Around the world with Brisbane's top multicultural events

Celebrate Brisbane’s cultural diversity with this handy calendar of festivals and events that’ll have you finding a new sense of wonder in our own backyard.

2023

January 

  • Kick off the Year of the Rabbit by experiencing Lunar New Year with a festival of events throughout Fortitude Valley. Explore all the vibrant flavours and cultures on offer and take in the street performers and lion and dragon dances.
     
  • Join Brisbane's Ukrainian community in celebrating Brisbane Malanka 2023 with delicious Ukrainian food platters, traditional beverages and live music.

February

  • Back for another year, the 2023 BrisAsia Festival will kick off a month of diverse Asian cultural experiences and celebrations, bringing vibrant art, music, markets and events to Brisbane.
     
  • Celebrate one of the most colourful international events of the year with the Brisbane Holi - Festival of Colours. It's a favourite on Brisbane's multicultural calendar, offering communities the chance to come together to colour each other, dance and have fun.

March

  • Grab your mates and pain Brisbane green during the Brisbane Irish Festival. There'll be events on across the city including the iconic St Patrick's Day Parade.
     
  • The incredible hand-to-hand balancing act of the Ramadhani Brothers is returning to Brisbane as part of Cirque Mother Africa in 2023. With talent from nine African countries, the performance featuring contortionists, acrobatics, dancing and live music, will have you captivated from start to finish.

May

  • Australia's biggest Greek festival is back for another year! Paniyiri 2023 is bringing the best honey puffs, grilled haloumi and traditional dance to Brisbane so there's something for everyone.
     
  • For decades the Buddha Birth Day Festival has promoted peace and celebrated harmony and peace in Queensland. In 2023, the festival's events will have a range of spiritual and cultural activities.
     
  • Turn up the volume for a lively and colourful day celebrating Brisbane's African community at the Africa Day Festival. Tuck into traditional dishes from Sudan and Ethiopia before letting the kids join a workshop or two while you browse the market stalls.

Want more?

Always check the dates for annual events before pencilling them into your calendar and find more inspiration for your next day out on our Brisbetter Explore page.

While you enjoy Brisbane's events and exhibitions, remember to keep COVID safe - maintain physical distancing and good hygiene.

On-the-go? Download the Brisbane app to help plan your next day out with place and event listings and guides written by locals and visitors.

Editor's note: The featured content in Brisbane Explore is created to inspire residents and visitors to plan a day out exploring Brisbane and to buy local as part of the city's Economic Recovery Plan. Brisbane City Council disclaims any relationship with, or endorsement of, businesses featured in this video.

Come back regularly to check for new and updated content and don't forget to share your favourite places on Instagram using #Brisbetter!

Related links

**This article was updated in December 2022.**

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