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What’s On in Brisbane: July 2026
Find out what’s on in Brisbane this month in our July events guide.
This month in Brisbane (July 2026) is about leaning into all the things that make winter special. The city’s event calendar is packed with food festivals from James Street’s one-day-only affair to Night Feast’s month-long extravaganza.
On top of eating our way through July, we’re planning on leaning into our creative side with a trip to the Incognito Art Fair and a spot of country music at Lasso Country Music Festival.
Read on for the rest of our July pick of things to do in Brisbane.
In This Guide
Editor’s Picks
A Plush Flower Market is Set to Bloom in Brisbane
After the roaring success of both the Melbourne and Sydney instalments of artist CJ Hendry‘s iconic pop-upflower markets, Brisbane is next up! It’s a rare opportunity for fans of the well-loved artist to shop her plush flowers and build their own bouquet that can live in their homes forever. If the popularity of the previous pop-ups are anything to go by, we suggest getting there early — especially if you’re keen to purchase her exclusively Australian designs.
Where: Fortitude Valley
When: 25th June to 12th July
Cost: Free to browse; $10 per stem
Best For: Unique experiences, Markets, Locals
Night Feast
Returning for its fifth year, Night Feast is back bigger and better than ever. This free entry festival is championing cooler nights with immersive art, live music, and, of course, plenty of tasty festival-exclusive eats. We’ve got our eye on the luxe nuggs from Wine & Dine’m Catering, Donna Chang’s crispy pork kebab and Ruby, My Dear’s Japanese Carbonara Udon.
Where: Brisbane Powerhouse
When: Wednesday 29th July to Sunday 23rd August
Cost: Free
Best For: Foodies, Locals, Markets, Families, Group catch-ups
Need to Know: This year, the festivities will culminate in an exclusive shared table dining experience, Better Off Red, on Sunday, 16th August.
Festivals & Major Events
Le Festival 2026
This year, France is coming to us, so beeline it down to Roma Street Parklands for a little taste of la belle vie. Sip on French champagne, whilst being serenaded by live performances and wandering your way through the French market. If you’d like to immerse yourself a little further, consider booking one of Le Festival 2026‘s masterclasses, which include spirits and cheese pairings, a beef wellington cooking class and a paint and sip session.
Where: Roma Street Parklands
When: Friday 24th July to Sunday 26th July
Cost: From $12 per person
Best For: Foodies, Group catch-ups, Families, Date night
Brisbane Gin Festival
Spend a winter weekend immersing yourself in the wonderful world of gin at Brisbane’s Gin Festival. With some of Australia’s best distillers in attendance, it’s a great chance to sample your way through and find your very own signature drop. You’ll have three hours to taste your way around the showground, stopping off to snack on food trucks as you go.
Where: Bowen Hills
When: Friday 17th July to Saturday 18th July
Cost: From $50 per person
Best For: Date night, Group catch-ups, Weekend plans, Locals
Need to Know: Your ticket includes a free tasting class to take home and a complimentary tote bag.
Eat & Drink
The Curated Plate
The Sunshine Coast turns winter into a full-table affair when The Curated Plate returns for ten days of fire-led feasts, seafood by the water, orchard picnics, river lunches and chef-led dining across the coast and hinterland. From Island Fire at Alsahwa Estate to Mooloolaba Seafood Market Day, Glasshouse Country Long Lunch and one-off farm, distillery and producer events, this is the food festival worth building an entire winter escape around. Tickets are limited, so choose your headline feast early.
Where: Across the Sunshine Coast
When: 24th July to 2nd August, 2026
Cost: Various prices, with select free events
Best For: Foodies, Weekend plans, Families, Locals, Visitors
Need to Know: Events run across the Sunshine Coast from 24th July to 2nd August, with many headline lunches, farm events and seafood experiences capped, so book early if you have your eye on a particular feast.
James St Food & Wine Trail
Brisbane’s most elevated food festival is back this month, and we’re already planning our day-of food purchases. The one-day-only James St Food & Wine Festival will see the closure of James Street for a lively, open-air market showcasing 25 of the resident venues across 35 pop-up market stalls. On top of dedicated dessert stalls and bars, highlight dishes include the 100s and 1000s lamington from Jocelyn Provisions and The Calile Lobby Bar’s Moreton Bay bug roll with garnishes from their rooftop kitchen garden.
On top of tastings aplenty, there will also be a live chef stage with demonstrations running throughout the day, limited capacity workshops from Mud Australia, wine tasting sessions from Shaw + Smith and an express multi-course lunch from Hellenika.
Where: James Street
When: Sunday 26th July, 10am to 4pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Weekend plans, Free events, Foodies
Sirromet Signature Fire Pit Experience
Treat someone special to a private fire pit experience at one of the region’s finest wineries this winter. All you have to do? Show up! Sirromet have done all the hard work and will have your fire blazing when you get there, with a picnic rug (for you to take home) and a picnic hamper basket stacked with a generous antipasto spread. Your ticket also includes two glasses of mulled wine or a bottle to share, as well as two Sirromet keep cups as a momento of your experience. Now this is living!
Where: 850-938 Mount Cotton Road, Mount Cotton
When: Saturdays and Sundays until 30th August 2026
Cost: $189 for two
Best For: Date night, Wine lovers, Foodies, Weekend plans
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Art, Culture & Performance
Lasso Country Music Festival
Dust off your boots and brush up on your two-step, the Lasso Country Music Festival is back in town! Texas cowboy Drake Milligan is flying in especially for the occasion and will be joined by Aussie favourites The Wet Whistles, Austin Mackay and Tyler Rodrigues, amongst others. Plenty of signings will be taking place over the course of the afternoon, with ops to snag merchandise, too. There will be food and beverage stalls on-site to fuel all that boot-scootin’.
Where: Distillery Road Market, Eagleby
When : Saturday 11th July, from 2pm
Cost: From $75
Best For: Locals, Visitors, Weekend plans, Live music
Incognito Art Show
Whether you’re new to art and looking for something affordable or fancy taking all preconceptions out of your next purchase, the Incognito Art Show is the place to go. The aim of the game is to raise money for funding development programs for artists with disabilities via the sale of donated A5 artworks. The twist? You won’t know who the artist is until after you’ve purchased the piece. With pieces donated by some of Australia’s most established artists, and some by talented newcomers and amateurs, it’s a bit of a lucky dip but as long as you love the piece, you’ll be leaving happy. There will be over 15,000 pieces for sale covering everything from still lifes to portraits, landscapes to abstract.
Where: Long Island, Brisbane
When: Saturday 25th July & Sunday 26th July
Cost: Free entry, artworks are $100 each
Best For: Markets, Art lovers, Unique experiences
Horizons of Khufu
There’s no need to jump on a plane to have an almighty adventure this winter. The immersive VR experience Horizons of Khufu invites you to take a trip to the Giza pyramids. Journey underground into secret chambers and sail along the Nile, as you move about freely, exploring the shared virtual reality space.
Where: Level 1, 123 Gotha Street, Fortitude Valley
When: Sessions throughout July
Cost: From $40
Best For: Cultural experiences, Families, Locals, Visitors, Weekend plans
Olafur Eliasson: Presence, South Brisbane
Don’t miss this immersive exhibition by Berlin-based artist Olafur Eliasson, challenging viewers’ perceptions via major installations, sculptures, photo series and more. Exclusive to Brisbane, the interactive exhibition is designed to be a collaboration between viewers and the artist, commenting on how we give shape to our experience of the world and how that differs person to person. The one directive? Be present.
Highlights include Riverbed 2014, a recreation of a rocky stream with running water, and The Cubic Structural Evolution Project 2004, an all white lego city that is built and rebuilt by viewers as the exhibition progresses.
Where: Stanley Place, South Brisbane
When: Until 12th July 2026
Cost: From $14 per person
Best For: Art lovers, Cultural experiences, Families
Need to Know: You can score 50% off tickets on the first Tuesday of every month
The FRIENDS™ Experience
FRIENDS™ fans, it is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You’re invited to take a seat on the orange sofa and relive some of this iconic show’s most beloved moments in an immersive experience. Curated by Original X Productions in collaboration with Warner Bros, Discovery Global Experiences and Fever, it will be the first The FRIENDS™ Experience has popped up in Queensland.
You can expect replica costumes, interactive recreated sets, exclusive merch, and, of course, a trip to Central Perks.
Where: 91 Queen Street Mall, Brisbane
When: Sessions throughout July
Cost: From $26
Best For: Visitors, Group catch-ups, Film lovers, Comedy lovers
Markets & Shopping
Suitcase Rummage
A favourite amongst fashionistas, the Suitcase Rummage is the spot to secure a bargain! Hugely popular amongst Brisbane’s thrifty and environmentally conscious shopaholics, there’s always someone new selling their wares.
Take your time poking through overflowing luggage at these Brisbane markets and don’t be afraid to have a chat (or a haggle) with the seller, you might just make a new and fellow-minded friend.
Where: Redcliffe Place, Queen Street, Brisbane City
When: Sunday 5th July, 12pm to 5pm
Cost: Free to attend
Best For: Markets, Free events, Weekend plans, Budget friendly
Outdoors & Active
Four-Day Self-Guided Scenic Rim Walk
This new self-guided hike is the perfect way for seasoned hikers to dip their toe into multi-day hiking. The 42km trail winds through Queensland’s World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforest and crosses through Mount Jerusalem and Nightcap national parks.
Hikers can soak up the natural wonderland of the Scenic Rim without having to worry about setting up tents or cooking dinner, with exclusive private eco-camps at their disposal, alongside chef-curated meals, daily luggage transfers and shuttle connections.
Where: Scenic Rim
When: Multiple dates available
Cost: From $1500 per person
Best For: Outdoor activities, Locals, Visitors
Free Things To Do
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Wildlife photography is amazing as is, but comedy wildlife photography? Even better. After collecting submissions from all over the world, the 60-image showcase will feature a range of winning images and finalists from across the years, as well as this year’s winner.
Where: Redcliffe Museum
When: 30th May 2026 to 16th August 2026
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Art lovers, Cultural experiences
School Holidays at The Museum Of Brisbane
Stuck for winter school holiday plans? On top of the usual draw cards, the Museum of Brisbane will be hosting a number of free and affordable workshops and tours for kids and their families. Keen to spark some creativity these school holidays, the museum invites locals to take a tour of the clock tour, collage their own Brisbane cityscape and join Artist in Residence Delverne Cockatoo-Collins to create peg dolls based on an ancestral story about a mermaid.
Where: Museum of Brisbane
When: Saturday 27th June to Sunday 12th July
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Free events, Kids, Budget-friendly
Need to Know: There are a handful of additional events taking place across the school holidays for a small fee.
Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose, Brisbane City
Exclusive to the Museum of Brisbane, this exhibit connects audiences with the world’s oldest living culture through wearable art. Curated in collaboration with sustainable and Aboriginal-owned label Magpie Goose, the collection features First Nations creatives from across the country, with a particular focus on South East Queensland. Journey through the stories, textures and processes of different communities, whilst learning more about sustainability and fashion in Australia.
Where: Level 3, City Hall
When: Until 5th October 2026
Cost: Free of charge
Best For: Art lovers, Cultural experiences, Budget-friendly, Free events, Families
Need to Know: Curated in collaboration with Aboriginal-owned label Magpie Goose, the exhibition spotlights First Nations creatives, with a focus on South East Queensland, exploring wearable art, sustainability and storytelling.
Coming Soon
Ekka: The Royal Queensland Show
Always an annual highlight, this year’s Ekka is even more special as Queensland’s largest annual event is celebrating its 150th birthday. You can expect the usual draws, from agricultural competitions and firework displays to showbags, kids’ activities, wood chop and carnival rides, alongside seasonal specials from local cafes, restaurants and bakeries.
Where: Brisbane Showgrounds
When: Saturday 8th August to Sunday 16th August
Cost: From $40.95 for an adult ticket
Best For: Families, Weekend plans, Kids, Foodies, Cultural experiences
What’s On This Month in Brisbane: FAQs
July in Brisbane is one of the best months on the calendar. Highlights include the one-day-only James St Food & Wine Trail on 26th July, the return of Night Feast at Brisbane Powerhouse (kicking off 29th July), and the much-anticipated CJ Hendry Flower Market in Fortitude Valley. For something more cultural, the Incognito Art Show and Lasso Country Music Festival are both well worth putting in the diary.
July is a big month for food lovers. Le Festival brings a taste of France to Roma Street Parklands from 24th–26th July, while the Brisbane Gin Festival runs across 17th–18th July in Bowen Hills, with tastings, food trucks and a complimentary tasting class included in your ticket. The James St Food & Wine Trail closes out the month on 26th July with 25 resident venues, pop-up stalls and live chef demonstrations — and entry is completely free. For something more intimate, Sirromet Winery is running private fire pit experiences on weekends through to 30th August.
The Incognito Art Show at Long Island on 25th–26th July is a standout — all A5 artworks are $100 each and you won’t know the artist until after you’ve bought your piece. Olafur Eliasson: Presence at GOMA runs until 12th July and is exclusive to Brisbane, with tickets from $14 (and 50% off on the first Tuesday of the month). The FRIENDS™ Experience is also running sessions throughout July at Queen Street Mall for fans after something a little more playful.
The Lasso Country Music Festival lands at Distillery Road Market in Eagleby on Saturday 11th July, with Texas artist Drake Milligan headlining alongside Aussie favourites. Night Feast at Brisbane Powerhouse launches on 29th July with live music woven throughout its free-entry festival program. GOMA Friday Nights have also been running through to 26th June, combining vinyl listening, DJs and pop-up performances alongside the Olafur Eliasson exhibition.
The Museum of Brisbane is running free and low-cost school holiday workshops until 12th July, including a clock tower tour, collage-making and a peg doll workshop with Artist in Residence Delverne Cockatoo-Collins. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards are on display for free at Redcliffe Museum through to 16th August — always a crowd-pleaser for little ones. The CJ Hendry Flower Market in Fortitude Valley is also free to browse and a fun outing for curious kids.
There’s plenty on without spending a cent. The James St Food & Wine Trail on 26th July is free to attend, as is entry to Night Feast at Brisbane Powerhouse from 29th July. Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose at the Museum of Brisbane (Level 3, City Hall) is free and runs until 5th October, and the Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards at Redcliffe Museum are free through to 16th August. The Suitcase Rummage markets also return to the city on Sunday 5th July at no cost to attend.
Ekka — the Royal Queensland Show — is just around the corner, running from Saturday 8th August to Sunday 16th August at the Brisbane Showgrounds. This year is extra special, with Queensland’s largest annual event celebrating its 150th birthday. Expect agricultural competitions, fireworks, showbags, carnival rides and seasonal food offerings. Adult tickets start from $40.95.
Looking for more fun things to do in Brisbane this month? See what’s happening on the foodie scene with our food news, or explore what’s on around our beautiful river city.
