Top 5 things to see & do in March & beyond

Wed 25 Feb 2026

QAGOMA is one of Australia’s most visited, ambitious and dynamic art galleries. Together the Queensland Art Gallery (QAG) and Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA) are home to ever-changing exhibitions, immersive cultural experiences and a rich collection of art from diverse cultures across Australia and around the world.

If you're planning a trip in March or beyond and not sure what's on at either building, here are some of our exhibitions, events and cinema screenings. Whether you’re a local or visiting Brisbane, whether you have a spare 30 minutes or a leisurely 3 hours to wander both sites, here are our suggestions to make the most of your visit.

1. Experience Olafur Eliasson before the doors open to the public

Are you an early morning riser? If so, start the day calm and undisturbed to experience ‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence’ from 9.00am before doors open to the public at 10.00am. Enjoy a 1-hour guided tour, then a delightful morning tea at the GOMA Bistro nestled beside the river to watch the citycats pass by. Afterwards, you'll be able to explore the exhibition again that same day, at your own pace. Choose your Thursday: 5, 12, 19 or 26 March, or if that doesn't suit, check out the options until July.

If you like to sleep in, why not treat yourself to 50% off ‘Olafur Eliasson: Presence’ tickets the first Tuesday of every month until June. Once you select a date, discount automatically applies.

Gallery of Modern Art
'Olafur Eliasson: Presence'
Buy Tickets for 'Morning Art Riser'
Buy 50% off tickets

2. A kaleidoscope of butterflies swarm the International Art Collection

Make sure you see Carlos Amorales’s wondrous installation Black Cloud 2007/2018, a gathering of paper butterflies and moths in sculptural formations descending on the gallery walls, ceiling, and light fittings of the permanent collection. While you're visiting, view our newly opened focus displays: ‘Sorcerers from Bohemia' evokes the free-spirited world of the travelling circus performers, the subject of Pablo Picasso’s first major body of work in printmaking; while ‘Towards a Collapsing World’ features works on paper by leading figures of German Expressionism in the early decades of the twentieth century.

Queensland Art Gallery
International Art Collection
Free entry

3. For one night only: Live music performance & film

If you’re keen for a sensorially immersive event, filmmaker Makino Takashi — widely considered to be one of the most influential Japanese moving-image artists of his generation — will combine his 16mm digital film projections with his sonic compositions to craft a cosmic cinematic experience in three parts. How often do you get the chance to wear 3D glasses? Certainly not to be missed!

Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art
6.30 – 7.45 pm, Thursday 12 March 2026
Buy Tickets

4. For all the cinefiles

For our ‘Curators Pick’ in March, we present The Spook Who Sat by the Door 1973 — one of American cinema's most electrifying achievements. The screening also features an introduction by the curator who selected the film, reminding us of what we love about cinema as an art form.

Australian Cinémathèque, Gallery of Modern Art
6.30 pm, Wednesday 25 March 2026
Free entry

5. Artwork of the month

Go back in time with Queensland’s commanding 'Glengallan' sideboard — some two metres high and almost two and a half metres wide — one of the states most significant examples of heritage furniture. Commissioned and completed in 1868 for the drawing room of the Glengallan Homestead near Warwick, when wealthy colonial pastoralists desired one-of-a-kind luxury European-style furniture. Delve into the sideboard's story before you visit. Like a window into the past, discover more of Brisbane’s forgotten history and unique stories through our historical Australian Collection.

Queensland Art Gallery
Australian Art Collection
Free entry

Located riverside across two architecturally-acclaimed buildings in the Queensland Cultural Centre, QAGOMA is a short walk from Brisbane's CBD, adjacent to South Bank, and welcomes visitors of all ages, interests and abilities.

Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA)
Brisbane, Australia