Brisbane Writers Festival – May 3–8
The 60th anniversary Brisbane Writers Festival (BWF) is on its merry way back to Brisbane, with a city-wide celebration of more than 200 events taking place over six huge days from May 3–8. As Brisbane’s seminal literary event, the festival is full of engaging storytelling and celebrations of the written word. Created with a little help (and a dose of magic) from guest curators Ellen van Neerven, Benjamin Law, Anne-Marie Te Whiu, Michaela Kolowski and Rhianna Patrick, this year’s event combines BWF fan-favourite programs with a handful of sparkling new initiatives. You can expect a superstar line-up of legendary authors and familiar voices that are set to entertain, enlighten and inspire. To peep the entire program and score tickets, head to the BWF website.

Disney: The Magic of Animation – from June 24
Fans of Mickey, Minnie, Elsa, Anna and everyone in between are sure to adore Queensland Museum’s newest exhibition, Disney: The Magic of Animation. Opening this June, this kid- and adult-friendly exhibition will draw back the curtain on almost 100 years of the Walt Disney Animation Studios, revealing the magic and hard work behind scenes of your favourite animated films. From pencil to paper and now computer-generated wonder, visitors will be able to take a step inside some timeless scenes from their favourite movies and discover how animators use colour to express emotions, and the technical skills of crafting character and storytelling to breathe life into the studio’s memorable stories and characters. To join the waitlist for tickets, head to the Queensland Museum website.

Byron Bay Bluesfest – April 14–18
If we could think of one song that rings true for our favourite blues and roots music festival aka Bluefest, it’s ‘I get knocked down, but I get up again’. Canned in 2020 due to COVID only to be cancelled again in 2021 just one day before it was meant to commence (for the same unfortunate reason), you could say the festival – and its organisers – have been through it. But, like a beautiful phoenix rising from the ashes, Bluesfest is back and bringing with it an all-star line-up of Aussie acts – with the likes of Midnight Oil, Paul Kelly and Jimmy Barnes all taking the stage. They’ll be joined by Amy Shark, The Cat Empire, The Teskey Brothers, L.A.B, John Butler, Xavier Rudd and drumroll, please … Crowded House! With plenty of other acts making up the mammoth show bill, this is going to be one not-to-be-missed comeback. Keen to jam along to the stellar array of talent? Bluesfest takes over the Tyagarah Tea Tree Farm from April 14–18, 2022 and tickets are on sale now. Get yours here.

Splendour in the Grass – July 22–24
It’s finally here, friends! The much-anticipated return of Splendour in the Grass is confirmed for winter of 2022 and now the complete line-up has just been announced. As previously revealed, Splendour will make its well-overdue return with heavyweight headliners Gorillaz, The Strokes and Tyler, The Creator taking the stage. Joining them will be a gloriously eclectic collection of artists from across the globe including indie-rock outfit Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Triple J Hottest 100 winners Glass Animals, English rock icon Liam Gallagher, and country gal Kacey Musgraves. Aussie talent will be spotlighted at the music-filled shindig too, with The Jungle Giants, Amyl & The Sniffers, Violent Soho, Cub Sport, Sycco, Genesis Owusu and G Flip set to mesmerise audiences. To suss the full line-up, head here. Splendour in the Grass has sold out but a resale facility will be in operation prior to the event in 2022. All 2021 tickets will be valid for this year’s festival, so make sure to retain last year’s tickets if you wish to attend in July. Just remember your gumboots!

The Long Sunset – April 30
This coming festival season is welcoming a fresh face into the mix in the form of The Long Sunset, a brand new live-music and camping event coming to Elysian Fields in Canungra on April 30. Just a short hour’s drive from Brisbane and 45 minutes from the Gold Coast, this tune-filled hub will welcome some of Australia’s biggest musos to the stage. Indie-folk duo Angus & Julia Stone will perform together in Queensland for the first time since their sold-out performance in Brisbane back in 2018, while five-piece Brisbane indie rock outfit Ball Park Music, psychedelic group Babe Rainbow and dreamy Brisbane pop act Hatchie will also be joining the debut line-up. Alongside live tunes, there will also be a sizzling selection of local food, art on display from local creatives and much, much more. To grab your tickets to this bewitching festival, head to the Queensland Music Trails website.

9 TO 5 – from May 22
Prepare for a great night out at Dolly Parton’s joyous smash-hit musical 9 TO 5, featuring a stellar cast (including Marina Prior, Casey Donovan and Erin Clare) knock out songs and high-flying ambitions. A sensation on the West End and inspired by the hit film, the musical tells the story of Doralee, Violet and Judy, three enterprising workmates pushed to the edge by their mean-spirited boss Franklin Hart Jnr. Resorting to wit, camaraderie and cunning, they dream up a no holds barred scheme to kidnap and turn the tables on their controlling supervisor in the most hilariously defiant of ways. Only question is, will the feisty trio manage to change the office culture to reach their full potential or will events unravel when the CEO pays an unexpected visit? With a sparkling score by Dolly Parton and a book by the iconic movie’s original screenwriter Patricia Resnick, 9 TO 5 is the quintessential feel-good show for the times. Full of mischief, laughter and affection, it’s gold carat fun! Grab your tickets here.

The return of live music and international acts
Gigs will be live and even louder in the new year and it’s safe to say, we’re here for it. US pop phenomenon Billie Eilish is coming in September and Justin Bieber will be bringing his much-anticipated Justice World Tour to our shores in December. Global pop superstar Dua Lipa will be bringing her Future Nostalgia Tour to Brisbane in November whilst The Kid LAROI performs his first-ever headlining tour in June. Tame Impala is coming to Brisbane Entertainment Centre in October, RÜFÜS DU SOL is bringing its banger tunes to Brisbane Showgrounds in November and Flight Facilities is coming to Riverstage in April. Millennials can relive their youth and groove to ‘Hot Potato’ when the OG Wiggles reunite for a series of 15+ shows in April and lovers of old-school rock can stick their tongues out when KISS comes to Queensland in September. You could say we’re more than just a little excited.