One of the most hotly anticipated events of the Brisbane Festival line-up is Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show experience. Part musical review, part fashion show, all spectacle, this provocative production from fashion’s ‘enfant terrible’ is not to be missed. The Festival Garden will be the central hub for your pre-show Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fashion Freak Show experience as its venue, the South Bank Piazza, is located at the epicentre of the Garden’s grounds. Grab a pre-show nibble, or refreshing drink at the Archie Rose Bar while you soak up the river views, roving performers and rub shoulders with fellow culture lovers. 

A different kind of runway will be taking place at the Piazza on September 1, when Fashion Collab presents its fabulous adaptive fashion takeover, Be Iconic. This groundbreaking showcase of sensational style and inclusivity celebrates diversity in all its myriad forms. Later that day, the Festival Garden will be the venue for Brisbane Festival’s premier event, Meeanjin Songlinez. More than a concert, this event celebrates and amplifies the extraordinary talent of Queensland’s First Nations artists. Headlined by Birdz & Fred Leone, it also features cousins HAiZ, Dark Moods, Rochelle Pitt, H-Town and Edgar Conlon.

From September 18–20 you can catch the beloved Cirque Bon Bon as the sell-out show returns with an all-new, all-star cast of contortionists, acrobats and dancers. The brainchild of Brisbane natives Ash Jacks (former Cirque Du Soleil Assistant Creative) and choreographer Julieann Nugent, Cirque Bon Bon is an evening of pure entertainment with electrifying action, jaw-dropping stunts and gravity-defying performances. You can close out the festival in the Garden on September 21 at the Common People Dance Eisteddfod. This traditional dance-off will see teams from across Southeast Queensland battling it out over one sensational night of sequins and body rolls. Come and barrack for your favourite team as they dance the night away. 

Throughout Brisbane Festival you can stop by the Festival Garden free of charge to soak in the artistic atmosphere, catch roving performances and appreciate interactive installations like ChronoHARP. Created by Amigo & Amigo, ChronoHARP is a light sculpture that transforms the traditional harp into a communal, visual experience, reacting to human movement by casting vibrant animation through its woven structure.

The Festival Garden also makes for the perfect spot to watch Skylore – The Rainbow Serpent. Back by popular demand following the success of last year’s Nieergoo: Spirit of the Whale, Skylore is a three-dimensional multicolour drone show that tells the First Nations creation story for the Brisbane River. The Garden is also a primo position to catch the dazzling fireworks display of Riverfire on August 31. 

Discover Brisbane Festival’s full program here. Running from August 30 to September 21, this year’s festival will see more than 1000 performances take place across the city in an electric collision of culture, celebration and community.