Lord Mayor Outlines Economic Strategy as Major International Event Season Launches

Lord Mayor Leads Ceremonial Procession for Historic Military Event

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is scheduled to lead an official ceremonial procession through the city today, marking the start of a high-stakes weekend for Brisbane’s tourism and cultural sectors. The “Caxton Street into the Royal Mile” march, beginning at 5:15 p.m., serves as the formal government welcome for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. This historic 75th-anniversary production is being held exclusively in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium from February 12 to 15, 2026.

In a press briefing held earlier today, city officials highlighted the significant economic weight of the event. The four-night performance series is expected to inject an estimated $39 million into the local economy, drawing more than 38,000 visitors from interstate and overseas. The Lord Mayor emphasized that hosting the world-renowned Tattoo exclusively in Brisbane reinforces the city’s position as a global lifestyle and events capital as preparations continue for the 2032 Olympic Games.

BrisAsia Festival Kicks Off with Official Launch

Coinciding with the international military showcase, the Brisbane City Council is officially launching the 2026 BrisAsia Festival today. The 10-day celebration begins this evening with the “Southside By Night” event, a council-supported showcase of street culture, local hip-hop artists, and international cuisine. This year’s festival, celebrating the Year of the Horse, is a cornerstone of the city’s cultural agenda, focusing on connecting diverse communities through a series of creative workshops and exhibitions across the greater Brisbane area.

Infrastructure and Transportation Updates

While the City Council does not have a formal voting session scheduled for today, the Lord Mayor’s office utilized the morning session to provide updates on the city’s transport infrastructure. Reports confirm that the Brisbane Metro has now completed its first full year of service, surpassing 6 million individual journeys. The Mayor noted that the ongoing success of the Metro is critical to managing the current population influx of over 600 new residents per week.

Residents and commuters should be aware of scheduled infrastructure maintenance beginning late this evening. Translink has issued an alert for a weekend track closure on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast lines starting at 11:00 p.m. tonight to facilitate essential network upgrades. Commuters are advised to utilize timetabled railbuses as the city prepares for heavy traffic flow surrounding Suncorp Stadium over the weekend.