Shoppers and supporters turned out in force as Brisbane honoured community legends at the 65th Queens Ball, a night of performance, tribute and awards that remembered founder Dame Sybil Thorndyke and spotlighted local LGBTQIA+ heroes and venues. Here's what happened, who won and why it mattered.

Essential Takeaways

  • Large turnout: Around 600 guests packed Brisbane City Hall for an emotional, energetic awards night.
  • Founder honoured: The Ball carried added weight after the passing of Dame Sybil Thorndyke, with multiple tributes and a filmed memorial.
  • Standout winners: Miss Synthetique took the Lifetime Achievement Award; Come To Daddy was named Venue of the Year; DJ Merlin won DJ of the Year posthumously.
  • Performances: Drag showcases and musical tributes , including a rendition of I Will Always Love You , anchored the evening’s tone.
  • Community range: Awards spanned activism, First Nations leadership, youth achievement, social groups and sporting clubs.

A night coloured by memory and joy

The evening opened with a hush and a warmth that felt almost tactile, as veteran community figures paid tribute to the Ball’s founding spirit. According to Brisbane Pride, organisers framed the 65th edition as the first held after the passing of Dame Sybil Thorndyke, and that context shifted the mood from party to remembrance without dimming the fun. Performers and speakers repeatedly returned to the idea that this tradition keeps providing a place to celebrate and belong.

Those opening moments mattered because they set the tone. Betty Nature and Toye de Wilde delivered a heartfelt memorial, and an emotional video tribute was followed by a powerful vocal performance that landed with quiet applause. If you’ve ever been to a community awards night, you know how memory and music can make a room feel both large and intimate at once.

Performances that balanced tribute with spectacle

The show mixed theatrical drag runway numbers and intimate musical moments, delivering a varied, showy programme. Headline performers for the runway included Gina Vanderpump, Katya Lou-King and Magenta, bringing high-glamour choreography and a clear nod to the Ball’s legacy. According to coverage of the event line-up, organisers leaned into both veteran stars and rising talent to reflect the community’s generational mix.

This blend mattered on a practical level: younger attendees saw contemporary acts, older guests recognised familiar faces, and everyone left having seen something unexpected. If you value variety, this edition delivered , from breathy ballads to glittering drag theatrics.

Awards that reflect community breadth

The winners list reads like a map of Brisbane’s queer life. Small groups and big institutions both received recognition: Open Doors Youth Service scored for community support, Brisbane City Rollers for sporting contribution, and QLD Camping Bears for social connection. Organisers deliberately kept categories broad to reflect lived community needs, and the result was an inclusive roll-call where activists, allies and volunteers all had their moment.

That matters if you’re choosing where to volunteer or donate; seeing which organisations are visible and celebrated offers a shortcut to trusted local groups. The PROUD Award was shared, volunteerism was highlighted, and both emerging and lifetime contributors were applauded.

Emotional high points and bittersweet wins

Some wins were celebratory, others quietly poignant. Miss Synthetique’s surprise Lifetime Achievement Award prompted a tearful, warm acceptance speech thanking local venues and the community; meanwhile, DJ Merlin’s posthumous DJ of the Year accolade acknowledged a life and career missed. These moments reminded everyone that awards nights can be party and memorial wrapped into one.

Expect to see more storytelling like this in future Balls , awards nights increasingly act as archival moments, preserving community memory as much as they hand out trophies. For organisers and attendees alike, that dual role is part of the event’s enduring appeal.

Why the 65th Queens Ball matters for Brisbane and beyond

Sixty-five years is a long run for any community event, and organisers repeatedly noted the Ball’s historical weight. Brisbane Pride’s framing of Dame Sybil’s legacy , that her vision created a space for gathering across generations , underlined why continuity matters. The Ball isn’t just glitz; it’s a cultural touchstone that marks progress, grief and resilience in equal measure.

If you’re curious about attending or nominating next year, note that voting and event announcements are coordinated early through Brisbane Pride and allied networks, so keep an eye on their channels for calls to participate. Small decisions, like who you vote for or which venue you support, help shape the next chapter.

It's a small change that can make every celebration mean more.

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