So many things to do with the kids at the Festival!

Get ready for take-off!  Pack your sunscreen, grab the kids and glide onto the Green in Festival Village, South Bank for a first-class day of free family-friendly performances, entertainment and activities. A relaxed and inclusive event for families to spend quality time together in the heart of the Festival with prizes, giveaways and surprise moments landing throughout the day. Get up, up and away to Family Day! 

Become both builder and performer in this hands-on experience inspired by the work of The Jim Henson Company, who believe you can make extraordinary characters from ordinary materials. Create your own character using simple materials like socks, pipe cleaners, and yarn. 

How many LOLs can Australia's favourite kids’ comedians squeeze into one hour? Let's find out. 

Hold onto your cowpats! After nearly two decades of seriously silly nonsense, Matt and Rich (aka The Listies) have whipped up their most ridiculous show yet — a turbo-charged mash-up of fan favourites, slapstick, songs, and a fresh batch of brand-new, freshly hatched gags. It's a comedy extravaganza for kidults aged 4 to 4 million (dinosaurs welcome).

A rambunctious modern fable.  Welcome to the island of Helium, where Betsy lives with her cheerful, money-mad, balloon-factory-owning family. Life is on the up until their world pops and things, quite literally, start to sink. Betsy Balloon is a rambunctious modern fable presented with original music and illustration, and is based on a story by Bill Manhire. 

Deep within the underworld, two skeleton friends dig tirelessly for fresh bones as their ancient forms deteriorate. When the Dodo miraculously sprouts feathers, chaos erupts and the order of the dead is shattered. Infused with puppetry, humour, and stunning visuals, this mesmerising musical odyssey follows their epic fight for survival, transformation, and true friendship.

An interactive installation inviting people of all ages to sing together in shared, collective experience, Giant Sing Along places participants in a field of microphones, contributing to a live mass choir with songs chosen by the local community.

Pasifika Made returns to Brisbane Festival in 2026, bringing together Pacific and First Nations artists, cultural practitioners and community across a program of cultural and contemporary live performance, workshops, artist talks, knowledge sharing, live demonstrations and a cultural marketplace experience. Transforming Festival Village, South Bank into a gathering place for art, culture and connection, Pasifika Made presents Pacific arts through both ancestral practice and a contemporary lens.

A fusion of traditional First Nations dance, storytelling and contemporary circus. Hosted outdoors, it is a beautiful re-telling of the traditional Dreamtime story delivering a powerful message of togetherness. 

Brisbane's most beloved tradition and dance battle of the ‘burbs is back. Get ready to cheer for your local team until you’re hoarse, and see your neighbours, colleagues, and family members transform into suburban gladiators as they jazz-slide, body-roll, and high-kick their way to glory. This is community arts at its most joyful — where the goal isn’t perfection but connection, laughter, courage, and creating something spectacular together. 

An unforgettable afternoon of music, conversation, and storytelling. Yalanji trio, Briscoe Sisters, bring language and song to the stage with a powerful, grounded presence. Fusing rich sibling harmonies with Yalanji spirituality, their voices carry Country, Culture and deep connection. Reflecting on legacy, identity, and the deep Cultural connections that shape their artistry, they reveal how inspiration flows across generations. 

Come for a dance and a yarn!   A joyful, interactive celebration of Yugambeh language, Culture and storytelling through music, movement and dance. Everyone is welcome — stream this ABC Kids Original on ABC iview. 

Step inside the TheatreDome! Channel Nine's entertaining and unconventional improv comedy show for kids comes to the stage. In this interactive performance, the crowd can join the fun for ultimate theatrical glory under the watchful eye of the Great Overseer. Teams will face off in a rapid-fire series of theatre games and comedic scenes. Quick wit, unflinching instinct, and commitment to the bit are in high demand. 

We are heading back to transform Pegg's Park once again into a great big celebration of culture and community. It’s time to bring back the sounds, flavours, and stories for one of the south side's most anticipated events of the year. Expect a five-star lineup of live music, dance, and performance featuring some of the country’s most energetic artists representing sounds from across the globe. From funk-driven beats and culture-filled traditions, foot-tapping tunes, and unstoppable rhythms, this is a celebration where every sound, step, and story will keep you on your feet. 

A family-friendly party on the peninsula. Join us at the University of Queensland for a family-friendly afternoon of live entertainment. Roll out a blanket, craft a food truck feast, and explore UQ’s facilities with tours including; UQ Art Museum, Anthropology Museum, Antiquities Museum, Fryer Library and more. 

Take your puppetry skills to the next level. Explore character, mechanisms and the core principles of puppetry - focus, breath and gravity. Using simple brown paper techniques, young people will prototype and construct a one-of-a-kind creature.