Subscribe
Subscribe
What’s On in Brisbane: October 2026
Find out what’s on in Brisbane this month in our October events guide.
This month in Brisbane, festivals are in full swing with the Brisbane Writers Festival and Melt, both touching down in the city. Foodies can look forward to lobster feasts from Midtown and big things from the Good Food & Wine Show, whilst theatre buffs have The Lion King hitting the stage. Make and Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company, brings 70 years of Muppets, Labyrinth, Fraggle Rock and glorious puppet ingenuity to Brisbane. 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 October 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
Cirque Du Soleil Kooza
There’s nothing quite like a night at Cirque du Soleil, watching on as performers in sparkly costumes showcase their incredible skills. This year’s tale is told through the eyes of an innocent character who has been transported to an exotic kingdom and must navigate a maze of comic characters along the way. The two-hour show explores the themes of fear, identity, recognition and power through unicycle acts, contortion, teeterboard, highwire and more.
Where: Eagle Farm
When: Thursday 1 October until Sunday 4 October 2026
Cost: From $79
Best For: Families, Kids, Unique experiences
Trade Brisbane for Broadbeach for the Weekend
There is a point in October when Brisbane starts feeling just 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
Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers
Spring is blooming in the Garden City! The Carnival of Flowers showcases incredible floral displays, garden tours, live music and of course, the grand parade. Whether you’re a green thumb or simply an admirer of beautiful things, it’s the best time of year to visit Toowoomba and soak up the food, florals and culture that come to life.
Where: Toowoomba
When: Friday 18 September to Monday 5 October 2026
Cost: Free entry
Best For: Families, Weekend plans, Food lovers, Wine lovers, Regional travel
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
Brisbane Writers Festival
Four days’ worth of bookish conversations are descending on Brisbane once again with a stacked literary schedule covering everything from food and history to journalism and romantasy. You can expect over 110 free and ticketed events to choose from, with over 200 authors taking to the stage. Highlights include Bruce Pascoe in conversation with Ashley Hay, the announcement of the Queensland Literary Awards, Alice Oseman on her novel Heartstopper and Andrew O’Hagan.
Where: Brisbane Powerhouse
When: 8 to 11 October 2026
Cost: Free & ticketed events
Best For: Festival season, Cultural experiences, Locals
Need To Know: If you’re planning on attending multiple events, the ticket bundles offer great value.
Things to Eat & Drink in Brisbane This Month
House of Lobster at Midtown
What could be a better celebration of spring than half a tropical lobster? Midtown has brought back the beloved House of Lobster event for a good time, not a long time, and you’ll want to snag a seat. This 26-seat small bar will be serving up a four-course lobster feast with XO lobster cups, lobster mornay croquettes and one very pretty tropical lobster tagliatelle awaiting hungry fans.
Where: Fish Lane
When: Throughout October 2026
Cost: $125 per person
Best For: Food lovers, Date night, Locals
Need To Know: Limited lobster quantities mean bookings are recommended.
Good Food & Wine Show
The Good Food & Wine Show is a foodies’ Christmas, with stall after stall of gourmet produce, street food and locally made bevvies waiting to be uncovered. On top of free tasting sessions and the beloved cheese corner, this year will see a couple of new additions to the already delectable offering. ‘Bakers Alley’, a new bakery precinct, will host some of Brisbane’s best bakers, complete with exclusive bakes, crafted especially for the show. A new cooking school will also be popping up, with 45-minute bookable sessions with celebrity chefs — an exciting addition for any budding chefs or jolly home cooks.
Where: Brisbane Showgrounds
When: 23 to 25 October 2026
Cost: $24 per person
Best For: Families, Weekend plans, Food lovers, Cultural experiences
Devouring Our Guide to What’s On in Brisbane & Searching For More? Try These Next…
Al Fresco Eats: Every Rooftop Restaurant in Brisbane You Need To Try
Best Kept Secrets in Brisbane: Under-the-Radar Experiences Worth Seeking Out
Art, Culture & Performance in Brisbane This Month
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 October 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
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 4 October 2026, 12pm to 5pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Markets, Free events, Weekend plans, Budget-friendly
Free Things To Do in Brisbane This Month
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 5 October 2026
Cost: Free
Best For: Art lovers, Cultural experiences, Budget-friendly, Free events, Families
Coming Soon to Brisbane
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
FAQs About What’s On in Brisbane This Month
October brings two big festivals to Brisbane. Melt Festival celebrates queer arts and culture with 100+ events across more than 70 venues, and Brisbane Writers Festival runs from 8 to 11 October at Brisbane Powerhouse with more than 110 free and ticketed events. Our editors also rate Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza at Eagle Farm (from $79) for a night of highwire, contortion and teeterboard acts. At GOMA, the Brisbane-exclusive Make, Believe, Magic exhibition celebrates 70 years of The Jim Henson Company.
Midtown’s House of Lobster is back on Fish Lane throughout October. It’s a four-course lobster feast for $125 per person, and bookings are recommended because lobster quantities are limited. From 23 to 25 October, the Good Food & Wine Show takes over Brisbane Showgrounds ($24 per person). This year it adds a new Bakers Alley precinct and bookable 45-minute cooking classes with celebrity chefs. During Melt Festival, keep an eye out for limited-edition menus and events at local restaurants and bars.
Make, Believe, Magic. The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company is on at QAGOMA until 18 April 2027, from $22. It traces the journey from puppetry to animatronics and includes a world-first display of the Great Hall set from Fraggle Rock. In Fortitude Valley, the immersive VR experience Horizons of Khufu takes you into the Giza pyramids’ secret chambers, from $40. At the Museum of Brisbane, the free Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose exhibition shares First Nations wearable art until 5 October.
Cirque du Soleil’s Kooza is at Eagle Farm in early October, a two-hour show of unicycle acts, contortion and highwire work. Melt Festival runs from 21 October to 8 November and includes concerts, drag, world premieres, Brisbane’s biggest-ever river pride parade and a full-scale Dolly Parton celebration night. Book lovers can head to Brisbane Writers Festival at Brisbane Powerhouse from 8 to 11 October, where more than 200 authors take the stage.
Kooza at Eagle Farm is a colourful family night out, with tickets from $79. At QAGOMA, Make, Believe, Magic introduces kids to the puppets, props and costumes behind the Muppets, Labyrinth and Fraggle Rock. Families can also explore the pyramids together in the Horizons of Khufu VR experience in Fortitude Valley. Or make a day trip to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, which has free entry, floral displays, live music and the grand parade.
Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose is free to visit on Level 3 of City Hall until 5 October. On Sunday 4 October, the Suitcase Rummage takes over Redcliffe Place on Queen Street from 12pm to 5pm, with free entry and plenty of bargains. Both Melt Festival and Brisbane Writers Festival include free events alongside their ticketed programs, and Melt’s highlights include Florentijn Hofman’s giant pink duck floating down the Brisbane River. Further afield, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers is also free to enter.
Disney’s The Lion King musical arrives at QPAC in South Brisbane from 15 to 22 November, with tickets from $60. Whether it’s your first time or your fifth, the costumes, music and set design make it a joyous night out. It’s worth booking ahead for a November evening at the theatre.
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.
