With the change in seasons from Winter to Spring in Brisbane, there’s that palpable feeling of something in the air worth celebrating. It’s time to pop the cork on a riotous champagne-soaked party, open the door on a tantalising glimpse into the unknown, and experience the force and fury of passionate love as Brisbane Festival sets the city alight for 23 days in September. A delightful program has been arranged into three themes: REVELS, REVELATIONS, and ROMANCES. The 2019 edition goes from the 6th September - 28th September, and here we list our absolute must-see events during the festival.

SUNSUPER RIVERFIRE

Let’s start at the end shall we? Sunsuper Riverfire celebrates the end of three weeks of Queensland’s largest arts and cultural event with a pyrotechnic extravaganza set to an almighty soundtrack.

This is one of the most electrifying fireworks displays in Australia, fired by Foti Fireworks Queensland from multiple bridges, barges and city rooftops, with aerobatics from the Australian Defence Force.

When: Saturday 28 September
Where: South Bank Cultural Forecourt, South Brisbane
Tickets: Free
Age guidance: All ages
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

Sunsuper Riverfire at Brisbane Festival (Image Supplied)

FIRE GARDENS

For the first time, Fire Gardens arrives at this year’s Festival. Huge spheres of leaping flames, sculptures that flicker and dance, fiery urns that cause shadows to play, and a soundtrack every bit as brilliant as the garden itself – making your way through this wondrous and maze-like garden will inspire awe and reverence in equal measure.

When: Wednesday 11 - Saturday 14 September
Where: City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane City
Tickets: $27 - $33
Age guidance: All ages
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

Fire Gardens Brisbane Festival at City Botanic Gardens (Image Supplied)

RIVER OF LIGHT

Where art-meets-technology water fountain, with light-and-laser; a spectacle that will illuminate the night and our river. Following the phenomenal success of the 2018 telling of a Dreamtime creation story of the river – seen by almost 500,000 people – this new local story will again be told by Yuggera and Toorbal man Shannon Ruska working with Oracle Liquid.

When: Friday 6 - Saturday 28 September, 3 times daily except Monday.
Where: Treasury Brisbane Arcadia, South Bank Cultural Forecourt
Tickets: Free
Age guidance: All ages
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

The River of Light at the Brisbane Festival; Cultural Forecourt Southbank (Image Supplied)

BLANC DE BLANC ENCORE

The hedonistic world of BLANC De BLANC ENCORE returns to Brisbane Festival off the back of a record-breaking Sydney Opera House summer season with a brand-new show.

Get ready to submerge yourself in this burlesque extravaganza where Parisian glitz and glamour continue to create a party of Gatsby-esque proportions. Vintage French flair, risqué humour, spectacular aerials, comedy and big dance numbers will astonish and delight with opulent, cheeky, edge-of-your seat theatre.

When: Thursday 5 - Saturday 28 September
Where: The Courier-Mail Spiegeltent, Treasury Brisbane Arcadia
Tickets: $59 - $79
Age guidance: Ages 18+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

Blanc de Blanc encore at Brisbane Festival (Image Supplied)

SS MENDI: DANCING THE DEATH DRILL

This is the story of ‘The Black Titanic’, the truly startling tale of how disaster gave rise to a life of hope, courage and resilience. Told by one of South Africa’s great music theatre ensembles, SS Mendi: Dancing the Death Drill is based on the book by Fred Khumalo. It’s powerful and moving music theatre, inspired by the real-life tragic maritime disaster. Individuals from conflicting cultures become united in a final, defiant dance as the ship goes down.

When: Thursday 5 - Saturday 7 September
Where: The Playhouse, QPAC
Tickets: $47 - $65
Age guidance: Ages 12+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

SS Mendi playing at the Brisbane Festival 2019, QPAC. (Image Supplied)

FANGIRLS

Meet Edna: She’s 14, chronically awkward, and everyone thinks she’s a serial liar. But none of this will matter when her REAL life starts. With Harry. There’s just one problem, Harry is in True Connection - the world’s biggest boyband. When True Connection announce a tour stop in Edna’s city, she realises that this is her one chance to meet Harry and convince him of their destiny. But just how far is she prepared to go in the name of love?

Edna takes her obsession to unforeseen heights in this thrilling and hilarious musical comedy about first love, fan culture, and the danger of underestimating teenage girls.

When: Saturday 7 September - Saturday 5 October
Where: Billie Brown Theatre, Queensland Theatre Company
Tickets: $35 - $77
Age guidance: Ages 13+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

Queensland Theatre Company, Fangirls at Brisbane Festival (Image Supplied)

FROM DARKNESS

From Darkness is a gripping, darkly funny drama by Steven Oliver about a spiritual force and a family’s need to connect with it.

This incredible new Australian work with a stellar Indigenous cast deep-dives into contemporary family politics and the connection between culture, grief and our humanity, with Oliver’s signature aplomb.

When: Saturday 7 - Saturday 28 September
Where: Roundhouse Theatre, La Boite
Tickets: $35 - $56
Age guidance: Ages 15+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

From Darkness showing at Brisbane Festival La Boite theatre (Image Supplied)

BRIEFS: CLOSE ENCOUNTERS

Fresh from London’s West End, the boys are back in town with a dazzling new show, featuring their heart-stopping blend of cabaret burlesque, comic caper and circus to die for – all with punkish swagger.

Expect interstellar aerial feats and warp-speed strippers from outer space as the Briefs boys push the boundaries of artistry, masculinity and decency.

When: Wednesday 11 - Sunday 15 September
Where: Playhouse, QPAC
Tickets: $50 - $69
Age guidance: Ages 16+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

Briefs: Close Encounters showing at Brisbane Festival (Image Supplied)

COMMUNAL TABLE

Join eight extraordinary performers and 88 guests over a three-course meal in an evening for the adventurous and the curious. This world premiere from Dancenorth sets out to illuminate the most basic of human desires through the sharing of four fundamental ingredients – food, wine, conversation and dancing.

When: Wednesday 18 - Saturday 21 September
Where: The Joinery, West End
Tickets: $90 - $100
Age guidance: Ages 18+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

Communal Table at Brisbane Festival The Joinery West End (Image Supplied)

YANG LIPING'S RITE OF SPRING

From China’s superstar choreographer and dancer Yang Liping comes Rite of Spring, a new interpretation of Stravinsky’s revolutionary ballet of sacrifice and renewal, and arguably the most influential piece of music of the 20th Century. Taking inspiration from Chinese and Tibetan symbols of nature, in this radical Rite, the Chosen One willingly gives herself for the good of the community, journeying from terror and doubt to knowledge, empowerment and reincarnation.

When: Wednesday 25 - Saturday 28 September
Where: Playhouse, QPAC
Tickets: $47 - $67
Age guidance: All ages
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

Yang Liping’s Rite of Spring at Brisbane Festival (Image Supplied)

INVISIBLE CITIES

Staged in a huge warehouse in Yeerongpilly, Invisible Cities is perhaps the most ambitious project ever presented by Brisbane Festival. Inspired by Calvino’s iconic novel, some of the world’s great artists bring to life a series of fantastical places in this world premiere production. This spellbinding mix of theatre, choreography, music, architectural design and projection mapping imagines a succession of alternative worlds – and reimagines what is possible in live performance.

When: Tuesday 24 - Saturday 28 September
Where: 880 Fairfield Road, Yeerongpilly
Tickets: $59 - $75
Age guidance: Ages 12+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

Invisible Cities at Brisbane Festival (Image Supplied)

RIVERSTAGE BIRTHDAY BASH

Get ready to celebrate Riverstage’s 30th Birthday with a massive party! Kicking off the festivities Hot Dub Time Machine brings his ‘best party ever’ fresh off sold-out shows all over the globe, along with festival slots at Coachella; this time-travelling party is a monster mash-up of glorious mixing and epic audio visuals. Joining this party is a line-up of Brisbane’s best and brightest, from Indie-pop artist Clea with her sweeping hypnotic vocals. Indie rockers Last Dinosaurs will get you pumped up with swirling guitars and undeniable vocal hooks. Electro pop wonders Confidence Man join the celebration with wild characters, choreographed dance routines and certified pop rockets. Topping the line-up, indie heroes Cub Sport bring their emotionally-charged pop anthems along with some super-secret guests that you won’t want to miss.

When: Saturday 7 September
Where: Riverstage 3pm, 59 Gardens Point
Tickets: $65
Age guidance: Ages 18+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au

BRUNO MAJOR

Making his Brisbane debut, Bruno Major is a British R&B singer-songwriter with more than 250 million streams, multiple sold out North American tours, and Sam Smith tour-mate.

Known for his dreamy production, blissful, and soulful R&B sounds, Bruno represents a soft, romantic side of R&B that feels both vulnerable and idyllic.

When: Thursday 19 September
Where: The Courier Mail Spiegeltent, Cultural Forecourt South Bank
Tickets: $27 - $37
Age guidance: Ages 18+
More Info: brisbanefestival.com.au