What’s Happening?
THRIVE Festival will return to The Empire from September 24 to 27 during the spring school holidays.
Presented by The Empire and C&K Childcare and Kindergarten, the four-day festival will feature free and ticketed events. This year’s program will celebrate space through theatre, circus, dance, science, storytelling and creative activities.
The annual festival has become a popular school holiday event across the Toowoomba region. It gives families several ways to take part through live performances, workshops, games and hands-on projects.
Why It Matters
Now in its ninth consecutive year, THRIVE Festival continues to grow as a major event for local families. It also brings performers, schools, artists and community groups together across The Empire precinct.
The Empire CEO Giuliana Bonel said last year’s festival reached a new attendance record.
“Last year’s festival attracted record-breaking attendance of more than 5,000 people through the gates across four days, with multiple sold-out performances and our highest level of community involvement to date,” Ms Bonel said.
She said the 2026 program would offer more creative and theatrical experiences for children and families.
“We are so proud to see what THRIVE Festival has become for our city, and we are excited to welcome families back to our precinct for our biggest and best year yet,” she said.
Local Impact
The 2026 program includes several strong links to Toowoomba’s creative community.
Shake & Stir Theatre Co will present My Two Blankets, based on the children’s book by Toowoomba author Irena Kobald. First Five Forever will also present a reading of Scott Stuart’s Alone, accompanied by the Toowoomba Concert Orchestra.
For the first time, the reading will be performed inside the Empire Theatre.
Local art school Tinker will lead galaxy painting and craft projects during the festival. Hundreds of local school and early education students have also helped create the Thriving Galaxy Installation.
Supported by People First Bank, the installation will be displayed inside the Church Theatre. It will give local children the chance to see their creative work featured within the festival program.
By the Numbers
- THRIVE Festival will celebrate its ninth consecutive year when the 2026 event begins in September.
- More than 5,000 people attended the 2025 festival, setting a new record across four days.
- Activities will include programs for children aged six to 12, including magic workshops for those aged eight to 12.
Zoom In
Gold Coast-based ARC Circus will join the event as THRIVE Festival’s first resident artist group.
The company will present Into Space, an acrobatic production linked to this year’s space theme. ARC Circus will also stage Living Sculptures: How The Birds Got Their Colours, a First Nations contemporary dance and circus performance.
Children can join Out of this World Circus Workshops, which will introduce them to circus skills. ARC Circus performers will also provide roving entertainment across the festival lawn.
Ms Bonel said the wider program would combine performance, science and creative play.
“Our 2026 program features an interstellar acrobatic spectacular, an immersive planetarium experience that takes the audience into the cosmos, children’s circus and magic workshops, a stunning Indigenous contemporary work, and a vibrant lawn filled with hands-on creative activities and entertainment,” she said.
The Cosmodome Planetarium will add a full-dome cinematic experience to the program. Screenings will cover the Solar System, the effort to reach Mars and the Apollo Moon missions.
The School of Magic workshops will also return for children aged eight to 12. Participants will learn skills and tricks from some of Australia’s leading illusionists.
The Hunt for The Empire will combine a children’s tour with an interactive challenge for those aged six to 12. Scientists Jonti Horner and Rebecca McElroy will also take part in a special Space Talk.
Zoom Out
THRIVE Festival will extend beyond its main performances, with free activities running across The Empire precinct.
Families can enjoy lawn games, face painting, fairy bread and rainbow fruit stations. Galaxy painting, craft projects and other creative activities will also be available throughout the event.
Food, coffee and the Friends of The Empire canteen will operate on site during the festival.
The event is supported by Toowoomba Regional Council and the Regional Arts Development Fund. Other supporters include Friends of The Empire, People First Bank, Clifford Gardens, Toowoomba Orthodontists, Stirling and Truffles.
First 5 Forever also supports the festival. The Queensland Government initiative is coordinated by the State Library of Queensland and delivered with local government.
What To Look For Next?
Families can now review the full program and choose between performances, workshops, planetarium screenings and free activities.
Bookings are essential for all ticketed THRIVE Festival events. Some sessions may fill quickly after several performances sold out during the 2025 festival.
Tickets, waitlists and further information are available through the THRIVE Festival website.
