Melt Festival 2025 – Brisbane’s Bold Celebration of Creativity and Pride
Brisbane is set to shine brighter than ever as Melt Festival 2025 returns from 22 October to 9 November, bringing 18 days of art, music, theatre, comedy, parades and pure joy to venues right across the city. 🌈
From dazzling river parades to boundary-breaking theatre, this year’s program is overflowing with unforgettable experiences — including Broadway icon Bernadette Peters, the electrifying Miss First Nation 2025 drag pageant, and the much-loved River Pride Parade and Picnic at New Farm Park. Families, friends and festival-goers alike will find something to enjoy as the Brisbane River flows rainbow once again.
Festival-goers can dive into bold new works like Shimmer by artist Gerwyn Davies, created in collaboration with young Trans and gender diverse people, or discover the late-night buzz of Melting Pot at Brisbane Powerhouse — a riot of performance, DJs and pop-up surprises. Comedy lovers can catch Urzila Carlson and Reuben Kaye, while family audiences will adore Play Date, a music-filled disco designed for our city’s rainbow families.
As Chair for Community and the Arts, Councillor Vicki Howard said Melt captures the creative, inclusive and energetic spirit that makes Brisbane truly special.
“Melt Festival is a celebration of the bold, creative and inclusive spirit that makes Brisbane shine. From world-class performances to vibrant community connections, this festival embodies our city’s heart and helps make us the lifestyle capital of Australia.”
So Queer your calendar, assemble your crew and get ready to celebrate!
🎟️ Melt Festival 2025 – 22 October – 9 November
👉 Full program: https://www.melt.org.au/blog/
City Hall Rainbow Vicki
PRIDE PLANTINGS TO RAINBOW ROADS – A DECADE OF DELIVERY
I know that LGBTIQ+ community make a huge contribution to the political, economic, cultural and social fabric of this city.
From the colour and vibrancy of Brisbane Pride activities, to the many authors and entrepreneurs, businessmen and women and community activists – everyone helps us shape our new world city and no place is seemingly as diverse and vibrant as Central Ward.
We are all of diverse faiths, diverse ethnicities, diverse levels of education and income, diverse backgrounds, diverse households – but we all have the same wish …. To create and even more inclusive city.
That’s what I have been doing since 2012.
Lord Mayor Schrinner’s team is proud of Brisbane’s rich LGBTQ+ history and culture and I have been delighted to spearhead inclusivity since 2012.
My DECADE OF DELIVERY for the LGBTIQ+ community includes –
- We delivered the rainbow footpath in Spring Hill in 2016 outside the Sportsman Hotel
- We delivered the rainbow City Glider in 2015 in celebration of the Brisbane Pride Festival.
- We started the Melt LGBT Arts Festival at Brisbane City Council’s Powerhouse
- For the past 10 years Brisbane Queens Ball at City Hall has been supported to the tune of $188 000 – meaning more funds can be raised for their chosen charities.
- In 2016, Council became the first local government in Queensland to publicly support the legalisation of marriage between consenting adults regardless of gender, sexuality or gender identity.
- We were the first administration to raise the rainbow flag and illuminating Brisbane City Hall to mark the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia Day (IDAHOT Day)
- We were the first administration to illuminate the Story Bridge in support of international days of significance such as LGBTIQ+ Day, World Aids Day, Transgender Day of Remembrance and Intersex Awareness Day
- In 2017, the administration we lead was the first local government in Australia to be listed on Australia’s LGBTI Inclusive Employers website.
- In 2018 the administration we lead was the first local government in Australia to be recognised with Gold Employer status at the Australian Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (LGBTI) Inclusion Awards, again recognised at the 2019 awards.
Rainbow Road Vicki