The best things to see, do and take your clothes off for in MELT festival 2024

A Paris Olympics-style boat parade on the Brisbane River, a performance by British boy band Take That and a Kath and Kim tribute show are among the highlights of MELT festival 2024.

Tickets are now on sale for the annual festival for LGBTQIA+ people and their straight mates, taking place across Brisbane from October 23 to November 10 with the theme “Welcome to Paradise”.

The full program announcement came with a renewed callout for participants in the festival’s photo shoot of thousands of nude bodies by New York artist Spencer Tunick.

Spencer Tunick artwork “Tide”, 2023. The work was created in Brisbane with volunteer models and a follow-up work will be produced on the Story Bridge in October 2024.Credit: Spencer Tunick

The photo shoot will take place at sunrise on Story Bridge on Sunday, October 27, and the bridge will be closed for the event.

Spencer Tunick first visited Brisbane last year. Volunteers in the new shoot will receive a print of the final artwork.

The MELT festival program spans art, cabaret, drag, sport, markets, parties and family-friendly events.

Tina – a Tropical Love Story promises a queer First Nations spin on the Tina Turner story, while Thank God You’re Queer will test local comedians’ improvisation skills in recreating real-life experiences.

The Community Pride Netball Game hosted by Netball Queensland invites women, men and gender-diverse people of all abilities to watch or participate, while Bay Pride Diversity Walk returns to Wynnum offering a family-friendly walk along the esplanade, market stalls and performances.

Drag identity and MELT ambassador Courtney Act will captain the River Pride Parade on Saturday, November 9, a colourful flotilla journeying from William Jolly Bridge to Brisbane Powerhouse.

Celebrity Courtney Act will lead the River Pride Parade on the Brisbane River in November.Credit: Melt Open

Pop icons Take That, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and Ricki-Lee are performing a Day on the Green at Sirromet Wines on November 10, and punk rock grrrls Teen Jesus and the Jean Teasers are playing at the Princess Theatre on November 7.

A drag parody of Kath and Kim may sound like a (f)oxymoron, but that’s exactly what’s promised in Fountain Lakes in Lockdown, which arrives following sellout seasons in Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra.

Theatre highlights include “polyamorous ghost mystery” Slippery, a modern-day myth of the god of the sun Helios, and Functional Bottom, the story of Jessi Ryan’s birthday in an ICU.

“This program is full of artists and performers at the top of their craft,” Melt Reference Group chair Luke Furness said.

“With festivals like MELT, Brisbane keeps getting better.”

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the citywide celebration would help support local businesses and jobs.

“Brisbane is Australia’s lifestyle capital and our fantastic precincts and diverse calendar of events help bolster our $10.6 billion visitor economy,” Schrinner said.

MELT 2024 takes place across town October 23 to November 10. The full program and tickets are available here.