World premieres, fantasy worlds and last hurrahs – all of the 2025 events you won’t want to miss
As we say farewell to 2024, it’s time to cast our eyes to all things bigger and better. Turn to that fresh calendar page, exhale and start anew with a brand-new year. And from where we’re standing – your 2025? It’s looking good. Get ready for a new year of stacked festival line-ups, world-class culture and fun for the whole family. Keep reading to discover all the endless fun in store for the future you in 2025.
Li’l Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers – The Musical – January 10–18
A world premiere seems like a pretty fitting way to begin our list of unmissable 2025 events. Adored 1990s animated series Li’l Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers is taking the leap from the screen to the stage, with the live musical adaptation making its world premiere at Brisbane Powerhouse in January. Brought to life by a national team of creatives with support from the original series writers and producers, Li’l Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers is a musical adventure that celebrates country, community, mateship and the power of rock ’n’ roll. Packed with original songs, loveable characters, high-energy choreography and a narrative filled with humour and emotion, Li’l Elvis Jones and the Truckstoppers is set to be an unforgettable musical experience for the whole family.
AACTA Festival – February 5–9
Australia’s biggest screen festival returns to HOTA on the Gold Coast in February, promising five unforgettable days celebrating the best of film, television and digital media. Everyone from industry professionals to pop-culture enthusiasts are invited to join the celebrations, with a line-up of events designed to inspire, entertain and connect. Featured events include How to Make Gravy – Live in Concert with Paul Kelly and Meg Washington, an in-conversation with Australian film director Michael Gracey on Better Man and the red carpet premiere of Spit with David Wenham.
ΩHM Festival of Other Music – February 28 to March 22
Brisbane Powerhouse has announced it will be hosting ΩHM Festival of Other Music for its third consecutive year, boasting an extraordinary and diverse line-up of artists who explore the fringes of sound and performance. This year’s program features the likes of Grammy-nominated folk supergroup Bonny Light Horsemen, Queensland’s Camerata, Sound-Space Silent Disco, cabaret queen Camille O’Sullivan, Japanese rock band The 5.6.7.8’s and more.
Peter and the Starcatcher – from March 14
This renowned, five Tony Award-winning theatrical masterpiece has wowed audiences across the globe, and now it’s Brisbane’s turn. In March, QPAC invites you to immerse yourself in the hilarious swashbuckling tale, based on the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. Peter and the Starcatcher is a prequel to Peter Pan that will take you on a fantastical journey to a world you never knew existed before Neverland. Starring Pete Helliar, Colin Lane, Alison Whyte and more, this is set to be an unforgettable production.
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World Science Festival Brisbane – March 21–30
Don your lab coats and party hats – World Science Festival Brisbane is celebrating its tenth year in 2025! From March 21–30, expect a world-class line-up of interactive activities, thought-provoking discussions and spectacular performances, all designed to ignite your imagination and spark your creativity. Highlights from the 2025 program include the Queensland premiere of Patch Theatre’s Superluminal, Leigh Sales AM and Annabel Crabb in An Afternoon of Science, and Arena Atomica: Skate-ology.
Byron Bay Bluesfest – April 17–20
The 2025 Bluesfest will be a bittersweet one – after 35 incredible years, the much-loved festival will be having its final hurrah. From humble beginnings in 1990, Byron Bay Bluesfest has earned a stellar reputation as Australia’s premier contemporary blues, roots and beyond music festival, recognised globally for its excellence. Over the years, countless industry legends have graced its stage, and the final line-up is no exception. The 2025 festival will be headlined by music legends Crowded House, joined by a stellar selection of local and international acts including Hilltop Hoods, Missy Higgins, The Cat Empire and Tones and I, with more to be announced.
La Boite Encores – April to July
To celebrate La Boite’s 100th anniversary in 2025, the long-standing theatre company is hosting a special series – La Boite Encores. This captivating play-reading series will bring ten iconic Australian fan favourites from the La Boite archive back to life, reuniting original cast members and directors along with emerging Brisbane talent, offering an intimate journey through La Boite’s rich history. The series includes The Matilda Women, X Stacy, Zig Zag Street, The Narcissist, Boy Girl Wall, Holding the Man, Prize Fighter and Single Asian Female, plus two very special yet-to-be-revealed events.
Jesus Christ Superstar – from June 29
Try not to get worried – tickets are still available for Jesus Christ Superstar. The iconic global phenomenon is hitting the Lyric Theatre at QPAC from June 29, presenting a mesmerising new production of Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit. The rock musical will feature all of the songs you know and love, including ‘I Don’t Know How To Love Him’, ‘Gethsemane’ and ‘Superstar’.
A Few Good Men – November 22 to December 7
Can you handle the truth? Long before Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson, Aaron Sorkin’s sizzling legal drama dominated Broadway. Now, just in time for QPAC’s 40th birthday celebrations, Queensland Theatre is bringing A Few Good Men to the Playhouse stage in November. Directed by the company’s newly appointed artistic director Daniel Evans, this masterful work follows a team of young military lawyers as they uncover a sinister conspiracy. A Few Good Men shines a harsh light on the toxic internal culture of the United States military, exploring how the demand for absolute loyalty in soldiers can lead to devastating consequences. It questions the notion that blind patriotism is a virtuous ideal, suggesting instead that it may be the breeding ground for harmful and ruthless behavior.