Information checked on: 11 November 2026. Events can change, sell out or be cancelled. Always confirm final details with the organiser before you go.
Assessments are finishing, the weather is warming up and your budget may be feeling tight. The good news: Brisbane has plenty of free things to do between now and early December, and many of them are a short trip from the Evantaa Brisbane campus in Fortitude Valley.
This guide covers free galleries and museums with new exhibitions, free tours of City Hall, weekly markets and dance nights, free study spaces for the end of term, and one ticketed Christmas event worth knowing about. Every item was checked against official websites.
Quick list: what’s on and when
| What | When | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| New QAGOMA exhibitions open | 14 Nov, 21 Nov and 5 Dec 2026 | QAG and GOMA, South Bank | Free |
| Queensland Museum Kurilpa | Daily, 9:30am–5pm | South Bank | Free general entry |
| Museum of Brisbane – Precious | Daily, 10am–5pm | City Hall, Level 3 | Free |
| City Hall and Clock Tower tours | Daily (booking required) | King George Square | Free |
| BrisStyle Twilight Markets | 13 Nov and 4 Dec, 4pm–9pm | King George Square | Free to browse |
| Latin Friday Nights | Fridays, 5pm–11pm | Reddacliff Place | Free dance class at 7pm |
| The Enchanted Garden | 20 Nov – 19 Dec 2026 | Roma Street Parkland | Ticketed |
1. Free art at QAGOMA: four new exhibitions
The Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) at South Bank are free to enter. Both are open daily from 10am to 5pm. Some special exhibitions need a paid ticket, so check the label before you go.
These free exhibitions have just opened or open soon:
- Barbara Heath: Hidden Jewels – GOMA, from 7 November 2026
- An Eloquent Inheritance – QAG, from 14 November 2026
- Feeling the Universe – GOMA, from 21 November 2026
- Global Grooves: Cosmopolitanism and Contemporary Asian Art – GOMA, from 5 December 2026
Free exhibitions already running include Great and Small: Kindred Creatures in Indigenous Australian Art and Justene Williams’ Once We Were Mudskippers, both at QAG.
Student tip: If you study Cabinet Making and Timber Technology or Painting and Decorating, galleries are a great place to look closely at finishes, colour, joinery and how objects are made. Take notes or sketches for inspiration.
The one big ticketed show is Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company at GOMA (until 18 April 2027). Check the QAGOMA website for prices.
2. Queensland Museum Kurilpa: free entry and free Wi-Fi
Queensland Museum Kurilpa, on the corner of Grey and Melbourne Streets in South Bank, is free to enter. You do not need to book for general admission.
- Opening hours: daily, 9:30am–5pm
- Free public Wi-Fi is available
- Paid areas: SparkLab and some temporary exhibitions charge an entry fee
It is a comfortable indoor option on a hot afternoon, and it sits right next to QAGOMA, so you can visit both in one trip.
3. Brisbane City Hall: a free museum and two free tours
Brisbane City Hall in King George Square is home to the Museum of Brisbane, open daily from 10am to 5pm.
Precious exhibition
The current exhibition, Precious, is free and runs until April 2027. It is a relaxed way to learn more about the city you now live in.
Free tours (book ahead)
| Tour | Times | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| City Hall Tour (45 minutes) | Daily 10:30am and 11:30am; also 1:30pm Friday–Sunday | Wheelchair accessible |
| Clock Tower Tour (about 15 minutes) | Daily, every 15 minutes from 10:15am to 4:45pm | Only 7 places per tour; 36 steps; not wheelchair accessible |
Both tours are free, but booking is required for everyone in your group. For the Clock Tower, arrive 15 minutes early.
For Building and Construction students: City Hall is a heritage building. A guided tour is a free chance to see how large public buildings were designed and built, and how they are cared for today.
4. Markets and nights out in the city
BrisStyle Twilight Markets – King George Square
Local makers and designers sell handmade goods from 4pm to 9pm on Friday 13 November and Friday 4 December (with another market on 18 December). Browsing is free, and the listing mentions some free craft workshops.
Latin Friday Nights – Reddacliff Place
Every Friday from 5pm to 11pm, Reddacliff Place hosts live music until 7pm, followed by a free dance class at 7pm. Food trucks are on site (you pay for food). Within this guide’s dates, that includes 13, 20 and 27 November and 4 December.
Brisbane City Markets
- Wednesdays: 8am–6pm at Reddacliff Place
- Thursdays: 8am–2pm at Cathedral Square and Queen’s Wharf
Weekend markets
- The Collective Markets, South Bank – Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Little Stanley Street. Free to enter. Opening times are listed differently in different places, so check before you go.
- Riverside at the Gardens Market – Sundays, 8am–3pm, City Botanic Gardens.
Budget tip: Set a spending limit before you go to any market. Walking around and looking costs nothing.
5. Free study spaces for the end of term
If you have final assessments, Brisbane City Council libraries are one of the best free resources in the city.
- Membership is free for anyone who lives, works or studies in Brisbane. Bring photo ID and proof of address.
- Free Wi-Fi is available at all Council libraries.
- Free study rooms can be booked at selected libraries, including Brisbane Square Library in the CBD. Rooms are booked in 30-minute blocks, up to 2 hours per day. At Brisbane Square, bookings are same-day only.
- Free computers are available in the learning lounge at Brisbane Square Library for up to 2 hours per day (membership needed). Printing has a fee.
See the Brisbane City Council library facilities page for locations and booking rules.
6. Worth knowing about: The Enchanted Garden (ticketed)
The Enchanted Garden light trail runs at Roma Street Parkland from 20 November to 19 December 2026. It is not free; tickets go on sale from 10am on Wednesday 11 November. At the time of checking, ticket prices were not yet published, so check the official website.
The organiser says the food-truck area on Celebration Lawn does not need a ticket.
Also coming soon: Big Things, a free exhibition at the State Library of Queensland, opens on 11 December 2026.
How to get around
Most places in this guide are in the CBD or South Bank. Use the Translink Journey Planner to plan your trip from Fortitude Valley or home. For more transport help, read our guide to getting around Brisbane without a car and our Myki vs go card cost comparison.
Stay safe in the warmer weather
Late spring in Brisbane can be hot and sunny, and storms can arrive quickly in the afternoon. When you are out:
- Carry a refillable water bottle.
- Wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses, especially at outdoor markets.
- Check the Bureau of Meteorology forecast and warnings before you head out.
- Plan a way home before a late event finishes.
Frequently asked questions
Is QAGOMA free for students?
Yes. Entry to QAG and GOMA is free for everyone. Some special exhibitions, such as Make, Believe, Magic, need a paid ticket.
Is the Queensland Museum in Brisbane free?
Yes. General entry to Queensland Museum Kurilpa is free and you do not need to book. SparkLab and some temporary exhibitions charge an entry fee.
Do I need to book the free City Hall tours?
Yes. Both the City Hall Tour and the Clock Tower Tour are free, but you must book a ticket for everyone in your group through the Museum of Brisbane website.
Can international students join Brisbane City Council libraries?
Library membership is free for anyone who lives, works or studies in Brisbane. You need photo ID and proof of address. Check the Brisbane City Council website for accepted documents.
Are Christmas events in Brisbane free?
Many are. The Visit Brisbane Christmas page says free festive events run across the city from 1 to 24 December. The full program had not been published when we checked, so look again closer to the date. Some events, like The Enchanted Garden, are ticketed. Check each event before you go.
Make the most of the season
You do not need a big budget to enjoy Brisbane at the end of the year. Pick one gallery, one market and one quiet library session, and you will have a full and affordable fortnight.
Evantaa students at our Fortitude Valley campus can contact Student Services at support@evantaa.edu.au for study support and information about life in Brisbane. Thinking about studying with us? Explore our courses and Brisbane campus.
Sources
- QAGOMA – Home and visitor information: https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/ (checked 11 November 2026)
- QAGOMA – Exhibitions: https://www.qagoma.qld.gov.au/whats-on/exhibitions (checked 11 November 2026)
- Queensland Museum Kurilpa – Hours and admission: https://www.museum.qld.gov.au/kurilpa/plan-your-visit/hours-and-admission (checked 11 November 2026)
- Museum of Brisbane – Precious: https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/precious/ (checked 11 November 2026)
- Museum of Brisbane – Brisbane City Hall Tour: https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/brisbane-city-hall-tour/ (checked 11 November 2026)
- Museum of Brisbane – Clock Tower Tours: https://www.museumofbrisbane.com.au/whats-on/clock-tower-tours/ (checked 11 November 2026)
- Visit Brisbane – What’s on in Brisbane City: https://visit.brisbane.qld.au/inspiration/whats-on-brisbane-city (page dated 6 November 2026)
- Visit Brisbane – Markets in Brisbane City: https://visit.brisbane.qld.au/inspiration/markets-brisbane-city
- Visit Brisbane – Christmas: https://visit.brisbane.qld.au/christmas
- Visit South Bank – The Collective Markets: https://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/events/the-collective-markets-at-south-bank
- Visit South Bank – Big Things: https://www.visitsouthbank.com.au/events/big-things
- The Enchanted Garden: https://enchantedgarden.com.au/ (checked 11 November 2026)
- Brisbane City Council – Brisbane libraries: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/libraries-venues-and-facilities/libraries/brisbane-libraries
- Brisbane City Council – Library facilities and services: https://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/libraries-venues-and-facilities/libraries/library-facilities-and-services