Sono Lumo is returning to Brisbane CBD as a free ten-day light and sound festival transforming Queen’s Wharf into an immersive Christmas experience.
Background of the Brisbane CBD Event
Sono Lumo will return to Queen’s Wharf for a ten-day season from 10–14 December and 17–21 December 2025. The festival was previously staged at the same riverfront location and will once again operate as a free public event with food and beverages available for purchase.
The program will cover several precinct spaces, including Queen’s Wharf Plaza and The Landing along the riverfront.
Steampunk Theme and Main Features in Brisbane CBD
The 2025 edition features a steampunk-inspired setting centred on a mechanical timepiece driving the event’s Christmas story. The theme draws from Victorian-era invention blended with futuristic design across the precinct’s lighting and soundscape.
Three main eight-minute shows will take place each night at 7:15 p.m., 8:15 p.m. and 9:15 p.m. The Star Brisbane facade will carry projections, fireworks, snow effects and animated visuals. Brisbane musician Tom Thum created the original soundtrack for the shows and will perform live on opening night on 10 December.
DJs will remix classic carols into electro-swing sets at 6 p.m., 7:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Visitors will be able to walk through installations across George Street Steps, Queen’s Wharf Plaza and The Landing, with lighting, laser effects and projected scenes.
Feature Zones and Visitor Experience
The Festive Foundry in the DPI courtyard will be marked by a large airship balloon positioned above a feature bar serving themed cocktails. Spirit Works Square will include food trucks, light projections and ongoing activity throughout the night.
The Commissariat building will display animated scenes with mechanical airships, toys and cog-driven reindeers. Another zone, known as The Underpass, will include shifting beams of colour and lighting effects set to remixed festive tracks.
Event Operations and Accessibility
Sono Lumo will operate from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. each evening, with lighting displays most visible after dark. Public toilets, temporary seating and signage will be available across the site. Hydration stations and water bubblers will be set up throughout the precinct, and the event will run as a cashless venue.
The Star Brisbane and Queen’s Wharf Brisbane are wheelchair accessible, offering lifts and accessible movement routes. No road closures are planned, although traffic control will be in place on the cycle path to allow pedestrian access to The Landing. Any changes due to severe weather will be announced through The Star Brisbane website.
Community Interest
Comments on social media show local enthusiasm for the festival’s return, with visitors planning to attend during hotel stays, night-time walks and other seasonal outings.
Outlook
Sono Lumo will again present a large-scale festive program in Brisbane CBD, offering lighting displays, themed zones and nightly entertainment across Queen’s Wharf over ten December nights.
Published 24-Nov-2025
