Must-see entertainment in Brisbane & Around

  • Queensland Performing Arts Centre

    Brisbane

    Known locally as QPAC, Brisbane’s main performing arts centre comprises four venues and the Tony Gould Gallery, the latter a small exhibition space…

  • Tivoli

    Fortitude Valley

    From music to comedy, you can expect international notables and local success stories treading the boards at this elegant art-deco stager, built in 1917…

  • Zoo

    Fortitude Valley

    Going strong since 1992, the Zoo remains a grungy spot for indie rock, folk, acoustic, hip-hop, reggae and electronic acts, with no shortage of raw talent…

  • Fortitude Music Hall

    Fortitude Valley

    A steroids shot for Brisbane's already muscly live-music scene, ballroom-inspired Fortitude Music Hall has some serious backers, including ex-Powderfinger…

  • Foundry

    Fortitude Valley

    The Foundry serves up good times in the form of pool tables and a solid line-up of top-notch, up-and-coming Aussie bands. The joint is a proper music and…

  • Brisbane Powerhouse

    Brisbane

    What was a 1920s power station is now a hub of nationally and internationally acclaimed theatre, music, comedy, dance and more. The complex also hosts a…

  • Judith Wright Centre exterior

    Judith Wright Centre of Contemporary Arts

    Fortitude Valley

    The Valley's free-thinking arts incubator hosts an eclectic array of cultural treats, including contemporary dance, circus and visual arts. It's also the…

  • Crowbar exterior

    Crowbar

    Fortitude Valley

    A haven of metal, hard-core and punk: black-clad musos of menace from around Australia, the US, the UK, Europe and Japan, in-yer-face and unrelenting…

  • American Express Openair Cinemas

    Brisbane

    From mid-July to mid-August, watch recent-release films and retro favourites in Brisbane's City Botanic Gardens. You can hire loungers ($9) and blankets (…

  • Empire Theatre

    Brisbane & Around

    Toowoomba's cultural heart beats stridently inside the magnificent Empire Theatre, sections of which date back to 1911 (the facade is from 1933). The…

  • Gabba

    Brisbane

    You can cheer both AFL football and interstate and international cricket at the Gabba in Woolloongabba, south of Kangaroo Point. If you’re new to cricket,…

  • Metro Arts Centre

    Brisbane

    This downtown venue hosts community theatre, local dramatic pieces, dance and art shows. It’s an effervescent spot for a taste of Brisbane’s creative…

  • Brightside

    Fortitude Valley

    The foundation stone of this 1906 church says 'To the glory of God'. But it's the god of live alternative rock the faithful are here to worship these days…

  • New Farm Six Cinemas

    Brisbane

    When those subtropical heavens open up, take refuge at New Farm's historic movie palace. Remodelled and restored, its state-of-the-art screening rooms…

  • Brisbane Jazz Club

    Brisbane

    Straight out of the bayou, this tiny riverside jazz shack has been Brisbane’s jazz beacon since 1972. Anyone who’s anyone in the scene plays here when…

  • Palace Barracks

    Brisbane

    Near Roma St Station in the Barracks Centre, the plush, six-screen Palace Barracks (complete with bar) shows both mainstream and alternative fare. It also…

  • Cineplex South Bank

    Brisbane

    A short walk from South Bank Parklands, this is the cheapest complex for mainstream releases, screened in either 2D or 3D. Screenings are cheapest before…

  • Riverstage

    Brisbane

    Evocatively set in the City Botanic Gardens, this outdoor arena hosts plenty of prolific national and international music acts, with past acts including…

  • Moonlight Cinema

    Brisbane

    Films include current mainstream releases as well as modern cult classics. Food and drink (including alcohol) are available for purchase (card payments…

  • Underground Opera Company

    Brisbane

    A professional, Brisbane-based performing-arts company running annual seasons of opera and Broadway musical recitals in the subterranean Spring Hill…

  • Queensland Conservatorium

    Brisbane

    Part of Griffith University, the conservatorium hosts 250 music performances a year, featuring students, faculty and alumni. It also hosts touring artists…

  • Palace Centro

    Fortitude Valley

    On see-and-be-seen James St, Palace Centro screens quality mainstream releases as well as independent films. It also hosts a French film festival in March…

  • Brisbane Lions

    Brisbane

    Brisbane's team in the Australian Football League (AFL). You can watch them live at a home game at the Gabba between March and September.

  • QUT Gardens Theatre

    Brisbane

    Despite the theatre's location on a city university campus, productions here are anything but amateur. Expect to see some of Australia’s best professional…

  • Suncorp Stadium

    Brisbane

    In winter, rugby league is the big spectator sport here and local team the Brisbane Broncos call this stadium home. The stadium also hosts the odd major…

  • Paddo Tavern

    Brisbane

    If a car wash married its supermarket cousin, their first-born would probably look like this ugly Paddington pub, which has incongruously adopted a pseudo…

  • South Bank Piazza

    Brisbane

    Located in the verdant oasis of South Bank Parklands, this outdoor performance space offers year-round events, from music concerts to sport screenings…

  • New Globe Theatre

    Fortitude Valley

    An old cinema converted into an intimate, multi-arts venue. Check the venue's Facebook page for upcoming events, which often include local bands and album…

  • Dendy Cinema

    Brisbane

    Shows mostly mainstream fare at Portside Wharf, a short ferry trip downstream from New Farm. Discounted tickets on Tuesday.

  • Brisbane Arts Theatre

    Brisbane

    Catch improvisation troupes, children’s theatre or classic plays at this intimate community theatre built in 1936.

  • X&Y Bar

    Fortitude Valley

    Pulling a mostly millennia crowd, X&Y serves up a mix of live music (mostly local indie rock) and DJs.

  • Event Cinemas

    Brisbane

    This cinema on Queen St Mall shows mainstream blockbusters. Cut-price tickets on Tuesday.

  • Qtix

    Brisbane

    Booking agency, usually for more high-brow entertainment.