Queensland Fringe Is Coming To Toowoomba. And Yes, It's Actually A Really Big Deal.

28 July

The Gold Matilda Award-winning team behind Wynnum Fringe is going statewide for the first time, and Toowoomba is the final stop on the inaugural road trip.

**PHOEBE PARADISE - ARTIST IN RESIDENCE**
Acclaimed Queensland contemporary visual artist Phoebe Paradise joins Queensland Fringe as the festival’s inaugural Artist in Residence. Inspired by the people, places and spirit of the festival, Phoebe will create a signature original artwork for Queensland Fringe and serve as the official visual artist for the 2026 season.

Written by: Sam Kirby
Imagery: QLD Fringe

We don't say this often, but friends... this is kind of a big deal.

Toowoomba is about to host its first-ever Queensland Fringe festival -- and the line-up is a seriously stacked call-sheet of international and national artists. Jim Jefferies. Vanessa Amorosi. Dami Im. Wes Carr, Sue Ray, and a slew of other artists. One weekend. The Empire Theatre. August 6 and 7.

If you've ever lamented the fact that a city of 180,000 people with a venue as glorious as the Empire doesn't see more of this -- the touring acts, the cultural moments, the kinds of shows our Eastern neighbours take for granted -- this is exactly what that looks like when it changes.

Queensland Fringe is going statewide for the very first time -- rolling through Charleville, Augathella and Roma before culminating in Toowoomba for its grand finale.

Show up. Fill the rooms. Seize this cultural moment. Cause, this is what getting Toowoomba on the touring circuit actually looks like, and doing so means an even bigger and more exciting Fringe in 2027.

You can find tickets for all of the below here.

2026 PROGRAM

JIM JEFFERIES | Thu 6 Aug | Empire Theatre
We'll start with the bad news: Jim Jefferies is sold out. We'll follow with the good news: it tells you everything you need to know about the calibre of what's coming to town. One of the world's sharpest stand-up comedians, the Australian-born LA-based comic brings his Son of a Carpenter tour to Toowoomba for what promises to be a night people will be talking about for a long time.

MOCKINGBIRD - LUKE KENNEDY & MARK SHOLTEZ | Thu 6 Aug | The Church, Empire Theatre
For something more intimate, Mockingbird pairs acclaimed vocalist Luke Kennedy with ARIA-nominated songwriter Mark Sholtez for a deeply personal live music experience in The Church. Tickets still available and absolutely worth your attention.

VANESSA AMOROSI | Fri 7 Aug | Empire Theatre
Absolutely Everybody's favourite. Twenty-five years in, over two million records sold worldwide, and Vanessa Amorosi is back on tour celebrating the songs that defined a generation. If you know, you know.

DAMI IM | Fri 7 Aug | Empire Theatre
ARIA Award-winner, X Factor champion, Eurovision star -- Dami Im brings a full band to Toowoomba for one night only. The kind of voice that can bring a room to complete silence before lifting the roof off it.

WES CARR | Fri 7 Aug | Empire Theatre
The festival ambassador himself. Platinum-selling Australian Idol winner Wes Carr returns from four years in Nashville with a sharpened sound and something to prove. He's been on the road for the full QLD Fringe journey and by the time he hits Toowoomba, he'll be ready.

SUE RAY - ALBUM LAUNCH | Fri 7 Aug | Empire Theatre
Three Queensland Music Awards. A new studio album. And a hometown show at the Empire. Sue Ray unveils her most fully realised work yet right here in Toowoomba, and that alone is worth the price of admission.

+ Many More