QPAC Announces Opening of New Glasshouse Theatre
Queensland’s newest major performing arts venue is officially ready to welcome audiences, with the Glasshouse Theatre set to open its doors to the public in March 2026. Queensland Arts Minister John-Paul Langbroek has confirmed the completion of the Glasshouse Theatre and its formal handover to Queensland Performing Arts Centre, ahead of a highly anticipated opening season of performances. To mark the milestone, the venue will host a free Community Day on Saturday 7 March 2026, offering Queenslanders their first opportunity to explore the state of the art theatre before its inaugural performances.
Running from 9am to 4.30pm, Community Day visitors will be invited to wander through Australia’s newest theatre, with a limited number of guided tours available alongside pop-up performances throughout the day. The Glasshouse Theatre’s two bars will also be open to the public.
QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy described the opening of the Glasshouse Theatre as a landmark moment for Queensland’s cultural sector.
The Glasshouse Theatre is a gift to the people of Queensland and our arts community,” Healy said. “This significant investment by the Queensland Government builds on QPAC’s 40-year legacy and gives us the capacity to attract world-class talent and Australian exclusives to the state.
She said the new 1,500-seat venue would strengthen QPAC’s position as one of Australia’s busiest cultural precincts as Brisbane moves towards hosting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Anticipation for the Glasshouse Theatre has been building for a long time, so it was important to open the doors first to the community,” Healy said. “While guided tours are expected to book out quickly, the theatre will be open all day for visitors to explore the light-filled foyers and enjoy pop-up performances.
Minister Langbroek said the Glasshouse Theatre stands as a striking new landmark and reflects the Crisafulli Government’s commitment to expanding access to high-quality performing arts.
The Community Day is a rare opportunity for Queenslanders to experience the theatre’s stunning glass foyers, stage and orchestra pit before the first performance takes place, he said. The completion of the Glasshouse Theatre delivers on the Queensland Government’s 10-year arts and cultural strategy, Queensland’s Time to Shine, and reinforces the state’s reputation as a leading cultural tourism destination.
Following Community Day, the Glasshouse Theatre’s opening season will feature a lineup of local, national and international productions. The season includes Queensland Ballet’s MESSA DA REQUIEM from 27 March to 4 April, the Australian exclusive season of THE LAST SHIP, composed by and starring Sting, from 9 April to 3 May, and the world premiere of THE DROVERS WIFE – THE OPERA from 13 to 22 May, directed by Leah Purcell with music by George Palmer.
The opening of the Glasshouse Theatre makes QPAC the largest performing arts centre under one roof in Australia, with the new venue expected to increase annual visitation by an additional 300,000 people, bringing total visitors to approximately 1.6 million each year.
Designed by Brisbane-based architects Blight Rayner in collaboration with Snøhetta, the Glasshouse Theatre features an already iconic curved glass façade inspired by the waves of the adjacent Brisbane River, as well as the flowing lines of theatre drapes and stage curtains.
Blight Rayner is a Brisbane based architecture, urban design and interior design practice known for thoughtful and context driven projects across Queensland and nationally. The firm was established in 2016 by architects Jayson Blight and Michael Rayner, both of whom brought experience leading major projects at a national practice before forming their own studio focused on a hands-on design approach and a cohesive, creative culture.
The practice works across scales from residential and commercial buildings to cultural and community facilities, urban design and public infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on enhancing the experience of place, sustainability and cultural inclusivity. Projects include Brisbane Place and Jubilee Place developments in Brisbane, the National Rugby Training Centre at Ballymore, and the Kangaroo Point Green Bridge, a significant pedestrian and cyclist connection that emphasises urban design and public realm integration.
Blight Rayner is also the principal local design partner, alongside international firm Snøhetta, for the Glasshouse Theatre at the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, a signature cultural project that responds to site, community and heritage context.
The firm’s ethos prioritises deep engagement with social and environmental context, integrating architecture with urban design and interior spaces to enrich how people live, work and gather.
The venue’s interior draws on Queensland’s natural landscape, incorporating locally sourced grey Ironbark timber, rainforest-inspired green auditorium carpeting, and gold foyer carpet and sand-coloured concrete referencing the state’s beaches. A four-metre-high bronze sculpture, Floriate by Brian Robinson, inspired by Queensland’s native flora and its connection to First Nations peoples, will stand prominently in the external entry plaza.
Informed by 40 years of operational experience and extensive consultation with artists and arts workers, the Glasshouse Theatre has been designed to enhance both artist and audience experience, while improving backstage efficiency, safety and acoustics across all performance types.
