Sting will return to Australia in 2026 for an exclusive season at Brisbane’s Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC).
There he will be performing in his musical The Last Ship at the newly opened Glasshouse Theatre. The run will take place from 9 April to 3 May and will form part of the venue’s debut program.
The production, first developed in 2011, draws inspiration from Sting’s 1991 album The Soul Cages and his upbringing in the shipbuilding community of Northeast England. The story follows a group of shipbuilders facing the closure of their yard and their struggle to find purpose beyond it. Sting plays Jackie White, the shipyard foreman, who is also dealing with serious health issues.
Speaking about the work, Sting described it as deeply personal, reflecting both his childhood and his connection to the community he left behind. “I grew up in the shadow of the shipyard. My father wanted me to follow him into the shipyard, but I dreamed of something else… The farther I got, the more I realised I needed to understand where I came from and felt I had to give something back. The Last Ship is my tribute to the people and the place that shaped me.”
The Brisbane season comes amid Sting’s 3.0 World Tour, which also includes shows in Amsterdam and Paris. Presented with the support of the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland, the production will feature 29 performances across its four-week run. Tickets go on sale from 18 September, with pre-sale available from 13 September.
QPAC Chief Executive Rachel Healy described securing the production as a major win for Brisbane, noting that it will be the first international production staged at the Glasshouse Theatre. She said the new venue offers audiences a rare chance to experience Sting in an intimate setting, delivering a story that is both theatrical and personal.
Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek later added that attracting an artist of Sting’s calibre aligns with the vision for the Glasshouse Theatre to host acclaimed performers from around the world while contributing to Queensland’s cultural profile and economy.
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