For 12 glorious, show-stopping days, Brisbane audiences will be treated to a rainbow to music, theatre, dance, comedy, circus and cabaret when the 2016 MELT festival blazes into town. Now in its second year, MELT has expanded its program to include three new mass-participation events to welcome community members to the stage with audiences ready to engage: MELT Portrait Prize, MELT Picnic and MELT Beauty Pageant. MELT Portrait Prize provides an opportunity for visual artists to celebrate their heroes and document figures in the LGBTIQ community. The winning portrait will be announced in the second week of the festival, with the artist pocketing a cool $1000. On February 7, all are welcome to attend MELT Picnic – a free, fun soiree on the lawn where event-goers can help create live art and enjoy free performances. Closing out the festival on February 14 will be the MELT Beauty Pageant, where all glamour pusses are invited to throw their sequined hat into the ring and bring their A-game.

Other festival highlights include The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust – a tribute to the great David Bowie; Carlotta: Queen of the Cross – an evening with Australia’s queen of queens; Gaybies – a hotly political, yet heart-warming piece of theatre; and Gentlemen Prefer Blokes – an devilishly-tantalising musical show starring Courtney Act and Trevor Ashley. For full program details and to book tickets, visit the Brisbane Powerhouse website.