Subscribe
Subscribe
What’s On in Brisbane This Weekend: 3-4 October 2026
Our pick of all the events happening this weekend in Brisbane.
This weekend in Brisbane (3-4 October September 2026), we’re expecting a preview of summer with plenty of sun. Our editors will be travelling far and wide, making the most of the last weekend of the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, berry picking in Caboolture and chowing down on tropical lobster at Midtown.
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
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
Things to Eat & Drink in Brisbane This Weekend
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.
Art & Culture In Brisbane This Weekend
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: From Saturday 12 September 2026 to 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 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: Fever Immersive Center, Fortitude Valley
When: Sessions available throughout October 2026
Cost: From $40
Best For: Cultural experiences, Locals, Visitors
Loving Our Edit of the Best Things to do in Brisbane This Weekend? Find More Here…
Everything Worth Doing in Brisbane This October
A New, Ambient Hidden Bar Has Arrived in Brisbane
Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose
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, Free events
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 multiple performances by Ella Hartwig, Georgia Scarlett, Star Eyes & Sofia Cirino.
Where: Queen Street Mall
When: Saturday 3 October to Sunday 4 October 2026
Cost: Free
Best For: Live music, Weekend plans, Budget-friendly
Shopping & Markets in Brisbane This Weekend
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
Outdoor and Active Things to Do This Weekend
Pick Your Own Strawberries
Nothing signals spring quite like a fresh crop of berries, and the wonderful, family-owned Oasis Berries is inviting you to pick your own this weekend! Make the most of the season and your haul by inviting a couple of pals along and splitting a box. Pair with an afternoon of strawberry-led recipes, and you’ve got a rather wholesome weekend on your hands.
Where: Caboolture
When: 19 September to 5 October, 9am to 5pm
Cost: $40 per box
Best For: Families, Kids, Outdoor activities, Weekend plans
Need To Know: No bookings required
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 Tuesday 5 October 2026
Cost: Free entry
Best For: Families, Weekend plans, Food lovers, Wine lovers
Free Things to Do in Brisbane This Weekend
Enjoy a Free City Tour
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 events, Cultural experiences, Visitors, Locals
Need To Know: Choose from eight tour options covering Brisbane’s history, suburbs and modern city stories, with tours available in 20 different languages.
Coming Soon
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
What’s On in Brisbane This Weekend: FAQs
Brisbane has plenty on this weekend that won’t cost a cent. City Sounds brings free performances from Ella Hartwig, Georgia Scarlett, Star Eyes and Sofia Cirino to Queen Street Mall across Saturday and Sunday. Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose at the Museum of Brisbane, on Level 3 of City Hall, offers free entry to its wearable art exhibit celebrating First Nations creatives until 5 October. You can also browse for bargains at the free Suitcase Rummage on Sunday, join one of eight free city tours around the CBD, or head west for free entry to the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
The Suitcase Rummage is the market to put on your list this weekend. It sets up at Redcliffe Place on Queen Street in Brisbane City on Sunday 4 October from 12pm to 5pm, and entry is free. A favourite with Brisbane’s thrifty and environmentally conscious shoppers, it sees sellers spreading their wares across overflowing luggage, with new faces joining each time. Take your time rummaging, chat with the sellers and don’t be shy about a haggle. You might leave with a bargain and a like-minded new friend.
Midtown’s House of Lobster is back on Fish Lane throughout October, and it’s the food event our editors are most excited about this weekend. The 26-seat small bar is serving a four-course lobster feast for $125 per person. The menu includes XO lobster cups, lobster mornay croquettes and a tropical lobster tagliatelle. Lobster quantities are limited, so booking ahead is recommended. If you’re up for a road trip, the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers also brings food and culture to life alongside its floral displays, with free entry.
Cirque du Soleil Kooza wraps up its run at Eagle Farm on Sunday 4 October, so this is the final weekend to catch it. The two-hour show is packed with unicycle acts, contortion, teeterboard and highwire, with tickets from $79. For hands-on fun, Oasis Berries in Caboolture invites families to pick their own strawberries from 9am to 5pm at $40 per box, with no bookings required. At GOMA, Make, Believe, Magic. The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company features puppets, props and the Fraggle Rock Great Hall set, from $22 per person.
Culture seekers have plenty to choose from this weekend. At QAGOMA in South Brisbane, Make, Believe, Magic. The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company traces 70 years of creativity from puppetry to digital innovation, from $22. Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose at the Museum of Brisbane connects visitors with First Nations culture through wearable art, and it’s free until 5 October. For something immersive, Horizons of Khufu at Fever Immersive Center in Fortitude Valley transports you to the Giza pyramids through VR, from $40. You can also dive into Brisbane’s history on a free city tour.
With sunny weather on the cards, it’s worth making the most of both the city and the regions this weekend. Several favourites finish soon, so prioritise these first. Cirque du Soleil Kooza ends on Sunday 4 October, and the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers and Oasis Berries strawberry picking both close on 5 October. Consider a day trip to Toowoomba or Caboolture on Saturday, then spend Sunday afternoon at the Suitcase Rummage in the CBD from 12pm. Book House of Lobster at Midtown in advance, as quantities are limited.
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.
