowned the champion and take home all the glory?

Skylore is a larger-than-life highlight of the Brisbane Festival and a bright, bold celebration of our city, celebrating Culture and place. Now in its third annual iteration, Skylore has become a staple of the Festival. Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale returns to illuminate Brisbane’s skyline with hundreds of drones.

Get your dose of sunshine at this all-ages concert featuring an incredible line-up of musicians. Headlining is The Quandamooka Crooner Adam James and The Dreamtime Swing, who reimagine the songs of First Nations musicians with the flair of ‘60s big-band music.