Brisbane Festival has unveiled its 2026 program, with new Artistic Director Ebony Bott promising a city-wide celebration that stretches from dawn until late night and aims to position Brisbane as a leading cultural destination in the Asia-Pacific.

The 4-26 September festival, themed “Switch On, Light Up, Come Alive,” marks Bott’s first program since taking the helm and combines major international productions, new Australian commissions, large-scale public events and an expanded offering of free community programming.

Festival organisers say the 2026 edition is designed to reflect Brisbane’s outdoor lifestyle and growing global profile as the city moves toward hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

“This year, Brisbane Festival is tuned to the frequency of this city – from first light through to after dark,” Bott said. “It is a Festival shaped by Brisbane’s energy, outdoor life and sense of momentum and possibility.”

Brisbane Festival: Riverfire by Australian Retirement Trust. Photo © Mellumae

At the heart of the program is the new Festival Village at South Bank, a large-scale riverside precinct that organisers describe as both a nod to Brisbane’s Olympic future and the festival’s central gathering place. The precinct will host free...