MELT is returning in 2025, and it’s time to get your gay on. Brisbane’s annual queer arts festival, running from 22 October to 9 November, has just released its full program, and your calendar is about to get very queer.
MELT Festival is a dazzling celebration of art, identity, and unapologetic queer joy, bringing together hundreds of performances, exhibitions, and events spread across over 60 venues throughout Brisbane/Magandjin.
This year’s lineup turns up the volume on creativity, inclusivity, and pride, from drag pageants to powerful visual arts to thought-provoking theatre.
With 18 days of non-stop action, it’s the perfect chance to celebrate the best (and boldest) parts of the LGBTQIA+ community.
QUEER YOUR CALENDAR: What to Expect at MELT 2025
Get ready for a stacked program that’s pushing boundaries, amplifying voices, and bringing people together. Here are a few highlights:
Miss First Nation 2025 – Bigger, Bolder, Blak-er:
This iconic drag pageant is making its way to Brisbane for the first time. After stunning audiences at Sydney World Pride, the fierce Miss First Nation returns in 2025 to crown a new queen. Expect an electrifying display of Black excellence, talent, and pride on the grandest stage. Who will take the crown this time?
Shimmer: A Visual Triumph:
Contemporary artist Gerwyn Davies will team up with Trans and gender-diverse young people from Open Doors Youth Service for Shimmer, a bold photographic exhibition at the Museum of Brisbane. The exhibit will showcase Queer identity, resilience, and the power of visibility, plus an outdoor installation that’s going to light up the city.
An Evening with Bernadette Peters – An Icon on Stage:
Stage and screen legend Bernadette Peters is making her long-awaited return to Australia, and MELT 2025 is the place to catch her. Her first performance in over a decade, this one-night-only show at the Brisbane Convention Centre is set to be a major cultural moment for theatre lovers—and trust us, you won’t want to miss it.
River Pride Parade – Flotilla Fabulousness:
The Brisbane River is going full rainbow mode once again for the River Pride Parade. Expect a float-filled spectacle on 8 November that will take you from West End to Brisbane Powerhouse, with boatloads of fun, drag, and live music. Not a boat person? No worries—there’s also the Pride Ride and a family-friendly picnic at New Farm Park to keep the vibe going.
Sugar – A Gender Fluid Cabaret Dream:
If you’re into charisma, pop hits, and a whole lot of fabulous, don’t miss Tomáš Kantor’s award-winning debut Sugar. This electric cabaret blends Pretty Woman with gender fluidity, sex, and power—all while perched atop a grand piano.
Comedy that Will Have You in Stitches:
Fans of Urzila Carlson (aka, one of Australia’s favourite comedians) are in for a treat. She’s back in Brisbane for two encore shows after her Just Jokes 2024 tour, so expect side-splitting laughs and a sore face from all the giggling.
Melting Pot: Queer Music, Underground Vibes:
New this year, Melting Pot is a pop-up venue created in collaboration with Queer music collective QUIVR. Every weekend, Brisbane Powerhouse will pulse with underground performances, DJ sets, queer line dancing, and even Miss First Nation heats. Think late-night energy, pop-up performances, and a total celebration of Queer joy.
MELT 2025: Queer Power
Whether you’re into drag, burlesque, cabaret, or just want to hear from some of the most exciting queer voices in Australia, MELT 2025 has something for you. From Rhythmology, a theatrical exploration of creative identity, to The Lucky Country, with sharp social commentary on protest, power, and national identity.
There’s even something for the littlest members of the queer community with Play Date, a family-friendly disco featuring music, dancing, and Auslan-friendly moves.
Close Out the Party: MELT’s Wild Finale
As the festival draws to a close, get ready for Meltdown, the ultimate queer party that will have you dancing until dawn. Curated by drag legends GoGo Bumhole and Shandy, this night of pop-up performances, hot DJs, and absolute chaos will blow the roof off MELT in true, over-the-top style.
MELT Festival: A Love Letter to the Queer Community
As Executive Producer Emmie Paranthoiene puts it, “MELT is a love letter to our community, and everyone’s invited to the party.”
As Councillor Vicki Howard notes, MELT is a celebration of the “bold, creative, and inclusive spirit that makes Brisbane shine.” And we couldn’t agree more.
TL;DR:
- MELT 2025 runs from 22 October to 9 November with over 60 venues and hundreds of events.
- Highlights include Miss First Nation, An Evening with Bernadette Peters, the River Pride Parade, and a pop-up queer music venue called Melting Pot.
- Tickets are on sale now. Don’t miss out on what promises to be Brisbane’s most fabulous, boundary-pushing celebration of LGBTQIA+ arts and culture.
- Head to melt.org.au for tickets and more info.
Stay unruly.
