Table of Contents
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Brisbane does spring well. The weather is warm without being punishing yet, the river is busy and the events calendar is packed from the last week of October straight through to the middle of the silly season.
This guide covers what is on from now until the end of November, from Halloween parties and the Melbourne Cup to big stadium nights, cultural festivals and a few quieter community days. I have grouped everything by date so you can plan your weeks, and I have flagged what is free, what needs booking and who it suits.
A quick note before we start. Event details do change, especially times and ticket prices, so check the organiser’s page before you head out.
This weekend: 24 and 25 October
Some of the biggest things are already underway, so if you are reading this in time, here is what is happening right now.
- Melt Festival runs from 21 October to 8 November. It is Brisbane’s queer arts and culture festival, with over 100 events across more than 70 venues. The River Pride Parade is on Saturday 24 October at twilight, with a flotilla of boats cruising from West End to Brisbane Powerhouse. A giant pink rubber duck, about five storeys tall, then settles at the Powerhouse until the festival closes.
- Brisbane Pride community day is also on Saturday 24 October.
- Good Food & Wine Show is at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre until Sunday 25 October, with cooking stages, tastings and a new bakery precinct.
- Rugby League World Cup action hits Suncorp Stadium, with Australia against Fiji listed for Sunday 25 October. Double check the match details when you book.
Halloween events (30 and 31 October)
Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, so the whole city has gone big. There is something for toddlers right through to the after midnight crowd.
Family friendly Halloween
- Hocus Pocus Halloween Festival, Bulimba Memorial Park. Saturday 31 October, 3pm to 8pm. Billed as Brisbane’s largest free family Halloween festival, with a kids’ disco, inflatables, lollies, food trucks, entertainment and prizes for the best costumes. Free.
- Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary Halloween fun. Saturday 31 October, from 4pm. Expect jumping castles, circus performers, face painting, a fortune teller and a spooky twilight atmosphere around the animals. Check Lone Pine’s website for ticket details before you go.
- Redcliffe Festival of Frights. Saturday 31 October, 4pm to 9pm, at Redcliffe Parade. A free community night on the peninsula.
- Hallowheelin’ river ride. Saturday 31 October. Bicycle Queensland and Pedal Party invite you to light up your bike, put on a costume and ride along the Brisbane River. A fun one if the kids have outgrown trick or treating.
For the grown ups
- OASIS Halloween Boat Party. Saturday 31 October, from 7pm, boarding at the City Botanic Gardens River Hub. A river cruise with live DJs, themed cocktails and a best dressed competition. Ticketed, 18 and over, with tickets listed from around $34.
- Halloween Hall. Saturday 31 October, 9pm to 3am, at The Warehouse in Fortitude Valley. Billed as Brisbane’s biggest Halloween party, with drag and DJ acts. Ticketed from around $60, 18 and over.
- Candlelight: A Haunted Evening of Halloween Classics. Friday 30 and Saturday 31 October at Fever Hub Brisbane. A live string quartet plays horror and Halloween movie themes by candlelight. From $44. It suits anyone after something eerie but elegant.
Also this week
- Inked Tattoo Expo at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, 30 October to 1 November.
- Redlands Diwali in Capalaba on Saturday 31 October, if you want to start the festival of lights a week early.
November: week by week
Sunday 1 to Saturday 7 November
Sunday 1 November
Club Dynamite takes over the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the Future Stars Film Festival is also on the calendar.
Monday 2 November
An Evening with Richard Dawkins, marking fifty years of The Selfish Gene, at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. One for the curious.
Tuesday 3 November: Melbourne Cup Day
It is not a public holiday in Brisbane, but plenty of people treat the afternoon like one. Book ahead, because the popular spots fill up. Options include:
- Howard Smith Wharves, where several venues run Cup Day packages, including CIAO, Greca, Yoko, Mr Percival’s and Stanley
- The Prince Consort Hotel in Fortitude Valley, with a three hour food and drink package, oyster shucking and fashions on the field
- Blackbird on the river, with a long lunch or a riverside soirée
- Pig ‘N’ Whistle at King George Square, for a pub lunch with live music
- The Prince of Wales Hotel in Nundah, for a more local feel
Wednesday 4 November
Courtney Barnett plays Brisbane Powerhouse as part of Melt.
Thursday 5 November
Foo Fighters open their Take Cover Tour at Suncorp Stadium. The same night, comedian Des Bishop is at the Princess Theatre, and Circa’s world premiere Show Me Love begins its run at the Powerhouse.
Friday 6 November
- FICQ Diwali Festival of Lights, King George Square. A free outdoor celebration of the Indian festival of lights, with dance, live music, light displays and street food. Hours are listed as 11am to 10pm, though Brisbane City Council’s event page is worth checking for updates.
- Supanova Comic Con and Gaming at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, 6 to 8 November.
- Benson Boone plays three nights at Brisbane Entertainment Centre, 6 to 8 November.
Saturday 7 November
Busy day, so here is the short version:
- Heritage Hands Festival, Sandgate Town Hall. A coastal celebration of traditional and specialist crafts, with artisan demonstrations, a makers market and family activities from 9am, plus an evening of visual storytelling. The program starts the day before with workshops and a craft and movie night. Saturday is free and sponsored by Brisbane City Council, and you can find details on the council’s event page.
- Brisbane Convoy for Kids, Redcliffe Showgrounds. Gates open at 8am, with trucks and bikes rolling in from around 8.30am. There is a truck show, rides, live music, face painting, animal petting and evening fireworks. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 concession and $10 for children aged 5 to 12.
- guava FEST, Brisbane Powerhouse. From 12pm. Curated by PAFF, this is an indoor mini festival celebrating queer expression, with local and national electronic acts. Ticketed.
- Asha Jefferies plays Black Bear Lodge as part of Melt.
Sunday 8 November
Diwali day itself, and the final day of Melt Festival, which closes with the queer line dancing party Saddle Club.
Tuesday 10 to Sunday 15 November
- Tuesday 10 November: Irish comedian Dara O Briain at The Fortitude Music Hall.
- 11 to 21 November: Sondheim’s Into the Woods at QPAC.
- Saturday 14 November: Queensland Symphony Orchestra performs How to Train Your Dragon in concert at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Northlane also play The Fortitude Music Hall, and the Oddities and Curiosities Expo runs 14 and 15 November.
- Sunday 15 November: Rugby League World Cup finals. Suncorp Stadium hosts the men’s and women’s finals, with tickets listed from $39 for adults. If you are not a league fan, it is still a big day for the city.
Monday 16 to Sunday 22 November
- Monday 16 November: Jay Shetty brings This Changes Everything to the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
- Friday 20 November: Robbie Williams plays Suncorp Stadium on his BRITPOP World Tour. The same night, Australian Crawl and Men At Work play Riverstage.
- Sunday 22 November: Suzi Quatro is listed at Roma Street Parkland in the afternoon.
Monday 23 to Monday 30 November
- Wednesday 25 November: Vittorio Angelone at the Princess Theatre.
- Friday 27 November: The men’s T20 international between Australia and England is on the calendar in Brisbane.
- Saturday 28 November: NXT Boxing at The Fortitude Music Hall.
- Sunday 29 November: Zarna Garg’s comedy tour at The Fortitude Music Hall.
And if you like to plan ahead, Christmas in Brisbane traditionally kicks off with the tree lighting at King George Square in the last days of November, so keep an eye on the council’s Christmas program for 2026 dates. Guns N’ Roses also hit Suncorp in the first week of December.
Quick summary guide
| Event | Date | Vibe | Best for |
| Melt Festival | 21 Oct to 8 Nov | Colourful and creative | Arts lovers, nights out |
| Hocus Pocus Festival | Sat 31 Oct | Spooky and festive | Families, free trick or treating |
| OASIS Halloween Cruise | Sat 31 Oct | High energy party | Adult friend groups (18 plus) |
| Melbourne Cup lunches | Tue 3 Nov | Glamorous and social | Work lunches, friends |
| Foo Fighters | Thu 5 Nov | Stadium rock | Music fans |
| Diwali Festival of Lights | Fri 6 Nov | Cultural and vibrant | Food, music, free fun |
| Heritage Hands Festival | Sat 7 Nov | Creative and relaxed | Craft lovers, a bayside day out |
| Brisbane Convoy for Kids | Sat 7 Nov | Classic community fair | Families, truck fans |
| Rugby League World Cup finals | Sun 15 Nov | Big sporting day | Sports fans |
| Robbie Williams | Fri 20 Nov | Big singalong night | Music lovers |
A few practical tips
- Book the popular ones early. Cup Day packages, Foo Fighters and Robbie Williams are the kind of thing that sells out. Stadium nights also fill up nearby accommodation, so look at hotels early if you are visiting.
- Use public transport on big nights. Suncorp Stadium and the Convention Centre both get busy. Check TransLink for event day services and parking updates.
- Pack for the weather. November in Brisbane can swing between hot, humid days and sudden storms. A light rain jacket, sunscreen and a water bottle make outdoor events a lot easier.
- Allow extra time for river and festival crowds. River Pride, Diwali and the Convoy all draw large numbers. Arrive early and be patient with parking.
- Check for last minute changes. Weather and organiser updates can move things around, especially for outdoor and family events.
Brisbane’s spring is short but generous. Pick a couple of things that appeal, leave some room in the diary for the unplanned ones, and enjoy the best stretch of the year before summer properly kicks in.