Melt Festival 2025

From cabaret queens to river parades, Brisbane/Magandjin will be brimming with queer brilliance when Melt Festival hits the city this spring. Running from October 22 to November 9, the 18-day celebration will take over more than 60 venues with pageants, parades, parties and performances in every shade of the rainbow.

Expect drag royalty and cabaret stars, burlesque and comedy, glittering theatre, bold exhibitions and a river that shimmers with the return of the rainbow flotilla. The fierce Miss First Nation pageant will crown its next queen, while Broadway legend Bernadette Peters takes the stage for a one-night-only concert.

Gerwyn Davies’ dazzling portrait series Shimmer will take over the Museum of Brisbane and spill into the streets, Urzila Carlson brings big laughs and BRIEFS: Jealousss storms the stage with high-octane drag and circus. Meanwhile, Melt’s new late-night hub Melting Pot promises DJs, showcases and pop-ups, while the River Pride Parade and Picnic deliver rainbow energy for all ages.

From cheeky cabaret to cult-favourite Queer PowerPoint, intimate talks to glitter-soaked parties, Melt Festival 2025 is set to deliver pride and plenty of sparkle.