Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens will transform into a glowing night-time trail of flickering fire, light sculptures and gentle soundscapes when Afterglow premieres this September as part of Brisbane Festival.
A New Way to Experience the Gardens
Afterglow is a self-guided night-time trail through Brisbane’s City Botanic Gardens, featuring fire sculptures, candlelight and immersive lighting displays. Designed for a slower pace, the 1.4-kilometre experience lets visitors move at their own rhythm.
The event runs nightly from 5 to 27 September 2025, with sessions every 15 minutes from 5:45 p.m. until late. Tickets went on sale Wednesday, 11 June and are available through the Brisbane Festival website and afterglowau.com. The trail is suitable for all ages and is fully accessible for wheelchairs and prams.
Focus on Art, Fire and Reflection
Event organisers say Afterglow blends creativity with natural elements, focusing on the emotional connection people have to fire across different cultures. While it features stunning fire displays and ambient music, the tone of the event is calm rather than high-energy.
Brisbane Festival’s artistic director Louise Bezzina said the trail encourages a quiet, mindful experience that respects the power of fire. Sony Music Entertainment, who helped produce Afterglow, called it a unique event that combines artistry, creativity and the outdoors in a way Brisbane hasn’t seen before.
Community and Safety at the Core
Local and international fire artists have shaped the Afterglow trail, designing each installation to blend with the natural beauty of the City Botanic Gardens. The event was planned with input from fire and wildlife experts to ensure it’s safe and environmentally responsible.
Brisbane Festival is also running an Afterglow Experience Giveaway to help more people take part. Four winners will each get two Anytime Passes and a $200 dining voucher to Naldham House.
Entry is open via the festival’s website to Australian residents aged 18 and over. The event is produced by Sony Music’s live entertainment arm and UK-based Culture Creative, known for similar trails worldwide.
Tickets, Passes and Festival Connection
Tickets are now available via the Brisbane Festival website and afterglowau.com, with prices ranging from $20 to $32 for standard entry and flexible passes between $38 and $65. Families can also take advantage of special bundles.
The experience is one of several key features of the 2025 Brisbane Festival program, which runs citywide across September.
The festival is supported by Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government, but the focus remains firmly on community access to the arts. Afterglow’s format makes it suitable for everyone, from couples on a night out to families looking for something special after sunset.
Published 25-June-2025
