Pink Ducks, Onesies, and Gay Party Boats Galore: MELT Festival’s River Pride Parade
Image: Image: Melt Festival
Returning for its third year, the Melt Festival River Pride Parade has become one of Brisbane’s spectacular LGBTQIA+ celebrations, transforming the Brisbane River, or Maiwar, into a celebration of colour, music and creativity as it draws thousands of spectators to the riverbanks.
The inaugural parade made history in November 2024, when drag star Courtney Act took to the water for Brisbane’s first River Pride Parade. Courtney joined a flotilla of 50 vessels travelling from the William Jolly Bridge to Brisbane Powerhouse, as decorated boats wound through the city. The event returned in 2025, reinforcing the river’s potential as a public stage for queer visibility and community celebration – not to mention, a damn good place to party.
In 2026, the parade takes on significance as Brisbane Pride Festival and MELT Festival align their events for a combined day of super-Pride. The Rally and March, Fair Day and River Pride Parade will all take place on Saturday, October 24, connecting celebrations from Fortitude Valley and New Farm to the river itself.
From 4-6pm, more than 50 decorated boats, ferries, kayaks and other watercraft will travel from Victoria Bridge along the river to The Brisbane Powerhouse. Official party boats will add music, performers and themes to the flotilla as it traverses the river.
Free viewing areas at South Bank, Howard Smith Wharves, New Farm Park and Brisbane Powerhouse will give spectators opportunities to join the fun. Daytime fireworks and a live party playlist will add to the family-friendly spectacle.
Towering above the celebrations will be Florentijn Hofman’s famous Rubber Duck. Reimagined in MELT’s signature hot pink for its Brisbane debut, the monumental artwork stands 15 metres, or roughly five storeys, high. The duck will appear near the CBD before joining the parade as one of its flagship floats.
When the flotilla reaches Brisbane Powerhouse, the festivities will continue from 6pm at MELT’s free, all-ages Opening Party. DJs, performances by The Huxleys and Circa, and the first public appearance of the newly crowned Mr First Nation King and royal entourage will launch three weeks of queer art, culture and celebration across Brisbane.
24 October, 4pm
Brisbane River / Maiwar
melt.org.au
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