Miss First Nation at Melt Festival in 2025. Photo: Melt.
Melt Festival has unveiled its biggest program yet, with Courtney Barnett, Melanie C, TEEKS and Queensland singer songwriter Jude York joining more than 100 events across Brisbane this spring.
Produced by Brisbane Powerhouse, the queer arts and culture festival will return from October 21 to November 8, spreading across more than 70 venues throughout the city. Tickets went on sale with the program announcement on August 11.
Courtney Barnett and Jude York join Melt
Courtney Barnett will bring her Creature of Habit Tour to The Tivoli on November 4, marking her first Australian tour in more than four years.
The Grammy nominated and multiple ARIA Award winning songwriter released her latest album Creature Of Habit in March, featuring singles including “Stay in Your Lane” and “Site Unseen” with Waxahatchee.
Queensland singer songwriter Jude York will return home for a show at Brisbane Powerhouse on October 29 following a breakout year which has taken him from major European festivals to supporting Chappell Roan.
York released his EP HEARTSTRINGS in 2025 before “Camilla” became his biggest song to date this year, taking him past one million monthly Spotify listeners.
Māori soul singer TEEKS is also part of the music program and will perform new material including “My Boy”, while Melanie C will bring her Australian tour to The Tivoli, celebrating her ninth studio album Sweat.
Local queer music will also feature through Melting Pot, which returns to Brisbane Powerhouse in collaboration with QUIVR, bringing emerging and established artists together throughout the festival.
Giant pink duck heading for Brisbane River
One of this year’s biggest additions has nothing to do with a stage.
Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s famous 15 metre Rubber Duck will make its Australian debut in Brisbane, reimagined in hot pink for Melt.
The five storey artwork will first appear on the Brisbane River near the CBD before joining the River Pride Parade and later taking up residence near Brisbane Powerhouse.
The River Pride Parade returns on October 24 in a new twilight time slot, travelling from West End towards Brisbane Powerhouse with boats and watercraft taking part in the colourful flotilla.
For the first time, Brisbane Pride’s Rally, March and Fair Day will fall on the same day as the River Pride Parade, bringing major Pride events across Fortitude Valley, New Farm and the Brisbane River together on October 24.
Party boats including WET ON DECK, Come To Daddy, Splash Out and FUEL will join the river celebrations, before a free opening party at Brisbane Powerhouse featuring DJs and live performances.
New First Nations drag competition
Melt will also introduce Mr First Nation, a new national competition celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander drag kings.
Created by producer Ben Graetz following the success of Miss First Nation, the competition will feature two heats before a grand final during the opening weekend.
Brisbane contemporary circus company Circa will premiere Show Me Love, a new immersive work created for the festival which takes audiences through Brisbane Powerhouse before reaching a finale inspired by club culture.
The wider program spans music, theatre, comedy, drag, circus, visual art, parties and community events across Brisbane.
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