Live Music
Canadian-born indie-rock band TOPS is taking over MELT Festival at Brisbane Powerhouse on Thursday night, bringing their unique, stripped down and honest style of music and songwriting to Powerhouse Theatre. Brisbane’s alternative pop group Platonic Sex will support with its punk-laced indie-rock, before TOPS treats ears to everything from soft rock-infused pop hits to moody ballads. On Saturday night, multi-faceted pop-music force Chappell Roan brings her bold hooks, sex positivity, honest songwriting and a heavy dose of glitter to MELT (and Australia) for the very first time. Tickets to both must-see MELT shows are available through Brisbane Powerhouse.

Ziggy Alberts will captivate audiences from Riverstage on Saturday night, while festival favourites SAFIA take to the stage at Fortitude Music Hall. Indie-rock four-piece The Vanns are playing at The Tivoli on Saturday night, and over at The Princess Theatre, US rapper Larry June will be sending sounds from his critically acclaimed album ‘The Great Escape’. Renowned vocalist and DJ Stace Cadet will be playing a live and free set at LiveWire 24/7 Sports Bar at Treasury Brisbane on Saturday night, taking electronic-music lovers into the wee hours of Sunday with techno trance-like euphoric beats.

All things food and drink
On Thursday night, Pawpaw in Woolloongabba is hosting the Brisbane leg of the East Coast Supper Club Series, an event designed to bring locals together for a casual night of conversation and connection, while dipping their toes into the world of food-and-wine pairing with fun new drops from winemaker Brown Brothers. Over at Cloudland on Thursday night, there’s the Rosé, Champagne and Caviar Pop-Up where you sip and sample premium bubbles and wines, paired with caviar bumps and blinis. If roast turkey, smoked brisket and pumpkin pies are more your style, lean into feasting season at Claw BBQ’s Thanksgiving Buffet on Thursday night.

Festivals, live shows and outdoor events
From this Saturday, you can journey through The Enchanted Garden at Roma Street Parkland and be dazzled by one of Brisbane’s most magical lighting displays. Illuminating the lush precinct across November and December, The Enchanted Garden features a 30 to 40-minute sensory journey of twinkling lights, intricate holograms and lasers, projections and mesmerising special effects. Moonlight Cinema also returns to Roma Street Parklands this weekend for another blockbuster summer of outdoor flicks. Running through until the end of February, the pop-up cinema – which features food stations, bean-bag seating and a fancy Gold Grass area – will screen a stellar line-up of blockbuster films, festive favourites and family-friendly classics

Action-packed annual cultural festival Wynnum Fringe is back to light up the bayside from November 15 to December 3, with everything from rock concerts and cabaret shows to comedy, street theatre, adults-only magic shows, drag burlesque, dance eisteddfods, Spiegeltent spectaculars and more. This weekend check out events like Dressed to Kill and adults-only stunt show GODZ, while soaking up the best moments of Bay Pride. You can check out the full program and grab tickets here.

Theatre, dance and comedy
Four male First Nations acrobats take centre stage at QPAC’s Playhouse Theatre this week for the world premiere of SON – a thrilling cultural circus act that explores the relationship between fathers and sons, and challenges the Western ideas of masculinity, culture and Queerness. Accompanied live by female quartet Kardajala Kirridarra, this First Nations-led contemporary work fuses beautiful sounds with striking acrobatics and cultural dance. SON is showing at QPAC this week only (November 22–25) so be quick to secure your seats! Final tickets are available here.

Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus also tumbles into QPAC this weekend (November 24–26) bringing together the thrill of the circus with the mayhem of Mozart. Designed to amaze kids and adults alike, Wolfgang’s Magical Musical Circus reinvents the composer’s magical music in a skilful and illuminating show featuring Circa’s dexterous daredevil artists and a live accordionist.

On Saturday night, the Milton Christmas Twilight Markets are taking over Cribb Street with 150-plus stalls by local artisans, festive eats and treats, live music and plenty of Christmas cheer at the North Pole Pop-Up Bar. A little further south in Eagleby there’s the DRM Pop-up Christmas Market at Distillery Road Market this Saturday night, hosted by the BrisStyle crew. The festive market will be loaded with gifts handcrafted by local creatives, alongside a hefty line-up of live music and delicious street eats.

If you’re buying for people that have everything, there are plenty of go-to gifting spots at Brisbane Quarter – from one-of-a-kind designer homewares and captivating books from the QAGOMA Christmas Pop-up (open from November 21–23) to luxe Italian accessories and custom suits at Wil Valor. There’s also a Xmas & Co Pop-up at Brisbane Quarter until December 24 where you can pick up dazzling decorations, trees and all of the festive must-haves.

Over at Queen Street Mall, you can check out the Museum of Brisbane Pop-Up this weekend. Alongside an interactive installation by Dead Puppet Society, there’s also a curated selection from the MoB Shop, including handcrafted gifts and homewares, perfect for a spot of Christmas shopping.

You can check out all of the upcoming Christmas markets happening in Brisbane here.

Must-see exhibitions
Museum of Brisbane’s latest exhibition Rearranged: Art of the Flower will be in full bloom from this Saturday November 25, with visitors invited to stroll through the lush collection of paintings, textiles, sculptures, ceramics and new media, all displayed in a space reminiscent of a quintessential Queenslander house. Guess what? Tickets are free! Head to the Museum of Brisbane website to learn more.

Embark on a journey down memory lane and rediscover the quintessential Australian experience of staying at a motel at The Workshops Rail Museum’s newest exhibition, Reception This Way. From family holidays and long road trips in the sweltering summer heat, to continental breakfasts and mid-century mod cons, this exhibition has it all! The must-see exhibition was developed by National Archives of Australia in collaboration with comedian Tim Ross, and is being proudly hosted by The Workshops Rail Museum until December 12.

Over at Northshore, free outdoor art exhibition Sculpture By The River has popped up, showcasing head-turning works of some of Queensland’s most renowned sculptors on the Hamilton riverfront. The public is welcome from 10:00 am daily to check out the display of works from local and Queensland artists on both the riverfront walkway and in the Northshore Shed until December 3.

Venture to QAGOMA to get your eyes on sis, an incredible display that showcases three decades of art-making from a sisterhood of Pacific artists, featuring everything from large sculptural installations and compelling video to the most intricate weaving creations. While you’re there, check out Queensland Art Gallery’s newest exhibition, Living Patterns, which focuses on the way audiences perceive and react to artistic elements such as colour, shape and form. Spotlighting contemporary Australian artists like Scott Redford, Jemima Wyman, Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie and many more, this one is a must-see.

The State Library of Queensland is uncovering the role Aboriginal people played in establishing our pastoral industry in its latest collection, Working Country. Peruse the halls of First Nations community space – kuril dhagun – and you will be transported to a time of colonial invasion where, amid upheaval and devastation, working Country became a means of survival. You can wander through this free exhibition until January 2024.

Local Markets
If you’re eager to stroll through some stalls and stock up on some fresh fruit and veg over the weekend, be sure to check out these markets happening – along with the brand-new Northshore Produce Markets, there’s the Saturday Fresh Market, Riverside Markets, Kelvin Grove Village Market, Jan Powers Farmers Markets, Davies Park Market, Carseldine Markets, Nundah Farmers Markets and the Redcliffe Markets. For delicious dinner time eats, Eat Street Northshore is open for your snacking pleasure on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights.

Events may be subject to be postponed or cancelled at the last minute. We do our best to remove cancelled events but be sure to check the organiser’s own event page for the most current updates.

Want more? Head to our comprehensive Event Guide for all of the fun around town where you can search by category, date, location and more!