Brisbane’s most impactful creative collaborations have been recognised at the inaugural Creative Brisbane Awards celebrating the partnerships transforming the city’s cultural identity, strengthening communities and driving innovation.

Winners across 10 categories were announced at a special ceremony at Brisbane City Hall on Tuesday night, bringing together leaders from the city’s creative, corporate, philanthropic and cultural sectors.

From life-saving digital innovation to large-scale public art and youth-led platforms, the winners reflect the depth and diversity of Brisbane’s creative economy and the power of collaboration to deliver measurable social, cultural and commercial impact.

Presented by the Creative Brisbane Collab. the awards honour the partnerships that turn bold ideas into real-world outcomes, spanning First Nations storytelling, disability inclusions, urban transformation, workplace innovation and youth development.

The awards were presented by South Bank Corporation and supported by Brisbane City Council. The Creative Brisbane Awards 2026 winners include:

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Best Philanthropic or Fundraising Collaboration The Inter[net]vention – Digital Suicide Prevention Campaign, an AI-driven digital campaign using targeted advertising to identify and reach people at risk of suicide in real time. Digital media tools are repurposed into a live intervention system that delivers support at the moment of need. It is now a permanent program.

Best Strategic Collaboration (Sponsored by Kiosk Film) ANZ’s Walk This Way by Craig & Karl, a large-scale public art transformed Brisbane’s pedestrian bridges into immersive cultural infrastructure during Brisbane Festival 2025. Delivered through complex cross-sector collaboration, the project embedded bold design into everyday city movement.

Best First Nations and Industry Collaboration (Sponsored by QPAC) Charcoal Stories, a striking First Nations-led public artwork transformed a West End bookshop façade into a permanent celebration of Brisbane’s literary voices. Featuring 52 hand-painted panels with a strong focus on Aboriginal authors, the work was realised through a community-funded model.

Best Art in the Workplace Collaboration (Sponsored by Aruga) The three-level CBD workplace of Arup’s Brisbane headquarters integrated First Nations art, biophilic design and cultural storytelling. Delivered through a multidisciplinary collaboration, the space features more than 1900 plants, “winter garden” environments and a striking mirrored ceiling artwork referencing local waterways. Co-designed to strengthen connection to Country, sky and place within a high-rise setting, the project embeds art into the everyday workplace experience.

City of Brisbane award for Outstanding Creative Contribution Artistic director and CEO of Circa, Yaron Lifschitz, is an internationally acclaimed artistic director who has transformed Circa into one of the world’s leading contemporary circus companies, touring globally and redefining the art form. His leadership has positioned Brisbane as a powerhouse of contemporary performance.

Best Urban or Public Art Collaboration The Big Hose – a 119m interactive riverfront artwork transformed Brisbane’s cultural precinct through play, storytelling, and large-scale public engagement. The installation has already engaged more than 80,000 children and was delivered through a philanthropic funding model.

For more information and a full list of the awards, go to: creativebrisbane.com.au

The Creative Brisbane Collab. unites Brisbane’s corporate and creative sectors to champion creativity in the city’s cultural life, community wellbeing and economic growth. Through advocacy, partnerships and collaboration, the Collab. works to foster and advance creativity, strengthen connections between artists, industry and governments, empower creatives, attract and retain talent and encourage the broader community to embrace creativity.