Brisbane Winter Markets 2024: Updated Fares, Entry Rules, Key Venues Explained

Brisbane City Council opened the 2026 Winter Markets at South Bank on 1 July with stallholder fees set at $180 per weekend pitch and general entry free for visitors under 12.

The timing coincides with school holidays and cooler evenings that typically draw larger crowds to outdoor events along the river. Families now weigh public transport costs against parking charges that start at $4.50 per hour in the nearby Cultural Centre car park.

Two main sites anchor the markets. The first sits inside the South Bank Parklands between the Queensland Performing Arts Centre and the Wheel of Brisbane. The second operates along Brunswick Street in Fortitude Valley, where the council has added extra lighting and security after 6pm. Both locations connect directly to the CityCat ferry network.

Transport fares and entry charges

TransLink raised single adult ferry fares to $5.50 on 1 July, up from $4.90 last winter. A family of four travelling from Bulimba to South Bank now pays $22 return. Market vendors report that 35 percent of their weekend customers arrive by ferry or bus rather than car, according to a council survey conducted between 3 and 5 July.

Stall prices for food range from $8 for a hot chocolate to $18 for a pulled-pork roll. The Valley site charges an optional $6 wristband for after-hours access to a licensed area that closes at 10pm.

Preparation steps before heading out

Visitors should check the TransLink app for real-time ferry cancellations, which have occurred twice this week due to low tide at the Eagle Street pier. Bring a reusable cup to avoid the 50-cent surcharge on single-use items now enforced at both markets. The council website lists a lost-child meeting point beside the South Bank lagoon for families with young children.

Market hours run from 10am to 8pm on Saturdays and Sundays through 26 July. Early arrival before 11am avoids the main rush and secures easier parking at the paid lots on Grey Street. Those planning to stay after dark should carry a light jacket, as temperatures at the riverfront drop to 11 degrees Celsius on average this month.