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What’s On in Brisbane: April 2026
Find out what’s on in Brisbane this month in our April events guide.
This month in Brisbane (April 2026) is about settling into a slower pace as the days cool down, and we embrace autumn fully. We’re all about the lingering warmth and a sun with less bite, autumn picnics and balmy evening strolls. On our April schedule, you’ll find everything from seasonal markets to immersive exhibitions, and even a new secret garden for the kids, alongside our editor’s top pick — an immersive autumnal market. Ready to make the most of what we’re convinced is the best month of the year?
Read on for all the details you need to plan the perfect April in Brisbane.
In This Guide
Editor’s Picks
Handmade Design Market
This handmade market is the perfect place to pick up sustainable and locally made gifts, all whilst supporting small business. This one is timed perfectly to pick up gifts for Mother’s Day so be sure to make your list and check it twice. You can expect plenty of ceramics, candles, jewellery, homewares, as well as bites to eat. You’ve got a whole month to make the most of it.
Where: Old Museum Building, Bowen Hills
When: Sunday 19th April. 10am to 3pm
Cost: Free entry
Best For: Markets; Locals; Gift shopping; Community events
Festivals & Major Events
Brisbane Comedy Festival
Spread across 8 days, Brisbane’s Comedy Festival is back for another year of laughs. Expect a stacked line-up of performances from the likes of The Umbilical Brothers, Best of the Edinburgh Fest, Sh!t-faced Shakespeare and Josh Thomas.
Where: Venues across Brisbane
When: Friday 24th April to Sunday 24th May
Cost: Tickets available from $20
Best For: Comedy fans; Festivals; Nightlife; Live music fans
Eat & Drink
Bottomless Frites and Jazz at C’est Bon
Settle into the cosy embrace of C’est Bon for an evening of jazz and steak frites by candlelight. This fortnightly ritual is just the ticket to break up a boring week. The best part? Your booking includes bottomless chippies.
Where: 609 Stanley Street, Woolloongabba
When: Every second Tuesday, 6pm to 9pm
Cost: $55 per person
Best For: Food & drink lovers; Live music fans; Date night; Nightlife
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Art, Culture & Performance
Horizons of Khufu
There’s no need to jump on a plane to have an almighty adventure this Autumn. The immersive VR experience Horizons of Khufu is touching down late March, inviting 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 April and May
Cost: From $40
Best For: Cultural experiences; Exhibitions; Education; Families; Visitors
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, Exhibitions, Family-friendly, Interactive experiences
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 April and May
Cost: From $26
Best For: Exhibitions; Film buffs; Visitors; Group catch-ups; Fans
Need to Know: The FRIENDS™ Experience will open in April 2026, at Uptown Brisbane. Tickets will officially go on sale March 12, but patrons who sign up for the waitlist have the opportunity to purchase tickets 24 hours earlier from March 11.
Markets & Shopping
Autumn Affair
The tranquil Trevallan Lifestyle Centre is opening its doors once again to a seasonal soiree where you’re invited to sip, taste, shop, wander and listen. Trevallan’s gorgeous garden will play host to a one-day-only Autumn festival, brimming with local musicians and artisan stalls. There’s nothing we’d rather do at this time of year than chomp on homemade pastries and pies, whilst stocking up on handmade gifts. You too? Pencil it in!
Where: 77 Fernvale Road, Brassall
When: Saturday 11th April, 9am to 1pm
Cost: Free entry
Best For: Markets; Food & drink lovers; Live music fans; Community events
Outdoors & Active
Enjoy a Free City Tour, Brisbane CBD
Brisbane is full of passionate locals and this free city service is proof. Whether you’re looking to orient yourself on a trip to the city, or are a local keen to dive a little deeper and glean some new tips, the 8 tours on offer all deliver. Opt to uncover a new suburb or get the lowdown on the city of Brisbane itself, learn about penal history or 21st century Brisbane. They even have tours available in 20 different languages!
Head here for details on available tours.
Where: Brisbane CBD
When: Ongoing
Cost: Free
Best For: Free things to do, Cultural experiences, Visitors, Local insights, Walking tours
Need to know: Choose from eight tour options covering Brisbane’s history, suburbs and modern city stories, with tours available in 20 different languages.
Explore The Secret Garden
Looking for somewhere to take the kids for a few hours? Woolloongabba has just scored its very own Secret Garden, offering a chance for imaginative play with a backdrop of sensory-rich installs in place of traditional equipment.
Carved timber sculptures of native animals meet with an abundance of plants and trees, wooden log stepping stones, interactive glass panels and a dry creek bed. 600 individually controlled LED lights and five rotating soundscapes activate once the sun has set, making it the perfect place for expelling the last of the day’s energy.
Where: Woolloongabba
When: No opening hours
Cost: Free
Best For: Lights and soundscapes activate after sunset
Free Things To Do
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, Exhibitions, Fashion, Education
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
Dog Lovers Festival
Dog-lovers assemble because Brisbane’s biggest dog festival is back. Across two days, you’ll be spoilt with plenty of action, from displays of speed, skill and teamwork to one of the biggest doggie supermarkets you’ll ever have the pleasure of browsing. There will also be a breed showcase, adoption zone and a slew of expert presenters, sharing their expertise.
Where: Brisbane Showgrounds
When: Saturday 16th May to Sunday 17th May, 9am to 5pm
Cost: From $38.66
Best For: Families, Dog lovers, Festivals, Community events, Kids
Need to know: You will need two seperate tickets if you’d like to attend both days
Affordable Art Fair
Looking for something a little fancier than the same old prints doing the rotation on Pinterest? This four-day art fair offers the unique opportunity to purchase art from real-life artists at accessible prices. 2026 could well be the year you become a collector!
There will be plenty to feast your eyes upon, with over 54 independent galleries in attendance, plus drinks available to purchase. A wholesome day out if ever we’ve seen one.
Where: Brisbane Showgrounds, Bowen Hills
When: Thursday 7th May to Sunday 10th May
Cost: Tickets from $30
Best For: Art lovers; Exhibitions; Markets; Cultural experiences
What’s On This Month in Brisbane: FAQs
April in Brisbane is packed with standout moments, from the Handmade Design Market for locally made finds to the Brisbane Comedy Festival bringing a stacked line-up of laughs across the city. Immersive experiences like Horizons of Khufu and major exhibitions such as Olafur Eliasson: Presence also headline the month. It’s a strong mix of markets, culture and big-ticket events our editors rate highly.
For a cosy night out, Bottomless Frites and Jazz at C’est Bon pairs live music with steak frites and free-flowing chips in an intimate setting. The Trevallan Lifestyle Centre Autumn Affair also blends food, music and artisan stalls, making it a relaxed way to spend a morning grazing and shopping local.
April is a standout month for immersive culture, with Horizons of Khufu offering a VR journey through ancient Egypt. Olafur Eliasson’s Presence delivers a large-scale, interactive exhibition exploring perception and experience, while Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose at Museum of Brisbane highlights First Nations fashion, storytelling and sustainability.
The Brisbane Comedy Festival leads the charge with performances from major local and international acts across multiple venues. For something more low-key, Bottomless Frites and Jazz at C’est Bon offers a regular live music experience in a relaxed, candlelit setting.
Families are well catered for with interactive experiences like Horizons of Khufu and the newly opened Secret Garden in Woolloongabba, designed for imaginative play. The FRIENDS™ Experience also offers a fun, interactive outing for older kids and teens, while the Handmade Design Market is an easy weekend activity to browse and explore together.
There’s plenty to enjoy without spending a cent, including the Handmade Design Market and Trevallan’s Autumn Affair. Free Brisbane City walking tours offer a deeper look at the city’s history and neighbourhoods, while Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose at Museum of Brisbane is a must-see cultural exhibition with no entry fee.
Looking ahead, Brisbane’s calendar continues to build with the Dog Lovers Festival returning in May for a weekend of demonstrations, expert talks and all things canine. The Affordable Art Fair also lands at the Brisbane Showgrounds, bringing together dozens of galleries and artists for a four-day showcase of accessible art.
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.
