FAQS

Melt is a new annual citywide festival of Queer arts and culture staged across multiple venues throughout Magandjin/Brisbane. It builds on the success of its predecessor Melt, the LGBTQIA+ Festival staged annually at Brisbane Powerhouse since 2015.

Melt festival dates are 21 October to 08 November 2026.

A not-for-profit organisation, Brisbane Powerhouse is the producing house of Melt, in other words Brisbane Powerhouse has a dedicated ‘Melt team’ who organise the festival across the city in collaboration with its stakeholders and partners.

The Melt team, facilitate the city-wide festival as a whole, guiding artists/venues and curating key events (i.e. River Pride Parade). Although working out of the Brisbane Powerhouse, The Melt Team wear a different hat to the Brisbane Powerhouse Programming team.

Melt is guided by the Melt Reference Group (MRG), a committee of Queer voices with diverse perspectives, specialisations and backgrounds. Luke Furness, Chair of the MRG is also a director on the board of Brisbane Powerhouse.

Melt is also guided by Brisbane Powerhouse’s First Nations Advisory Committee (FNAC) where appropriate. Toni Janke, Chair of the FNAC is also a director on the board of Brisbane Powerhouse. Approximately fifty percent of staff working on Melt identify as Queer.

04 MAR 2026 – EOI’s open
01 JUN 2026 – EOI’s close
01 JUN 2026 – Deadline for Marketing Materials and Ticketing Information
14 JUN 2026 – Deadline for any edits to Printed Guide
14 JUL 2026 – Program Announce and On-Sale
MID-SEP 2026 – Printed Guide distribute nationally
21 OCT – 08 NOV 2026 – Melt Festival

Melt is an open access festival. An open access festival means anyone (ie artists, companies, producers, community and sporting groups) can register their events to participate.

Melt is an open access inclusive festival, meaning artists, companies, producers, community organisations, sporting groups and venues submit an EOI for their events online to participate via the online portal.

Venues and Event organisers have three options to connect with one another, online, in the real world, or the Melt team can assist by facilitating introductions. Melt can provide advice as well as useful templates such a draft agreement for venues and event organisers to follow.

Melt welcomes events, performances and exhibitions that appeal to LGBTQIA+ audiences. LGBTQIA+ participants are encouraged to submit an EOI, and allies invited to participate. LGBTQIA+ community events and activities are also encouraged to submit an EOI to be part of the Melt program.

If you’re an artist/promoter, community group or sporting club go to this webpage for more details.

If you’re a venue, go to (Venue EOI page link) for more details.

If you’re not sure where you fit but have an idea and would like to participate, email us via [email protected] and we’ll guide you.

• Expand your reach to new audiences and markets, elevate your brand presence, and secure ticket sales and other revenue opportunities through Melt’s brand campaign (national/local) which includes digital, print, PR and outdoor advertising.
• Your show/event and venue will be listed in the Melt digital and printed guides (across entertainment, hospitality and retail locations nationally).
• Embrace Melt as your testing ground, launching pad, homecoming, or an opportunity to level up alongside fellow artists.
• Attract reviews, audience and industry feedback, build marketing assets for future tours. Make Melt your anchor event for an Australian tour, ie Melbourne Fringe is on 30 September – 19 October 2025.
• Receive awards and acknowledgement from peers and industry.
• Be seen by presenters with potential for future bookings.
• Be supported by dedicated festival professionals to find the perfect venue for your work.
• Connect with new artists, promoters and venues.
• Visit sunny Brisbane, a LGBTQIA+ friendly city and home to 2.5 million people.
• Receive a Melt ‘Artist Pass’ with this, you can attend other participating Melt events for free (subject to availability)

Nope, Melt is reshaping the open access model this year to better platform diverse, emerging, and experimental work in a more supportive, low risk environment.
The adjustment aims to reduce financial and logistical risk to artists while ensuring venues cover their hard costs.  
This new model moves away from the traditional fringe structure and toward a festival-supported approach.

Some key differences being:
– No registration fees for artists or venues
– Clear support structures for participating events
– A more user-friendly application process

Melt welcomes events, performances and exhibitions that appeal to LGBTQIA+ audiences. LGBTQIA+ participants are encouraged to register, and allies are invited to participate and attend events.

Melt does not take a percentage of ticket sales, 100% of revenue is to be negotiated between the event and their chosen venue.
This year, Melt has worked closely with the select venues to ensure there is in-kind support and artist focused deal types offered at Melt Venues.

Like any open access festival, there are always risks to consider when deciding if Melt is the right fit for you.

Some things to consider;

• Do you have an audience in Brisbane? 
• Are your ticket prices too high or too low?
• Does your venue agreement set you up for success?
• Are you putting enough into marketing your event?
• Are you budgeting your event accurately?

If you are unsure, the Melt team are happy to provide you with guidance when considering these risks and useful templates such as draft agreements for venues and artists/producers to follow.

Given Brisbane typically has entertainment hubs due to venue locations (i.e., Fortitude Valley, Southbank, West End etc.) these hubs or precincts will organically appear. At this stage, we aren’t curating hubs or spaces, however this might be something we investigate for the future

Yes, Brisbane Powerhouse is available to hire. As with all other participating venues, programming is subject to availability and both parties agreeing on a suitable deal. If you are interested in presenting your event at the Brisbane Powerhouse, you can contact their programming team on [email protected]

Melt is an open access festival for queer arts and culture, work that appeals to a queer audience is welcome to participate, or work that is written, produced or has a queer creative team behind it. If this isn’t you and you still want to be involved, please consider buying a ticket to support one of the Open Access shows or participate in one of our signature events. 

Submit an EOI for your sporting club/field here. If you are unsure on anything, contact the Melt team so they can guide you [email protected]

Melt Festival celebrates diverse voices from across the community and is partially government-funded to support Brisbane and Queensland’s tourism and economic development objectives.

As a local business, we encourage you to reach out to the Melt team on [email protected] to see how you can get involved. You can also support by purchasing tickets and attending events throughout the festival, as well as sharing the events you enjoy. You can also consider donating to our partner charities. 

All events will be listed on the Melt website, you can support other Melt Artists by attending events and cross promoting each others work. You can connect with your fellow Melt Artists at events and the Melt Artist Bar.

The River Pride Parade is a vibrant, family-friendly event celebrating LGBTQIA+ pride, diversity, and inclusion as part of the 2026 Melt Festival. It will feature over 50 water vessels adorned in colorful, creative displays, daytime fireworks and a party playlist live.

The parade will make its way along the Brisbane River from the Victoria Bridge to Brisbane Powerhouse on SAT 24 OCT, 4PM – 6PM .

Date: Saturday, 24 OCT 2026

Time: 4PM to 6PM AEST 

Route: The parade will begin at the Victoria Bridge and travel along the Maiwar (Brisbane River), ending at Brisbane Powerhouse. 

Viewing Locations: Popular viewing spots include South Bank, Howard Smith Wharves, Brisbane Powerhouse and New Farm Park (Family Fun Day). These locations offer great vantage points along the river.

Yes! The River Pride Parade is free to attend. You can watch the parade from any of the designated viewing areas along the Brisbane River.

Yes, there will be daytime fireworks launched along the parade route, with our viewing locations in mind. These fireworks will add an extra splash of color and excitement to the event. Please note, the fireworks are designed to be family-friendly and will be a part of the celebratory atmosphere.

Absolutely! The River Pride Parade is a family-friendly event, with plenty of activities and viewing areas suitable for people of all ages. Stay tuned for our River Pride Parade land activities.

Yes, the event has been thoroughly planned in consultation with Maritime Safety Queensland to ensure the safety of participants and spectators. Additionally, the event is supported by Brisbane City Council and the River City Ferries. Measures are in place for crowd control, and all boats participating in the parade have been vetted and will be closely monitored for safety.

You can access the viewing areas along the Brisbane River using various transport options:

Parking: Limited parking is available at South Bank, Howard Smith Wharves and Brisbane Powerhouse, but we recommend using public transport to avoid traffic and parking congestion.

Public Transport: Take advantage of Brisbane’s public transport network including buses, trains, and city cats/ferries.

Cycling/Walking: There are plenty of walking and cycling paths around the river, and bike racks are available at many of the viewing locations.

Yes you can. The River Pride Parade is accepting EOIs now. Register here.

Yes, the event is designed to be accessible. The viewing areas at South Bank, Howard Smith Wharves, and Brisbane Powerhouse are wheelchair accessible. If you have specific accessibility needs, please plan ahead to ensure the best experience, and feel free to reach out to the Melt Festival team for more assistance.

Sun Protection: Hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses are recommended as the parade will take place in the afternoon sun.

Water: Stay hydrated, especially if you’re attending for an extended period.

Comfortable Clothing: Since this is an outdoor event, wear comfortable clothing and shoes for walking or standing.

Rain Gear (if needed): While the weather is expected to be clear, it’s always good to be prepared for unexpected changes.

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone, the following items are prohibited:

• Pets (for the safety and comfort of all participants, pets are not allowed).
• Large items or structures (such as tents or umbrellas) that could obstruct views.
• Alcohol (unless consumed within designated areas).

In case of adverse weather conditions, the event may be delayed or rescheduled. Any updates regarding weather-related changes will be communicated via the official Melt Festival website and social media channels.

Can I make a donation as part of the event?

Open Doors Youth Service

Pinnacle Foundation

For the most up-to-date information about the River Pride Parade and other Melt Festival events, visit melt.org.au or follow the event’s social media channels. Sign-up to the Melt email list to be the first to hear more.

We’re excited to celebrate with you at River Pride Parade 2026! Let’s make it a colorful, inclusive, and memorable day!

Yes all normal ferry services will be in operation