Subscribe 
What’s On in Brisbane This Weekend: 8-9 August 2026
Our pick of all the events happening this weekend in Brisbane.
This weekend in Brisbane (8-9 August 2026), we’re expecting some delicious winter sun. Our editors will be making the most of it, tucking into festive eats at Night Feast, soaking up Ekka, and enjoying free tunes from City Sounds.
Ready to plan your weekend? Read on for all the details you need to know…
In This Guide
Editor’s Picks
Night Feast
Returning for its fifth year, Night Feast is back bigger and better than ever. This free entry festival is championing cooler nights with immersive art, live music, and, of course, plenty of tasty festival-exclusive eats. We’ve got our eye on the luxe nuggs from Wine & Dine’m Catering, Donna Chang’s crispy pork kebab and Ruby, My Dear’s Japanese Carbonara Udon.
Where: Brisbane Powerhouse
When: Wednesday 29 July to Sunday 23 August
Cost: Free
Best For: Foodies, Locals, Markets, Families, Group catch-ups
Need To Know: This year, the festivities will culminate in an exclusive shared table dining experience, Better Off Red, on Sunday, 16th August.
Ekka: The Royal Queensland Show
Always an annual highlight, this year’s Ekka is even more special as Queensland’s largest annual event is celebrating its 150th birthday. You can expect the usual draws, from agricultural competitions and firework displays to showbags, kids’ activities, wood chop and carnival rides, alongside seasonal specials from local cafes, restaurants and bakeries.
Where: Brisbane Showgrounds
When: Saturday 8 August to Sunday 16 August
Cost: From $40.95 for an adult ticket
Best For: Families, Weekend plans, Kids, Foodies, Cultural experiences
Eat & Drink
Midweek Magic at South Bank
Keen to ensure you don’t miss date night with the cost of living rises, South Bank has introduced a series of Midweek Magic dining deals for two. You’ve got an entire month to sample your way through these bargain dinners, which will take you from burgers, drinks and dessert at Brooklyn Depot to oysters and wine at River Quay Fish. There are eight deals in total, so start pencilling in those catch-ups.
Where: South Bank
When: Monday to Thursday, 27 July to 27 August, from 6pm
Cost: $50 per meal for two
Best For: Date night, Girls’ night, Food lovers
Score a Limited Edition Brooki x Lungi Mhlanga Honey Butter Croissant Cookie
This week-only collab is a dream come true. Brooki’s chunky New York-style cookie meets UK baker and recipe developer Lungi Mhlanga’s comfort cooking, culminating in a honey butter croissant cookie. Available at all Brooki Bakehouse stores, pre-orders are recommended.
In an extra special twist, Brooki fans can look forward to a meet and greet with Brooke Bellamy and Lungi Mhlanga at the new Fish Lane store on Monday 3rd August between 10am and 12pm.
Where: All Brooki Bakehouse stores
When: Monday 3 August to Sunday 9 August
Cost: $45 per box
Best For: Foodies, Locals, Weekend plans
Arts & Culture
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: Fortitude Valley
When: Sessions available throughout August
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…
Hear Ye, Hear Ye! A Medieval Fair is Coming to Town
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 & Shows
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 Blue Stocking, Meltwater Pulse, Milly & The Maths Show and Katie Milae.
Where: Queen Street Mall
When: Friday 7 August to Sunday 9 August
Cost: Free
Best For: Free events, Live music, Locals, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Concerts take place weekly so if you can’t make these be sure to check the schedule for next weekend’s program.
Outdoor & Active
Sirromet Signature Fire Pit Experience
Treat someone special to a private fire pit experience at one of the region’s finest wineries this winter. All you have to do? Show up! Sirromet have done all the hard work and will have your fire blazing when you get there, with a picnic rug (for you to take home) and a picnic hamper basket stacked with a generous antipasto spread. Your ticket also includes two glasses of mulled wine or a bottle to share, as well as two Sirromet keep cups as a momento of your experience. Now this is living!
Where: 850-938 Mount Cotton Road, Mount Cotton
When: Saturdays and Sundays until 30 August 2026
Cost: $189 for two
Best For: Couples, Wine lovers, Foodies, Weekend plans
Free Things to Do
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.
The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards
Wildlife photography is amazing as is, but comedy wildlife photography? Even better. After collecting submissions from all over the world, the 60-image showcase will feature a range of winning images and finalists from across the years, as well as this year’s winner.
Where: Redcliffe Museum
When: 30 May 2026 to 16 August 2026
Cost: Free
Best For: Families, Art lovers, Cultural experiences, Free events
Coming Soon
Southern Realm Festival
Hear ye, hear ye! Southern Realm Festival is back for another year of medieval markets and armoured combat and you’d be mad to miss it. Live out your wildest medieval fantasy as you weave your way through the historic village, filled with re-enactors bringing traditional crafts and skills to life right before your eyes. Shop for mead, salves and period clothing, before securing a pork knuckle and settling in to watch a battle.
Where: Boonah
When: Saturday 22 August to Sunday 23 August
Cost: From $25
Best For: Families, Group catch-ups, Unique experiences, Weekend plans
What’s On This Weekend in Brisbane: FAQs
This weekend in Brisbane is packed with highlights. Night Feast at Brisbane Powerhouse continues its run of free entry fun with immersive art, live music and festival-exclusive food, while Ekka celebrates its 150th birthday at Brisbane Showgrounds with showbags, fireworks, carnival rides and all the beloved traditions. Free live music at Queen Street Mall through City Sounds rounds out a stellar weekend of options for every kind of Brisbanite.
Night Feast is our pick with its festival-exclusive dishes from the likes of Wine & Dine’m Catering, Donna Chang and Ruby, My Dear. South Bank’s Midweek Magic offers dining deals for two from $50 Monday to Thursday through to 27 August, spanning everything from burgers at Brooklyn Depot to oysters at River Quay Fish. Brooki Bakehouse is also serving a limited edition honey butter croissant cookie collaboration until Sunday 9 August, available at all stores.
Stories You Wear: Magpie Goose at the Museum of Brisbane (Level 3, City Hall) is a free and deeply moving exhibit connecting visitors with First Nations wearable art and storytelling, running until 5 October. For something more adventurous, the immersive VR experience Horizons of Khufu in Fortitude Valley transports you inside the Giza pyramids with sessions available throughout August from $40. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards at Redcliffe Museum is also free and runs until 16 August, showcasing 60 images of winning and finalist wildlife comedy shots.
City Sounds brings free live music to Queen Street Mall this Friday through Sunday, with performances by Blue Stocking, Meltwater Pulse, Milly & The Maths Show and Katie Milae. Night Feast at Brisbane Powerhouse also features live music alongside its art installations and food vendors, running free entry until 23 August. Concerts through City Sounds run weekly, so there’s plenty more to look forward to beyond this weekend.
Ekka at Brisbane Showgrounds is the undisputed family favourite this weekend, offering agricultural competitions, carnival rides, showbags and kids’ activities as part of its milestone 150th anniversary celebrations, running until 16 August. Night Feast at Brisbane Powerhouse is free entry and family-friendly, with immersive art and a lively festival atmosphere. The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards at Redcliffe Museum is also free and a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for curious kids and adults alike.
Night Feast at Brisbane Powerhouse is completely free to enter and offers an impressive mix of immersive art, live music and festival food. City Sounds brings free live performances to Queen Street Mall across Friday, Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Brisbane’s free city tours are also running as usual, with eight tour options covering history, suburbs and modern city stories, available in 20 different languages.
The Southern Realm Festival is heading to Boonah on 22–23 August, bringing medieval markets, armoured combat, re-enactors, traditional crafts and plenty of pork knuckles to keep the crowd entertained. Tickets start from $25 and it’s a brilliant outing for families and groups. Also worth noting: Night Feast wraps up on 23 August with an exclusive shared table dining experience, Better Off Red, on Sunday 16 August.
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.
