The wild & wonderful creatures of The Jim Henson Company are coming to Brisbane

Wed 3 Jun 2026

Dance your cares away, enter a world of make-believe and magic, and explore the most comprehensive collection of creations by The Jim Henson Company ever assembled.

With surprises around every corner, the exhibition will celebrate the 70-year legacy of The Jim Henson Company’s characters and worlds, brought to life by innovative puppetry that transports us from the everyday to a place far more extraordinary.

Be among the first 1000 people to purchase tickets online and go into the draw to win a $1000 prize pack. T&Cs apply.

Tickets are now on sale for ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ exclusively at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Brisbane from 12 September 2026 – 18 April 2027.

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company

The genius of The Jim Henson Company transcends age, culture and geography, and ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ will captivate audiences with moment after moment that taps into the enduring affection that its creations have earned with generations of audiences.

You will see truly famous friends built by the Company, like Sesame Street’s Big Bird and Mr Snuffelupagus, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster and Elmo; then wander down to the Company production Fraggle Rock with Gobo, Red, Mokey, Wembley and Boober; before entering the fantasy realms of the Goblin King (Labyrinth), Dominar Rygel XVI (Farscape), and the Gelfling and Skeksis (The Dark Crystal).

Production still from Farscape 1999–2003

Production still from The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance 2019

And these are only a few of the highlights. Across three awe-inspiring chapters spanning the entire ground floor of GOMA, ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ takes you on a journey through pivotal moments that have defined The Jim Henson Company’s evolution as it transformed the art of puppetry.

World-first highlights include the opportunity to walk among the unforgettable sets from Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, including Doc’s House, the cavernous Great Hall and Boober’s Cave, to experience firsthand the perspective of a professional puppeteer. Fans of The Dark Crystal will be enthralled by the oracle Aughra and the gentle beauty of a giant Landstrider puppet.

Explore the core elements of the Company’s practice, from their origins introducing early versions of familiar characters in commercial pitches, to landmark work in children’s television. The exhibition then follows their evolution into film and world creation, as well as the work of the Creature Shop, including animatronics and daring new digital innovations.

Go behind-the-scenes of an actual set used for a Henson puppet production. The world-first opportunity to present these spectacular Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock sets, direct from their Canada soundstages, will give visitors an unrivalled understanding of the craft of puppetry.

Australian Cinémathèque at GOMA

‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ will also feature an exclusive cinema program of over 90 films showcasing productions created by The Jim Henson Company, as well as projects that feature the work of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop. Program details to be announced soon.

Screened to be Believed: The Jim Henson Company
For more than 70 years, The Jim Henson Company has delivered compelling stories and engaging world building that has captivated audiences for generations. By combining traditional puppetry arts with animatronics and real-time digital animation, the Company continues to be an unparallelled leader in the fields of practical and special effects-based performance for stage and screen.

Where the Wild Things Are Made: Jim Henson’s Creature Shop
Highlighting the diverse portfolio of expressive characters and creatures made by the company for external productions, the selected films showcase the work of Jim Henson’s Creature Shop and how it continues to shape the landscape of cinematic storytelling.

Beyond Henson: Puppetry and World Cinema
Inspired by the work of The Jim Henson Company and Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the film program surveys the rich international history of storytelling through the artforms of cinema and puppetry.

Production still from Labyrinth 1986

Only in Brisbane. Only at GOMA.

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company
Sat 12 September 2026 – Sun 18 April 2027
Daily: 10.00am – 5.00pm
Buy tickets in advance to guarantee entry. Tickets are also available at the exhibition entry unless sold out. Last session 4.00pm daily. Exhibition closes at 5.00pm.
Closed: Christmas and Boxing Day, Good Friday

Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA)
Gallery 1.1 (The Fairfax Gallery), Gallery 1.2, Gallery 1.3 (Eric and Marion Taylor Gallery) & River Room (Sue and Brian King River Room)
Brisbane, Australia

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The exhibition is organised by QAGOMA in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company and supported by the Queensland Government through Strategic Partner Tourism and Events Queensland.

QAGOMA is excited to be celebrating the opening of ‘Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company’ in association with Brisbane Festival in September.