Experience Olivia Dean live on 13 October 2026 at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane. Her The Art of Loving Live concert brings soulful pop and songs from her latest album, with Kaiit as support. The organiser currently lists the show as sold out, so check the latest event details as you plan to buy tickets
Olivia Dean in Brisbane: The Art of Loving Live comes to Brisbane Entertainment Centre
British singer-songwriter Olivia Dean will perform on Tuesday, 13 October 2026, at Brisbane Entertainment Centre in the Australian city of Brisbane. The concert, part of "The Art of Loving Live 2026" tour, is scheduled to begin at 19:30 local time. This is the only Brisbane performance on this leg of the tour, following concerts in Melbourne and Sydney and preceding the final Australian and New Zealand tour stop in Auckland.
Olivia Dean brings together soul, pop, R&B and jazz in a live performance built around powerful vocals, live instrumentation and songs exploring different forms of love. Following the success of the singles "Man I Need", "Nice to Each Other" and "So Easy (To Fall in Love)", the Brisbane concert offers an opportunity to hear songs from the album "The Art of Loving" in arrangements designed for a large arena.
Promoter Handsome Tours currently lists the concert as sold out. Ticket availability and validity should therefore be checked before making travel plans, without assuming that additional seats are available.
From the album Messy to a new chapter with The Art of Loving
Before her current tour, Olivia Dean established a distinctive style through songs that always place her voice at the centre. Her debut studio album, "Messy", released in 2023, offered an intimate, often humorous perspective on relationships, growing up and everyday emotional dilemmas. The album was shortlisted for the Mercury Prize, while songs including "Dive", "The Hardest Part", "Carmen" and the title track "Messy" became important parts of her live identity. These songs move between gentle rhythms, subtle brass or piano details and lyrics that sound like a direct conversation.
Her second album, "The Art of Loving", released on 26 September 2025, expands on those themes. "Nice to Each Other" emphasises tenderness and mutual respect, "Man I Need" leans more strongly into a danceable rhythm and an open, expressive chorus, while "So Easy (To Fall in Love)" brings brightness and rhythmic ease. "Lady Lady" and "A Couple Minutes" reveal the album's quieter side; "Let Alone the One You Love" questions the boundaries people establish in relationships, while "Loud" explores the need to express one's feelings more clearly.
Dean won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2026, confirming an international breakthrough that began long before any single song went viral. Her popularity rests not only on memorable choruses but also on her ability to combine retro soul, contemporary pop production and lyrics that avoid simplistic divisions between happy and unhappy love stories within the same song.
What previous Australian performances reveal
The Australian leg of the tour began in Melbourne, where Olivia Dean performed at Rod Laver Arena in early October. A review in The Guardian describes a performance backed by a nine-piece band with a brass section, highlighting the contrast between the large concert venue and the sense of musical intimacy. The production incorporated a curtain as part of the stage design, lighting and disco balls, but the interpretation of the songs remained the central focus.
Songs performed at the Melbourne concerts included "Nice to Each Other", "Lady Lady", "So Easy (To Fall in Love)", "Let Alone the One You Love", "Messy", "Carmen", "A Couple Minutes", "The Hardest Part", "Dive" and "Man I Need". A cover of Curtis Mayfield's "Move On Up" also appeared in the repertoire.
These are details from previous performances, not a confirmed setlist for Brisbane: the running order, song selection and arrangements may change. Visitors can therefore get an idea of the tour's musical direction, but should not assume that every song listed will be performed.
For longtime fans, the inclusion of material from "Messy" is particularly important, while those who discovered Dean through her more recent singles gain a broader perspective on her musical development. If you are still looking for Brisbane tickets, it is worth monitoring any changes in availability, although the promoter's current sold-out status should be treated as the starting point.
Kaiit sets the tone for the concert evening
Kaiit's performance has been confirmed for all Australian and New Zealand dates of the tour, including Brisbane. Born in Papua New Guinea, the singer blends neo-soul, hip-hop and jazz with expressive vocals and songs that bring personal storytelling together with a rhythmic, relaxed sound. This musical choice prepares the audience for Dean's combination of soul and contemporary pop while also offering an engaging live experience in its own right.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre lists 19:30 as the event's starting time, with a notice that the schedule may change. More detailed arrival and scheduling information should be sent to the ticket purchaser approximately one day before the performance. Visitors who want to hear the support act should follow these details rather than relying on the timetable of an earlier concert.
Why Brisbane is an important tour stop
The Brisbane performance falls between two concerts in Sydney and the tour's final stop in Auckland, making it the only announced date in the state of Queensland on this leg of the tour. Australian audiences previously had an opportunity to hear Olivia Dean at Laneway Festival in 2025, but her current return represents a different stage of her career: she is now headlining arena shows with an album that has significantly expanded her international audience.
The venue is located in the northern suburb of Boondall rather than central Brisbane. Travellers planning to visit the city's museums or restaurants should allow separate time to reach the concert. This is particularly important for those arriving from other Australian cities or overseas, as traffic, security checks and the return journey after the performance all need to be considered.
Brisbane Entertainment Centre: a large arena with music at the forefront
Brisbane Entertainment Centre opened in 1986 and has been one of Queensland's major concert venues for decades. According to Stadiums Queensland, the arena's maximum capacity reaches 14,500 visitors, depending on the configuration. This is not a confirmed seating capacity for Olivia Dean's concert: the arrangement of the stage, floor and tiered seating changes from event to event.
In an arena of this size, the experience depends on where visitors are positioned. The floor offers a more immediate feeling of participation in the rhythm and communal singing, while seats in the stands provide a view of the entire stage and lighting design. The acoustic experience can vary depending on location and sound reinforcement, so it would be misleading to claim in advance that every section will sound the same.
Dean's songs are well suited to such a space: the rhythm section drives the faster tracks, while vocals, piano and more subtle instruments remain essential during ballads. Previous Australian performances show that the production draws on elements of classic soul and retro aesthetics rather than relying exclusively on large-scale stage effects.
How to reach the venue and plan your return journey
The address of Brisbane Entertainment Centre is 1 Melaleuca Drive, Boondall, Queensland. The venue is located approximately 16 kilometres north of Brisbane's central business district. It can be reached by car, train or taxi, but the journey home after the performance should be planned in advance. Large numbers of visitors may leave the car parks and access roads simultaneously, and trains may not run as frequently as they do during the day.
- Train: the nearest station is Boondall on the Shorncliffe line, approximately 600 metres on foot from the venue. Check the latest timetable and final return services before travelling.
- Car: access is available via Gateway Motorway and Bicentennial Road. Parking is located next to the venue, with a published charge of 18 Australian dollars per vehicle, payable by card and subject to change.
- Taxi and app-based transport: the complex has designated drop-off and pick-up locations; a section of Car Park 5 is allocated for vehicles booked through ride-hailing apps.
- Accessibility: parking spaces and accessible routes are provided for people with reduced mobility. Specific requirements should preferably be communicated to the venue before the concert.
Translink has announced changes and reductions to some rail services during October, so visitors should not rely on a previously saved timetable when travelling to the concert. If you choose a taxi or drive, allow for possible delays when leaving the complex.
Entry, bags and useful details before the concert
A valid ticket is required for entry, and the event is open to audiences of all ages. For visitors aged 15 or younger in the standing floor area, adult supervision is recommended; the venue's general conditions also include rules concerning minors. The promoter advises that event information will be sent to the ticket purchaser approximately 24 hours before the concert, making it worth checking emails and schedule updates. Door-opening time is not the same as the start of the programme and should not be assumed based on other events.
The venue applies bag-size restrictions for most events; as a general rule, bags larger than a sheet of A4 paper are not accepted. Security screening may slow entry, so bringing a smaller bag containing only essential items is more practical. Professional cameras with interchangeable lenses, tripods and certain recording equipment are among the items prohibited without special permission. Visitors with medical equipment or accessibility requirements are advised to contact venue staff in advance.
Food and drinks are available within the venue, and details of the available facilities can be checked before arrival. Visitors also have access to a cloakroom service for bag storage, although avoiding unnecessary luggage is the better option for passing through security more quickly. If you have a standing-area ticket, check the entry conditions and any instructions concerning identification of your section. For seated tickets, the section indicated on the ticket determines where you should sit, while separate conditions apply to special packages offering early entry.
A day in Brisbane before the performance
Brisbane stretches along the Brisbane River, and visitors planning to spend the whole day in the city can walk through South Bank Parklands before the concert. The area features a riverside promenade, green spaces, restaurants and a cultural precinct with museums and galleries. Another option is City Botanic Gardens in the city centre, ideal for a quieter break before the evening programme. These attractions are some distance from the concert venue, making it impractical to combine sightseeing with a last-minute arrival in Boondall.
For visitors travelling specifically for the concert, it is important to allow sufficient time to reach Boondall and pass through security. Before setting out, check your ticket and the venue's latest information, particularly any changes to the schedule.
Sources:
- Brisbane Entertainment Centre - date, event starting time, age restrictions, tickets and visitor information: https://www.brisent.com.au/olivia-dean/
- Handsome Tours - Australian and New Zealand tour dates, sold-out status and Kaiit: https://www.handsometours.com/tours/olivia-dean-2026/
- Universal Music Canada - "The Art of Loving" album, release date and songs: https://www.universalmusic.ca/2025/09/26/olivia-dean-releases-her-brand-new-album-the-art-of-loving/
- Grammy Awards - 2026 Best New Artist award: https://www.grammy.com/awards/categories/best-new-artist/
- The Guardian - review of Olivia Dean's Melbourne performance and concert production: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2026/oct/06/olivia-dean-review-a-powerful-affirming-and-fun-singer-at-the-height-of-her-powers
- Setlist.fm - documented repertoire from the Melbourne performance: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/olivia-dean/2026/rod-laver-arena-melbourne-australia-33406435.html
- Stadiums Queensland - history and maximum arena capacity: https://stadiums.qld.gov.au/about/news-and-media/news/-happy-40th-birthday-brisbane-entertainment-centre-
- Brisbane Entertainment Centre - directions, parking and conditions of entry: https://www.brisent.com.au/getting-here/ and https://www.brisent.com.au/conditions-of-entry/
- Translink - changes to train services during October: https://translink.com.au/updates/1048276
- Visit Brisbane - attractions in the South Bank district: https://visit.brisbane.qld.au/en/places-to-go/inner-city/south-bank