Brisbane Open House Program 2026 Launch

Representing the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Councillor Penny Wolff; Brisbane Open House Co-Chairs, Mr Malcolm Middleton OAM and Mr John Ellway, and Executive Director, Ms Ann Rainbow; Chair, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Mr Ian Walker, Chief Executive, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Ms Rachel Healy; Chief Executive Officer & Artistic Director, Opera Queensland, Mr Patrick Nolan; Queensland Government Architect, Ms Leah Lang; distinguished guests; ladies and gentlemen.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbal and Jagera peoples, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging, and to all First Nations people here today.

Good morning, everyone, and thank you for such a warm welcome. I’m delighted to join you here to launch the Brisbane Open House Program 2026.

It’s particularly pleasing to meet in the beautiful surroundings of the new Glasshouse Theatre, which I was privileged to attend the opening of just a few months ago. The design of this new space, with its rippling glass facade, drew its inspiration from the Brisbane River—a gathering place for First Nations people for thousands of years and a place of community and storytelling.

As we look forward to the many events at the Brisbane Open House weekend, stories still lie firmly at the heart of our community. Next month, as doors are unlocked across our city, as gracious hosts open their homes and buildings to public view, visitors will have the opportunity not just to see the buildings, but to understand the reasons behind their existence.

They will learn how historic places have been preserved or repurposed; how new buildings have been designed to cope with modern challenges, such as our intense weather, or our need for more sustainable places in which to live and work.  

The ongoing success of Brisbane Open House is a source of great pride for us all. QPAC has been part of the Open House program from the event’s modest beginnings in 2010. Back then, there were just sixteen buildings on show.

Next month, over 90 buildings will open their doors, alongside a complementary program of special events, talks, and walks. I’m proud to say that Government House will continue its long association with the event, and we look forward to welcoming visitors to Fernberg on that special weekend in July.

Last year, the weekend attracted over 42,000 visitors, keen to understand more about the built environment that has formed around this ancient landscape. In reading some of the visitor comments from past events, powerful themes emerge: a strong sense of connection, pride in what has been achieved.

As Patron of Brisbane Open House, I congratulate the entire team on the outstanding program they have developed this year. It’s an enormous task. I thank the generous supporters and donors, ambassadors, and architects. I particularly acknowledge the building owners and managers across Brisbane, many of whom are here this morning.

Your goodwill makes Brisbane Open House possible. I sincerely thank, also, the hundreds of volunteers who bring the stories of Brisbane’s built environment to the wider community, who teach us all to “look up”—to appreciate the diverse and unique architecture that surrounds us.

It now gives me great pleasure, as Governor, to officially launch Brisbane Open House 2026.