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What’s On in Brisbane: November 2026
Find out what’s on in Brisbane this month in our November events guide.
November in Brisbane kicks off with the continuation of Melt Festival, as more than 100 queer arts and culture events (and Florentijn Hofman’s giant pink duck) take over the city. From there, the calendar turns festive. The King Street Twilight Christmas Market lights up Bowen Hills and QAGOMA’s Christmas Market follows that weekend. In between, you can catch Disney’s The Lion King at QPAC, explore the Giza pyramids in the VR experience Horizons of Khufu, or order a spritz from Mr Percival’s pop-up Aperol window. Between it all are new places to eat, reasons to head outside and several excellent excuses to surrender an entire weekend to the city.
Read on for our editor’s November picks for what’s on this month in Brisbane.
In This Guide
- Editor’s Picks
- Festivals & Major Events in Brisbane This Month
- Things to Eat & Drink in Brisbane This Month
- Art, Culture & Performance in Brisbane This Month
- Markets & Shopping in Brisbane This Month
- Free Things To Do in Brisbane This Month
- Coming Soon to Brisbane
- FAQs About What’s On in Brisbane This Month
Editor’s Picks
Trade Brisbane for Broadbeach for the Weekend
There is a point in November when Brisbane starts feeling warm enough to warrant an escape south, and Dorsett Gold Coast makes a very easy one of it. The hotel sits in the middle of Broadbeach, close to Kurrawa Beach, Pacific Fair and the G, which now runs all the way to Burleigh, but the temptation is equally strong to stay exactly where you are: swimmers on, book abandoned beside the lounger, afternoon disappearing into the warm water at Isoletto Pool Club. Executive guests can take breakfast, evening drinks and canapés up on Level 19, while Dorsett – Your Rewards members currently save an additional 12% on eligible direct bookings. A Friday-night decision, perhaps, that ends with Sunday morning still smelling faintly of sunscreen.
Book your stay with Dorsett GC
Where: Broadbeach
Cost: From $271 per night
Best For: Weekend plans, Visitors, Couples
Festivals & Major Events in Brisbane This Month
Celebrate the Season at Melt Festival
This month-long celebration of queer arts and culture will be taking over the city with 100+ events spread across over 70 venues. You’re going to want to clear your calendar, with highlights spanning public art, world premieres, concerts, drag and plenty of parties. We’re talking famed public artist Florentijn Hofman’s giant pink duck floating down the Brisbane River, Brisbane’s biggest-ever river pride parade and a full-scale Dolly Parton celebration night. Keep an eye out for more fun from local restaurants and bars embracing the season with limited-edition menus and events.
Where: Across the city
When: Wednesday 21 October to Sunday 8 November 2026
Cost: Free & ticketed events
Best For: Free, Budget-friendly, Group Catch-ups, Cultural experiences, Festival season
Things to Eat & Drink in Brisbane This Month
Visit Mr Percival’s Pop-Up Aperol Spritz Window
No Euro trip? No problem! Mr Percival’s and Aperol are bringing the Florentine wine window to us this spring, so take this as your sign to book in a sunny afternoon sip. All you have to do? Ring the bell, your spritz will appear, and you’re off to your favourite riverside perch.
Where: Mr Percival
When: Friday to Sundays throughout spring, 4pm to 7pm
Cost: TBC
Best For: Weekend plans, Cocktail lovers, Group dining
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Art, Culture & Performance in Brisbane This Month
Heritage Hands
Sorely needed in our increasingly online world, Heritage Hands aims to document and preserve traditional arts, crafts and trade. Their inaugural festival is the perfect opportunity to get involved and learn a little about what they’re up to. Across the weekend, you can observe demonstrations of traditional skills, engage in workshops and settle in for talks. There will also be live music and a Heritage Makers Market to shop, just in time for Chrissie.
Where: Sandgate Town Hall
When: Friday 6 November to Saturday 7 November 2026
Cost: Free entry
Best For: Markets, Art lovers, Unique experiences
Disney’s The Lion King
Whether you’ve seen it once, a couple of times, or are yet to witness the magic, Disney’s The Lion King musical is always a joyous night out. Watch on as the lively Serengeti emerges right before your eyes, and some of the world’s best performers take to the stage. Costumes, tunes, set design — it’s all impeccable.
Where: QPAC, South Brisbane
When: 15 November to 22 November 2026
Cost: From $60
Best For: Theatre lovers, Dance lovers, Live music
Horizons of Khufu
There’s no need to jump on a plane to have an almighty adventure this spring. 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: Fortitude Valley
When: Sessions throughout November 2026
Cost: From $40
Best For: Cultural experiences, Families, Locals, Visitors, Weekend plans
Make, Believe, Magic. The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company
Take a step back in time at GOMA and experience 70 years of creativity and innovation at this Brisbane-exclusive exhibition, Make, Believe, Magic. The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company. Exploring the journey from puppetry to animatronics and digital innovations, the exhibition spans hundreds of objects including puppets, props, costumes, original drawings and moving clips, as well as a world-first display of the Great Hall set from Emmy Award-winning television series Fraggle Rock.
Where: QAGOMA, South Brisbane
When: Until Sunday 18 April 2027
Cost: From $22 per person
Best For: Families, Weekend plans, Art lovers
Markets & Shopping in Brisbane This Month
QAGOMA Christmas Market
Quite literally a handmade-lover’s Christmas, QAGOMA’s Christmas Market is set to play host to over 80 stalls of goodies from independent designers, makers and creatives. Each day will see a new host of vendors pop up, so a double visit isn’t out of the question. Enjoy shopping alfresco whilst you cross off your Christmas list and pop over to the ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ whilst you’re there. A magical day, indeed.
Where: Gallery of Modern Art, South Brisbane
When: Saturday 28 November to Sunday 29 November 2026, 9am to 4pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Markets, Locals, Weekend plans
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 1 November & Sunday 15 November 2026, 12pm to 5pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Markets, Free events, Weekend plans, Budget-friendly
King Street Twilight Christmas Market
Make your Christmas shopping a joy this year with a little trip to the markets. The King Street precinct will be going all in with a spot of live music, plenty of snacks to keep you fuelled and stalls spread all the way along the leafy footpaths.
Where: King Street, Bowen Hills
When: Friday 27 November 2026
Cost: Free entry
Best For: Markets, Locals, Families
Free Things To Do in Brisbane This Month
Free Outdoor Fitness at South Bank
Looking to get outdoors and exercise for free this month? Feel Good South Bank is back with its free riverside gym! Hosted by Goodlife Health Clubs instructors, there will be eight classes taking place per week with Zumba, Pilates, and yoga just a selection of what to expect. You can register for free here, with access to exclusive local discounts unlocked for all of your refuelling needs.
Where: Flowstate, South Bank
When: Saturday 10 October to Saturday 28 November 2026
Cost: Free
Best For: Budget-friendly, Wellness seekers, Free events, Outdoor activities
Coming Soon to Brisbane
Tape It! Drawing on Museum of Brisbane
As the Museum of Brisbane‘s next Artist in Residence, Briony Barr is inviting one and all in on her next project. Tape It! is a collaborative tape drawing that invites visitors to make the mark on a piece that will change and grow daily across five months. Accessible and bright, the artwork will explore colour, line, pattern and movement and uncover how something much bigger can emerge from individual marks.
The installation will run alongside a series of drawings on paper, and large-format tape drawings by Briony. Select Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays will see Briony engage with audiences across school holiday activations and workshops.
Where: Museum of Brisbane
When: From 12 December 2026 to 11 April 2027
Cost: Free entry
Best For: Free events, Kids, Art lovers
FAQs About What’s On in Brisbane This Month
Melt Festival leads November in Brisbane, running until Sunday 8 November with more than 100 queer arts and culture events across 70+ venues, including Florentijn Hofman’s giant pink duck floating down the Brisbane River. Disney’s The Lion King takes the stage at QPAC from 15 to 22 November, while GOMA’s Brisbane-exclusive Make, Believe, Magic exhibition celebrates 70 years of The Jim Henson Company. As the month draws to a close, the festive season arrives with the King Street Twilight Christmas Market on Friday 27 November and the QAGOMA Christmas Market across 28–29 November.
Mr Percival and Aperol have brought the Florentine wine window to Brisbane this spring with a pop-up Aperol spritz window, open Fridays to Sundays from 4pm to 7pm. All you need to do is ring the bell, collect your spritz and head to your favourite riverside perch. Until 8 November, local restaurants and bars are also joining Melt Festival with limited-edition menus and events. Later in the month, the King Street Twilight Christmas Market on Friday 27 November offers plenty of snacks to keep you going between stalls.
At GOMA, Make, Believe, Magic. The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company brings together hundreds of puppets, props, costumes and original drawings, plus a world-first display of the Great Hall set from Fraggle Rock, with tickets from $22. For something more immersive, Horizons of Khufu in Fortitude Valley takes you inside the Giza pyramids through shared virtual reality, with sessions throughout November from $40. Heritage Hands brings traditional skills demonstrations, workshops and talks to Sandgate Town Hall on 6–7 November, and Melt Festival fills the city with public art and world premieres until 8 November.
Melt Festival runs until Sunday 8 November, with concerts, drag, parties, Brisbane’s biggest-ever river pride parade and a full-scale Dolly Parton celebration night. Theatre lovers can catch Disney’s The Lion King at QPAC, South Brisbane, from 15 to 22 November, with tickets from $60. There’s live music at the Heritage Hands festival at Sandgate Town Hall on 6–7 November. More live music plays along the leafy footpaths of the King Street Twilight Christmas Market in Bowen Hills on Friday 27 November.
Families can head to GOMA for Make, Believe, Magic, where puppets, animatronics and the Fraggle Rock Great Hall set make for an easy weekend outing, from $22 per person. Horizons of Khufu in Fortitude Valley lets you explore secret chambers and sail along the Nile together in virtual reality, with sessions throughout November from $40. To round out the month, the King Street Twilight Christmas Market in Bowen Hills on Friday 27 November brings live music, snacks and festive stalls. It’s a family-friendly way to start ticking off the Christmas list.
Many of Brisbane’s best November moments are free. Feel Good South Bank’s free riverside gym runs at Flowstate until Saturday 28 November, with Zumba, Pilates and yoga on the timetable. Suitcase Rummage returns to Redcliffe Place on Sunday 1 and Sunday 15 November from 12pm to 5pm, and Heritage Hands offers free entry at Sandgate Town Hall on 6–7 November. The King Street Twilight Christmas Market (27 November) and the QAGOMA Christmas Market (28–29 November) are both free, and Melt Festival includes free events across the city until 8 November.
Museum of Brisbane Artist in Residence Briony Barr opens Tape It! on 12 December 2026. It’s a collaborative tape drawing that visitors help make, and it grows and changes daily until 11 April 2027. Entry is free. The installation explores colour, line, pattern and movement, and it runs alongside Briony’s drawings on paper and large-format tape works. On select Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Briony will run school holiday activations and workshops, so it’s a creative outing for kids and art lovers alike.
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.
