Brisbane Festival 2026: Arts and culture on the banks of the Brisbane River
The 2026 Brisbane Festival concluded after a month of diverse cultural events aimed at positioning Brisbane as a world-class city ahead of the 2032 Olympics. The festival saw a significant increase in attendance and box office revenue, showcasing local and international artistic talent.
Why it matters
The festival serves as a cultural benchmark for Brisbane's urban development and international profile leading up to the 2032 Olympic Games.
Brisbane Festival 2026: Arts and culture on the banks of the Brisbane River By Shari Hams , Ned Hammond , Emma Johnson , Claudia Williams and Dan Condon Topic: Art
Link copied Share Share article Brisbane Festival has wrapped up for another year, with the month of September bringing an incredible range of events to the river city.
There's been something for everybody, from world-slaying nostalgia acts to out-of-the-box theatrical creations, and everything in between.
All part of Brisbane's ambitious push to become a true world city ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the festival has centred the creative verve of Queensland and beyond on the shores of the Brisbane River .
More than 1.7 million people attended ticketed and free events produced by almost 2,000 artists over the course of the festival, including 535,000 people who visited the festival village at South Bank.
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