Vesica

Updated every morning

Christmas in Brisbane 2026

Here's what's on for Christmas in Brisbane this year. The list below comes from Brisbane City Council's events calendar and updates every morning, so new carols nights and markets appear as they're added.

Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols 2026
Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols 2026 · Photo: Brisbane City Council

Christmas events in Brisbane this year

See everything on in Brisbane this week →

The big dates

Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols: Saturday 5 December 2026 at the Riverstage, with a livestream at Roma Street Parkland.

Lord Mayor's Seniors Christmas Parties: Monday 7 to Saturday 12 December 2026 at Brisbane City Hall.

City Hall Christmas lights: the council hasn't posted the 2026 dates yet. Last year they ran from 5 to 24 December. They'll appear in the list above once they're out.

Carols in the suburbs

Most suburbs have a carols night in early December, usually in a park on a Saturday or Sunday evening. Bring a picnic rug and get there early for a spot near the stage.

The council calendar lists these suburb carols nights so far, all free: Banyo Community Christmas Carols (Saturday 5 December, 5pm), Light Up Carols at New Farm (Sunday 6 December, midday), Centenary Carols at Middle Park (Sunday 6 December, 3:30pm), Carols on the Lawn at Seventeen Mile Rocks (Sunday 6 December, 5pm) and Carols by Candlelight at Ashgrove (Saturday 12 December, 4pm). New ones show in the list above as the council adds them.

Christmas lights

Government House Christmas Lights: the grounds in Paddington open for Bands in Parks from Saturday 12 December 2026 at 7pm. It's free.

Houses that go all out: plenty of Brisbane streets light up through December. Our Christmas lights in Brisbane guide lists the home displays whose owners are happy to have visitors, with their dates and hours.

If you go to a house display: park on the road, not across driveways or on the grass verge, stay on the footpath, keep the noise down and head off when the lights go out.

Go with people

A carols night is an easy first outing with new people: it's free, it's outdoors and nobody minds if you sing badly. Once Vesica is out, you'll tap “I'm going” and chat with the others going before the night.

Questions people ask

When are the Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols in 2026?

Saturday 5 December 2026 at the Riverstage in the City Botanic Gardens, with a livestream at Roma Street Parkland.

Where are the carols in Brisbane suburbs in 2026?

As of November 2026 the council lists free carols nights at Banyo (5 December), New Farm, Middle Park and Seventeen Mile Rocks (all 6 December) and Ashgrove (12 December). The Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols are at the Riverstage on 5 December.

Are Brisbane Christmas carols free?

Most council carols nights are free. The list on this page marks the free ones.

When do the City Hall Christmas lights start?

The council hasn't posted the 2026 dates yet. Last year they ran from 5 to 24 December.

Where can I see Christmas lights in Brisbane?

City Hall usually lights up from early December (last year 5 to 24 December), and Government House in Paddington opens its grounds for Bands in Parks from 12 December. Plenty of suburban streets light up too; we're starting a list of house displays whose owners are happy to have visitors.

Updated . Event listings and photos from Brisbane City Council (CC BY 4.0), refreshed every morning.

More Brisbane guides