Lighting the pathway to welcome

Each year, as dusk settles over South Bank, thousands of lanterns begin to glow along the river.

Families newly arrived in Australia walk beside long-standing Queenslanders. Community groups, artists, volunteers and corporate teams gather with lanterns they have built together in the weeks leading up to the event.

What once began as a quiet procession has become something much larger. Music fills the parklands, banners rise above the crowd, and the riverbank becomes a gathering place for communities from across Queensland.

This is LUMINOUS.

Since 2007, LUMINOUS has grown from a small lantern walk organised to welcome newly arrived families into one of Queensland’s most recognised multicultural celebrations.

Led by Multicultural Australia, the event now brings thousands of people together to share culture, stories and community pride, marking the beginning of Queensland Multicultural Month.

The LUMINOUS Lantern Parade

At the centre of the celebration is the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade.

Each year, thousands of people gather at South Bank to walk together through the parklands carrying lanterns that reflect their culture, their stories and their hopes for the future.

Community organisations, sporting clubs and schools march proudly with their banners. Cultural performers fill the evening with music and dance. Families gather along the riverbank to watch the lanterns move through the crowd in a slow procession of colour and light.

More than 13,000 people attend the South Bank celebration each year, making LUMINOUS one of the state’s largest multicultural community events.

For many newly arrived families, participating in LUMINOUS is their first opportunity to celebrate their culture publicly and share it with the wider community. For long-standing Queenslanders, the event provides a chance to experience the diversity that continues to shape the state.

LUMINOUS Impact

With the support of partners, volunteers and community organisations, LUMINOUS continue to grow each year.

In 2025, the event achieved several key milesones:

people attended

0 +

People attended the
Southbank celebrations

community groups participated in the Lantern Parade

0 +

volunteers supported
event delivery

0 +

participants including newly arrived Queenslanders, walked in the parade carrying lanterns and community banners

0 +

sponsors, sporting clubs, schools and community organisations took part

These outcomes reflect the strong community engagement that has developed around the event and the growing recognition of LUMINOUS
as a flagship celebration of multicultural Queensland.

LUMINOUS across Queensland

In 2026, LUMINOUS will continue to expand beyond Brisbane, bringing the celebration to communities across the state.

The flagship event will return to South Bank on Friday 31 July 2026, kicking off Queensland Multicultural Month with the LUMINOUS Lantern Parade and a vibrant program of cultural performances.

Alongside the Brisbane celebration, regional communities will host their own LUMINOUS events in partnership with local organisations and communities.

These events may include lantern-making workshops, storytelling gatherings, youth activities and cultural performances.

Each celebration reflects the identity and traditions of the local community while connecting to the broader LUMINOUS program across Queensland.

Through this growing program, LUMINOUS is creating new opportunities for communities across Queensland to gather, celebrate culture and share stories while strengthening connections between communities.

31 July – Brisbane

22 August – Rockhampton

23 August – Gold Coast

29 August – Toowoomba

What it means to be part of LUMINOUS

Participating in LUMINOUS offers a unique opportunity to experience the diversity of Queensland communities in a shared public celebration.

Participants walk alongside thousands of others through South Bank carrying lanterns that represent their culture, their stories and their community connections. Cultural performances and community activities throughout the evening create opportunities for audiences to learn about the traditions, experiences and contributions of people from many different backgrounds.

For many organisations, clubs and community groups, LUMINOUS has become an important annual event that brings together staff, volunteers and community members in a visible celebration of inclusion and cultural pride.

Get ready to light up Brisbane!

Watch & celebrate with us on the night

Join us ahead of Multicultural Queensland Month with a night full of colour, culture, music and community spirit. ✨🌏

Bring your friends, family or community group and be part of one of Queensland’s biggest multicultural celebrations as we welcome new Queenslanders.

Friday 31 July 2026
From 5:30pm (parade starts 6pm)
South Bank Parklands, Brisbane

Want to be move invovled?

Want to walk in the parade?

Schools, organisations, community groups and cultural performers are all invited to join us! Register via the link below — it only takes a few minutes.

Let’s light up Brisbane together! 💛🎉

Register to walk in the parade here

Partner with us

LUMINOUS offers organisations the opportunity to support one of Queensland’s most visible celebrations of multicultural community life, made possible each year through the support of partners.

By supporting LUMINOUS, organisations demonstrate leadership in inclusion while engaging with communities across the state and supporting programs that foster connection and participation.

Partnership with LUMINOUS enables organisations to:

– Support multicultural participation across Queensland

– Build meaningful connections with diverse cultural communities

– Demonstrate a commitment to inclusion and social cohesion

– Align with a widely recognised community celebration

– Support programs that empower migrant and refugee communities

– Contribute to the delivery of LUMINOUS through direct support of performers and community initiatives

Download our Prospectus (link) or contact us on partnerships@mcaus.org.au

Volunteer with us

Our volunteers play a vital role in creating a safe, inclusive, and memorable experience for everyone. We truly appreciate your willingness to contribute your time and energy to this special event.

Register to volunteer