Anger over Dua Lipa’s snub of Brisbane

Premier Steven Miles has revealed his shock at international pop star Dua Lipa’s Brisbane snub, claiming the city held “plenty” of suitable venues to host her Radical Optimism world tour.

British singer Dua Lipa is the latest artist to overlook the River City

British singer Dua Lipa is the latest global superstar to snub Brisbane, after the state capital was left off the map of her “national tour”.

Brisbane is also losing out to the Gold Coast where US rockers Green Day will next year play their sole Queensland show and where teen heart-throb Harry Styles opted to do his Sunshine State gig last year.

Other major acts, including Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam and The Weeknd, have also given Brisbane a swerve over the past 12 months.

Fans reacted with fury after promoters Live Nation announced Dua Lipa would only be playing in Melbourne, Sydney and Auckland as part of her Radical Optimism world tour next year at this stage.

“Why is everyone missing Brisbane all of a sudden?” one fan posted on social media.

Another wrote: “Why is it that she is only playing in Sydney and Melbourne? As a tour promoter, you think you would do more to get artists to play more venues across Australia. It’s ridiculous that people have to travel when in Brisbane we have stadiums.”

Queensland Premier Steven Miles said he was shocked that Dua Lipa had snubbed Brisbane. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Premier Steven Miles has revealed his shock at international pop star Dua Lipa’s Brisbane snub, claiming the city held “plenty” of suitable venues to host her Radical Optimism world tour.

“I am just as disappointed as anyone else is that Dua Lipa has done a Houdini on Queensland,” he said.

“We have plenty of venues here that would be entirely suitable for her show.”

Asked whether this could be the catalyst for Queensland getting a new stadium, Mr Miles said other factors were playing a role in Brisbane missing out on major concerts.

“In my conversations with the promoters, there’s a wide range of factors that they take into account, including their wider travel calendar, where they can get the greatest return, and also the cost of the cost of moving their equipment around,” he said.

“We’re also building a brand new concert venue at the Roma Street Parklands, and it will be a fantastic venue for shows.”

The Brisbane Live Arena at Roma St venue will have a modest 17,000 seating capacity, with the governments proffered Olympic and Paralympic QSAC stadium to seat just 40,000.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said Queenslanders were approaching him asking not to be embarrassed on the world stage in 2032.

“I just can’t believe it’s got to that point,” he said.

The LNP has committed to an Olympic and Paralympic infrastructure review if elected in October, but Mr Crisafulli says a new stadium remains squarely off the cards.

An entertainment industry source said Brisbane and Queensland were missing out on some major acts because of high concert set-up and touring costs.

They said rival states, particularly Western Australia, had also upped the ante when it came to offering incentives to lure major events.

“Acts like Taylor Swift know they can play in just Sydney and Melbourne and fans will fly there,” the insider said.

“Brisbane might not seem that far but when you’re moving 90 trucks of equipment up the Pacific Highway and having to build new stages, it’s very expensive.

“We will probably see more of the big artists scaling back their shows to a couple of major cities.”

Tourism and stadium bosses have defended Brisbane’s reputation for hosting major events.

A Stadiums Queensland spokeswoman said it and its venue managers were in “constant discussions” with promoters about hosting major concerts and events.

“(We) will put forward relevant venues, providing the event is an appropriate fit within the event schedule and (for) existing hirers,” she said.

“Ultimately, any decision on where to host a concert lies with the promoter, the artist, their touring schedule and concert requirements.”

Tourism and Events Queensland CEO Patricia O’Callaghan said Suncorp Stadium had enjoyed a “record year of remarkable concerts” in 2023-24 by the likes of Paul McCartney, Robbie Williams and P!NK.

These and major sporting events such as the FIFA women’s World Cup and NRL Magic Round helped the state’s major venues attract a record 5.8 million spectators during the year.

Suncorp Stadium will be permitted to hold up to 12 concerts a year permanently as part of a recent cap increase.

American rockers The Killers announced this week they would play concerts in both Brisbane and Townsville in November and December.