Melt Festival 2026
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Melt Festival is Brisbane's city-wide celebration of queer arts and culture, running 21 October to 8 November 2026 from Brisbane Powerhouse out across venues all over the city. Expect cabaret, theatre, comedy, drag, music and big party nights from Australia's LGBTQIA+ artists, with a program that has grown into one of the country's major queer arts festivals.
Where to stay during Melt Festival 2026
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Moreton Island Resort Escape
Tom Social’s annual weekend away returns this year with our Moreton Island Resort Escape at Tangalooma Island Resort from Friday to Sunday, October...
Gaymes Night - October 2026
Bring some snacks and settle in for an evening of tabletop games, board games, card games, short games, or long games. We've booked a comfy meetin...
Brisbane | LGBTQ+ Singles Event | Hello Gorgeous | Friday 16th October
Merge Dating is bringing together LGBTQ+ singles to Hello Gorgeous on Friday 16 October – A night for meeting someone new!
mini melt
Mini Melt is back at Queen Street Mall! Get a sneak peek of Melt Festival 2026 with this free mini weekend edition. 5PM, FRI 16 OCT – Artist Showca...
OASIS City Lights Cruise – Friday, 16th of October 2026
OASIS presents City Lights—Clock out. Step aboard. Let the city glow from the water. OASIS presents City Lights—Clock out. Step aboard. Let the c...
Queer Chat at Trinket Trove
Monthly Queer Chat with fellow LGBTQ+ people in Brisbane. Give and get advice, plus free craft activities and some gender-affirming items
OASIS Saturdays – Afternoon Boat Party – Saturday, 17th of October 2026
OASIS SATURDAYS – the ultimate afternoon boat party where friends, music, and drinks come together for the perfect weekend escape. Join us onboar...
mini melt
Mini Melt is back in Queen Street Mall! Get a sweet taste and a sneak peek of the Melt Festival line up for 2026 with this mini edition. Join us fo...
Portugal. The Man - The Denali Tour
Approximate Running Times: Doors - 7:00pm Start - 8:00pm .
mad dance house flashmob
Look out Queen Street Mall – Mad Dance House is performing a FLASH MOB for Melt Festival, Sunday October 18th at 12:30pm!! The routine, choreograph...
OASIS presents BEN HEMSLEY (BEBÉ) – Sunday 18th October
Fresh from his 2026 Ibiza residency at Amnesia, Newcastle-born DJ and producer Ben Hemsley arrives in Brisbane… Following a meteoric rise from UK...
Wreckers Queer and Female Comedy Night
Get excited for a whole night filled with Brisbane's best queer & female comedy, empirically the two funniest types of people to exist.
MELT Festival of Queer Arts and Culture
Melt is an open access festival of Queer art and culture taking centre stage in Brisbane/Magandjin, Queensland, Australia.
Phoebe Loves Herself
This event is no longer proceeding. Heartbroken and spiralling Phoebe follows an Influencer’s advice to pray to love. To her surprise, Love answers...
Queer Readings of the QUT Art Collection
This pop-up exhibition presents a series of written responses to selected works from the QUT Art Collection. Multi-award-winning writers and QUT al...
Scribble Station
Step into the vibrant world of Sunday Jemmott, an early-career artist whose colourful, texturally rich works exude joy. Working across painting, dr...
with love, from the future
With Love, From the Future is an evolving, community-driven art installation and intimate letter-writing space created by Noa Wolf Smith Fletcher. ...
pink swans
A study by the University of Melbourne revealed that 25-30% of male native black swans (Cygnus atratus) were in same-sex partnerships. PINK SWANS i...
mr first nation
The fiercest Blak drag pageant in the country is back! Born from the legacy of Miss First Nation, history is being made with the world premiere of ...
melting pot
Melting Pot in collaboration with QUIVR, is back again transforming into a vibrant hub each week of Melt Festival. This energetic welcoming space c...
rubber duck
Exclusive to Brisbane - the iconic Rubber Duck, a large-scale public artwork by Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman, arrives at Melt Festival for its ne...
bloodlines
Bloodlines is a sparkling séance for queer art's silenced legends — The Huxleys channeling artists lost to HIV/AIDS back into dazzling, defiant lif...
the sexfessional
We know you’ve got an itch. No, not that kind. Or yeah…maybe that kind. Whatever - we’ll take it all. Step into The SEXFESSIONAL and tell us all ab...
trophy boys
A queer dark comedy about power, privilege… and debating. It is the biggest night in the academic calendar, the Grand Finale of the Year 12 Intersc...
no fixed address
No Fixed Address invites you to connect through the simple, powerful act of sharing a message. Write an anonymous letter of hope, encouragement, re...
joey jay LIVE
Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 and runner-up of All Stars 11. Fresh from her triumphant return to RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 11, Joey Jay i...
cocky horror
Pioneers of the Drag King renaissance, the Kings of Kaos and some very special guests are gathering at the Frankenstein place for one of the Master...
swampdogs
Beneath the glow of the XXXX sign, on the banks of the Maiwar, in the pool of fallen jacarandas, we invite you to party with the SWAMPDOGS. SWAMPDO...
the butterfly who flew into the rave
An electrifying nonstop performance which straddles the border between performance art, dance, and theatre. Explore rave culture, witness the destr...
i get knocked down, but i get up again
Is it just me, or has life been feeling a bit grueling lately? Well, I have a theory that the hit song 'Tubthumping' might be more than just a 90's...
after hours II – lesbian RnB dance party
After Hours RnB is the Lesbian night out you've been craving.Dim lights. Sapphic DJs. High vibes.Sweet cocktails, music you know the words to, and ...
artist showcase
Get a taste of Melt with exclusive excerpts from upcoming festival shows, showcasing the creativity, talent and stories that will unfold across the...
Brisbane Bollywood Takeover at Oasis Cruise
The Ultimate Luxury Cruise Party Returns! Get ready for a night unlike anything Brisbane has ever experienced. ? BRISBANE DIWALI BOLLYWOOD TAKEOV...
After Hours II: Lesbian RnB Party
Join Sapphic Society Brisbane for After Hours II, a dedicated Lesbian RnB Party. This event promises a night filled with the smooth sounds of R&B i...
Rally and March
A powerful day of protest, pride, and community marching through Brisbane's streets.
Fair Day
Queensland’s biggest LGBTQIA+ community festival with stalls, live music, and family fun.
River Pride Parade
Set sail and help make Brisbane River/Maiwar sparkle with pride in the dazzling rainbow flotilla. Join the flotilla of pride! Celebrating all our L...
Melt Opening Party
Come for the parade, stay for the party. When River Pride Parade rolls into Brisbane Powerhouse, we're only just getting started! Continue the fest...
Brisbane Pride Rally and March
The protest at the heart of the Brisbane Pride Festival. Free and open, no individual registration needed.
Brisbane Pride Fair Day
Enjoy drag, live music, dance, community performances, Rainbow Markets, food vendors and a licensed bar
OASIS x Harry K – SPLASH OUT – Float & Flaunt, The MELT Parade Cruise
Brisbane’s boldest Pride party is back on OASIS! Welcome aboard OASIS — Brisbane’s ultimate party boat and the dazzling centrepiece of the 2026 Mel...
OASIS x Harry K - SPLASH OUT — Float & Flaunt, The MELT Parade Cruise
Eventbrite - OASIS BRISBANE presents OASIS x Harry K - SPLASH OUT – Float & Flaunt, The MELT Parade Cruise - Saturday, October 24, 2026 at City Bot...
OASIS x Harry K – SPLASH OUT – Float & Flaunt, The MELT Parade Cruise
Brisbane’s boldest Pride party is back on OASIS! Welcome aboard OASIS — Brisbane’s ultimate party boat and the dazzling centrepiece of the 2026 ...
wet on deck
MAKE WAVE…The queerest boat party of the season is throwing a RAVE. Ready to pump those supersoakers? Your favorite DJ collective, QUIVR brings you...
opening party
Come for the parade, stay for the party. When River Pride Parade rolls into Brisbane Powerhouse, we're only just getting started! Continue the fest...
splash out
Join Harry K’s SPLASH OUT as we return to the Melt River Pride Parade aboard the spectacular OASIS for Brisbane’s biggest floating celebration of P...
gay pirate day
The Salty Sirens are setting sail down Maiwar for River Pride Parade 2026, and you’re invited! Lovers of rollicking shanty singalongs, Kristy "Caps...
fuel: river pride parade edition
A kink social like Meanjin has never seen, FUEL is taking to the Maiwar on the Lady in Red to welcome kinksters and leatherfolk from all over. Expe...
come aboard to daddy
Come To Daddy takes to the river for River Pride Parade, and you're invited. With Drag from Gayleen Tuckwood & Zelphia Mann, music from Dj Denzil p...
no fixed address
No Fixed Address invites you to connect through the simple, powerful act of sharing a message. Write an anonymous letter of hope, encouragement, re...
OASIS Retro Revolution. Dance through the decades – Saturday 24th October
Step aboard OASIS for an unforgettable night where timeless tunes meet iconic city views OASIS RETRO REVOLUTION – Dance through the decades Satu...
thank god you’re queer
Thank God You’re Queer is a fabulous gay twist on Australia’s most successful improvised show. Join Brisbane’s finest LGBTQI+ improvisers as they b...
trans christian andersen and friends
Trans people tell their own jokes! A hilarious line-up of budding trans comedians in a showcase that's pure joy from beginning to end. With the hos...
reputation
Chris McAllister was once accused of being a cult leader. Years later, they became known for creating the viral trans allyship campaign #ICanTell I...
queer powerpoint
It’s a bunch of queers deep diving into highly niche content in a very gay way. Melt favourite Queer PowerPoint is back and, in a brand, new venue....
the buttery queer open mic
The Buttery Music School brings its community spirit to the intimate corners of The Junk Bar for two nights of queer-led open mics, followed by set...
New Classics: Trans Scratch Night
theatrePUNK's Trans Scratch Night hands over the microphone to Magandjin's finest emerging writers, performers and makers. Featuring fresh play rea...
No Tears for Queers
No tears for Queers is a variety showcase of local talent journeying across theatrical styles in a glorious expression of collective queer joy. Be ...
trans theatre symposium
The future of trans theatre. The Trans Theatre Symposium is creating space for dialogue and support for Queensland Trans Artists and stories. It is...
no seasons
No Seasons is a bold new experimental work by disabled transgender artist Oliver Ayres. After having 22 eggs frozen as a teenager before his transi...
jude york
Arriving with a bang, Jude York’s explosive rise to stardom in 2026 is both the culmination of years of hard work and a testament to the artist’s u...
MELT FESTIVAL - Big Fork Queer Comedy Hour
Brisbane's only dedicated Improv Comedy theatre is bringing their side-splitting show to MELT!
The Carswell Forum
Named for the late Phil Carswell. An annual Brisbane Pride Festival forum where community, activists and government translate lived experience into...
not on your rider
Not On Your Rider is Brisbane's own cult favourite interactive music trivia gameshow. Think of it like a live version of your favourite panel quiz ...
what i did for love
What's the wildest thing you've ever done for love? Come lose yourself in this intimate exhibition, where answers to this question are brought toge...
cargo culture II
Four destinations. Three artists. One rental truck art show. Occurring across a single day, Cargo Culture invites you to embrace your curiosity to ...
quiet on set
Hope D’s Quiet on Set returns to Melt Festival for another unforgettable year. A one-of-a-kind live experience celebrating connection, community, a...
no seasons
No Seasons is a bold new experimental work by disabled transgender artist Oliver Ayres. After having 22 eggs frozen as a teenager before his transi...
OASIS City Lights Cruise – Friday, 30th of October 2026
OASIS presents City Lights—Clock out. Step aboard. Let the city glow from the water. OASIS presents City Lights—Clock out. Step aboard. Let the c...
Queens Ball
A glamorous awards night celebrating LGBTQIA+ excellence and community at Brisbane City Hall.
Drag Queen Musical Story Hour
Each show, a legendary drag queen takes centre stage to spill the tea, sharing real stories from their life. The kind of tales too chaotic for brun...
OASIS Saturdays – Afternoon Boat Party – Saturday, 31st of October 2026
OASIS SATURDAYS – the ultimate afternoon boat party where friends, music, and drinks come together for the perfect weekend escape. Join us onboar...
katie is a marker sniffing lesbian
Katie’s on track to dux - until she starts selling glow-in-the-dark Sharpies out of her locker. What begins as a low-stakes side hustle at an all-g...
OASIS HALLOWEEN BOAT PARTY – Saturday, 31st of October
The annual OASIS Halloween party returns to the Brisbane River with spooky cocktails, killer beats & haunting vibes. Dare to board? A Frightful S...
Drag Queen Musical Story Hour (Adults Only)
Eventbrite - Big Fork Theatre presents Drag Queen Musical Story Hour (Adults Only) - Saturday, October 31, 2026 at Big Fork Theatre, Fortitude Vall...
joey jay LIVE
Star of RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 13 and runner-up of All Stars 11. Joey Jay is bringing her signature wit, infectious energy and unmistakable char...
OASIS presents CLUB PARADISO – Sunday 1st November
Sunset, DJs, cocktails & Brisbane River views. Step aboard Oasis for CLUB PARADISO — your Sunday, upgraded. Spend your Sunday on the Brisbane Ri...
fashion queer identities
Calling LGBTQIA+ Creatives in Brisbane:Melt Festival and COLLAB invite you to join a collaborative, multimedia project celebrating queer expression...
Jenny & Joel Creasey Live
Approximate Running Times: Doors - 7:30pm Start - 8:30pm Finish - TBC This show is recommended for ages 15+ .
your inner diva is showing
Self-love in Sequins! Channeling the likes of Celine, Whitney & Adele, Singer-pianist and cabaret star Jacqui Randa tackles self-love, sex, and the...
Transgender Health & Wellbeing Forum
A dedicated forum for the transgender and gender diverse community, focusing on health services, mental wellbeing, and advocacy. Featuring expert s...
show me love
A wild, dark celebration of bodies and beings. Circa, Australia’s most internationally toured contemporary circus company, returns to Brisbane Powe...
artist showcase
Get a taste of Melt with exclusive excerpts from upcoming festival shows, showcasing the creativity, talent and stories that will unfold across the...
‘she is’ with sacred hearts
'She Is' is a night of queer storytelling through song; celebrating the messy, invigorating freedom of self-acceptance, the calm introspection, the...
Queer Mami presents: El Apagon
Queer Mami is back in Brisbane! Reggaetón, dembow, perreo and queer energy. The party that got apagon is back, baby.
BootCo in the Bunker - Nov 2026
Join us in the Sporties Bunker for Brisbane’s best fetish night. No dress code, so wear leather, rubber or your favourite fetish gear
OASIS Saturdays – Afternoon Boat Party – Saturday, 7th of November 2026
OASIS SATURDAYS – the ultimate afternoon boat party where friends, music, and drinks come together for the perfect weekend escape. Join us onboar...
aberdeen
Traverse space and time, in a race to save an icon from himself. Part eulogy, part fantasy, part biography, Aberdeen, is a surreal conversation bet...
guava FEST
Black-led and music-first, Guava nights are a conduit for queer expression, connection and liberation. Closing out Melting Pot in 2026 is Guava FES...
club broadway: a wicked halloween ball
Club Broadway: A Wicked Halloween Ball returns for its third annual celebration as part of Melt Festival, bringing Brisbane's favourite musical the...
tropical fruits: melted
Tropical Fruits is joining forces with Magandjin’s beloved community space and venue, QUIVR, for a night of queer dance, performance and celebratio...
asha jefferies
Asha Jefferies will return to stages across the East Coast this November following the release of her second album, Desire Is An Angel, out October...
OASIS presents CLUB PARADISO – Sunday 8th November
Sunset, DJs, cocktails & Brisbane River views. Step aboard Oasis for CLUB PARADISO — your Sunday, upgraded. Spend your Sunday on the Brisbane Ri...
saddle club
Dust off your boots and join Saddle Club for an afternoon of queer line dancing! Whether you're a seasoned pro or have never danced a step in your ...
wild abandon
A one-night stand. A long-awaited reunion. A hook-up gone off script. It’s the final night of Lilly’s “free pass” from her marriage when, in a hote...
OASIS City Lights Cruise – Friday, 13th of November 2026
OASIS presents City Lights—Clock out. Step aboard. Let the city glow from the water. OASIS presents City Lights—Clock out. Step aboard. Let the c...
OASIS Saturdays – Afternoon Boat Party – Saturday, 14th of November 2026
OASIS SATURDAYS – the ultimate afternoon boat party where friends, music, and drinks come together for the perfect weekend escape. Join us onboar...
teeks
Musically gifted from a young age and raised on everything from traditional waiata and kapa haka to Bob Marley and Sam Cooke, Te Karehana Gardiner-...
OASIS presents a Country Cruise – Saturday 14th November 2026
The final OASIS Country Cruise of 2026 — and you already know this one is going to be BIG. After selling out time and time again, Country Cruise ...
OASIS presents PATRICE BÄUMEL (HALO) – Sunday 15th November
Summer arrives early as Oasis welcomes one of electronic music's most respected artists. Patrice Bäumel returns to Brisbane for a special afterno...
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MELT 2025 Festival Wrap
