From sporting events that are watched the world over to exclusive art exhibitions and Australian premiere productions, Brisbane is a global events hub.
Brisbane is a leader in the event space. From cultural events to sports, music and more, these are Brisbane's best event venues.
Cultural events
Brisbane’s cultural venues are also taking centre stage. The city comes alive each year for Brisbane Festival, offering a diverse line-up of classical and contemporary music, theatre, dance, comedy, opera and circus performances, as well as Riverfire – an electrifying pyrotechnic display from bridges, barges and rooftops across the city that attracts one million people annually to Brisbane.
Brisbane is also home to BIGSOUND, the southern hemisphere’s biggest new music festival and industry gathering, which attracts the world’s most influential tastemakers and adventurous music lovers to the city each year to discover the future of music.
A new $175 million, 1,500-seat theatre in the South Bank cultural precinct is set to open to audiences in 2024, making the Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) the largest of its kind in Australia. Brisbane Powerhouse, the city’s home for contemporary culture, features a year-round outdoor cinema, as well as an alfresco theatre hosting concerts, cabaret, comedy and circus events alongside the Brisbane River. Coupled with the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) and the Queensland Museum, which rank among the most visited Australian cultural venues, Brisbane’s cultural scene is hard to beat.
The $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf integrated resort development, set for a staged opening from the second half of 2023, will further enhance the range of entertainment – and accommodation – on offer in Brisbane.
Sporting events
Brisbane understands the business of sport like few other cities and is fast becoming Australia’s sporting capital. Brisbane has hosted international rugby clashes and tennis tournaments, as well as the International Cricket Council Men’s T20 World Cup, English Premier League matches, water polo championships, cycling festivals and rugby league showcase events, including the 2021 Grand Final.
Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium consistently ranks in the top five rugby stadiums globally, and the Gabba stadium is widely regarded as having one of the best cricket pitches in the world.
Brisbane’s status as a global events destination was cemented when the city was selected to host the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Eighteen of the thirty-two competition venues for the 2032 Games will be in Brisbane, with 26 Olympic and Paralympic sports to be held within 5km of the city centre.
