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What’s On in Brisbane This Weekend: 7-8 November 2026
Our pick of all the events happening this weekend in Brisbane.
This weekend in Brisbane (7-8 November 2026), we’re expecting a little bit of everything from clouds and drizzle to bursts of sun. Our editors will be making the most of the last weekend of the city-wide Melt Festival. Beyond the festival, we shall be sipping spritz from Mr Percival’s pop-up Aperol window, enjoying free live music at Queen Street Mall, marvelling at Heritage Hands’ showcase of traditional crafts, and joining in free riverside fitness classes at South Bank.
Ready to plan your weekend? Read on for all the details you need to know…
In This Guide
- Editor’s Picks For This Weekend in Brisbane
- Things to Eat & Drink in Brisbane This Weekend
- Art & Culture in Brisbane This Weekend
- Live Music in Brisbane This Weekend
- Shopping & Markets in Brisbane This Weekend
- Outdoor and Active Things to Do This Weekend
- Free Things to Do in Brisbane This Weekend
- Coming Soon
- What’s On in Brisbane This Weekend: FAQs
Editor’s Picks For This Weekend in Brisbane
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 events, Budget-friendly, Group catch-ups, Cultural experiences, Festival season
Things to Eat & Drink in Brisbane This Weekend
Visit Mr Percival’s Pop-Up Aperol Spritz Window
No Euro trip? No problem! Mr Percival 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
Art & Culture in Brisbane This Weekend
Make, Believe, Magic. The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company
Take a step back in time at QAGOMA 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, Film lovers
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: Fever Immersive Center, Fortitude Valley
When: Sessions available throughout November 2026
Cost: From $40
Best For: Cultural experiences, Locals, Visitors
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Live Music in Brisbane This Weekend
City Sounds
This city initiative supports emerging and local artists and also provides hours of free entertainment to anyone looking for a soulful serenade. All genres are covered, with musical acts popping up across some of Brisbane’s most iconic civic spaces. This weekend, we’ve got performances by Lily Daoud and Maggie Elysse.
Where: Queen Street Mall
When: Saturday 7 November
Cost: Free
Best For: Live music, Weekend plans, Budget-friendly
Shopping & Markets in Brisbane This Weekend
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
Outdoor and Active Things to Do This Weekend in Brisbane
Take a Wander
November is a great time to get in a couple more weekend walks before the weather heats up too much. Make a day of it and pack a picnic, or maybe go on a colour walk. Choose a colour and use that as your focal point as you wander about, taking a mental note of spots of your chosen shade, soaking in this peaceful, mindful task.
Discover our edit of the best walks in Brisbane.
Free Things to Do in Brisbane This Weekend
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
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
What’s On in Brisbane This Weekend: FAQs
Melt Festival wraps up on Sunday 8 November, with a mix of free and ticketed events across more than 70 venues. On Saturday 7 November, City Sounds brings free live music to Queen Street Mall, with performances from Lily Daoud and Maggie Elysse. Heritage Hands at Sandgate Town Hall offers free entry to traditional craft demonstrations, workshops, talks and a makers market. Feel Good South Bank runs free riverside classes at Flowstate, including Zumba, Pilates and yoga. You can also pack a picnic for a weekend walk, or try a mindful colour walk.
The Heritage Makers Market at Sandgate Town Hall is the one to know this weekend. It’s part of the inaugural Heritage Hands festival, which runs from Friday 6 to Saturday 7 November 2026, and entry is free. The market arrives just in time for some early Christmas shopping. Beyond the stalls, you can watch demonstrations of traditional skills, join workshops, settle in for talks and enjoy live music. Heritage Hands aims to document and preserve traditional arts, crafts and trade, which makes it a thoughtful way to spend part of your Saturday.
Mr Percival’s pop-up Aperol Spritz Window is the sip of the weekend. It brings the Florentine wine window tradition to Brisbane this spring. You ring the bell, your spritz appears, and you take it to your favourite riverside perch. The window is open Friday to Sunday from 4pm to 7pm throughout spring. Melt Festival’s final weekend also brings limited-edition menus and events from local restaurants and bars embracing the season. That makes it a good excuse to book in a sunny afternoon catch-up with friends.
Make, Believe, Magic. The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company at QAGOMA in South Brisbane is the standout family pick this weekend. This Brisbane-exclusive exhibition traces 70 years of creativity, from puppetry to animatronics and digital innovation. It includes hundreds of puppets, props, costumes, original drawings and moving clips. It also features a world-first display of the Great Hall set from Emmy Award-winning series Fraggle Rock. Tickets start from $22 per person. The exhibition runs until Sunday 18 April 2027, so it’s easy to fit around the weekend’s changeable weather.
It’s the final weekend of Melt Festival, Brisbane’s month-long celebration of queer arts and culture, which closes on Sunday 8 November. The program spans 100+ events, including public art, world premieres, concerts and drag. At QAGOMA, the Jim Henson Company exhibition (from $22) explores 70 years of puppetry and innovation. In Fortitude Valley, Horizons of Khufu (from $40) is an immersive VR journey into the Giza pyramids’ secret chambers and along the Nile. Heritage Hands also showcases traditional arts and crafts at Sandgate Town Hall.
Expect a mix of clouds, drizzle and bursts of sun, so keep a backup plan in mind. With Melt Festival closing on Sunday 8 November, prioritise any festival events you’ve been meaning to catch. Saturday is the busiest day: Heritage Hands at Sandgate Town Hall wraps up, and City Sounds brings free live music to Queen Street Mall. If the drizzle rolls in, the Jim Henson exhibition at QAGOMA and Horizons of Khufu in Fortitude Valley are good alternatives. Finish with an Aperol spritz from Mr Percival’s window, open 4pm to 7pm.
Looking for more fun things to do in Brisbane this weekend? See what’s happening on the foodie scene with our food news, or explore what’s on around our beautiful river city.
