Australia’s only dedicated romance film and book festival, Blussh Romance Festival, returns bigger, bolder and more passionate than ever on Friday 13 and Saturday 14 February 2026, transforming Dendy Cinemas Coorparoo and Coorparoo Square into Brisbane’s ultimate celebration of love stories.
After a sold-out 2025 event, Blussh has expanded into a two-day festival with a larger venue, more author panels, major screen premieres, live podcasts, free events, and immersive experiences, all under the warm embrace of Coorparoo Square.
Blussh Festival Co-Director and Jaggi Entertainment Vice President Kylie Pascoe says the romance genre is experiencing a powerful cultural resurgence:
“Romance Society fills a vital gap for the romance community, providing one central location to source romance across all platforms. Once considered a ‘guilty pleasure’, the genre is now stepping out with pride, driven by strong audience demand, cultural relevance and commercial success.
The romance genre really is stronger than ever across books, film, social media and entertainment”.
Deputy Mayor and Coorparoo Ward Councillor Fiona Cunningham adds:
“Brisbane is the heart of Australia’s romance scene, producing more romance films and books than anywhere else in the country.
I’m delighted to welcome everyone to Coorparoo for this vibrant celebration of love stories and look forward to chatting with festival-goers at the Breakfast with Heart event.”
This festival is for the lovers, the dreamers, the watchers and the readers. Guests are encouraged to take an early mark from work on Friday 13th, enjoy lunch at one of Coorparoo Square’s many restaurants, and sip a Blussh-inspired cocktail created by festival partner Beyond the Pale, a delicious blend of pink gin, strawberry liqueur, passionfruit liqueur, cranberry and pineapple.
Program highlights include;
A Gothic Valentine’s Eve Opening Night!
Blussh kicks off Friday, 13th of February with a dramatic, Gothic-themed Opening Night celebration on the black carpet, headlined by the hotly anticipated new film Wuthering Heights.
Directed by Emerald Fennell and starring Margot Robbie as Cathy and Jacob Elordi as Heathcliff, the bold reimagining of the literary classic promises a dark, intoxicating tale of forbidden love, obsession and madness set against the haunting Yorkshire moors.
The Friday program also includes:
- Two Years Later. Be among the first to experience the upcoming Paramount+ series Two Years Later with its only in-cinema Brisbane premiere. Patrons are invited to watch the first two episodes of this eight-part romantic comedy-drama, starring Phoebe Tonkin and Brenton Thwaites, ahead of its official release. Warm, witty and deeply intimate, this special screening is a celebration of Australian storytelling at its best.)
- Have Sword, Will Kiss: The Romantasy Revolution. The genre is booming. Stories are getting bolder. Worlds richer. Stakes higher. Readers are devouring romantasy in a fever dream of passion, plot twists and possibility. This isn’t the end of the wave, not even the middle. Join the Queens of the genre as they unpack the phenomenon..
Guests are invited to bring their Valentine, Galentine, or sweet self for an afternoon and evening full of romance, drama and decadence.
A Valentine’s Day Full of Love, Laughter and Stories
On Saturday 14 February, Blussh delivers a full day of romance-fuelled festivities, including:
- Love-inspired poetry readings
- Rom-Com Bingo Breakfast with free coffee (supported by Cr Fiona Cunningham)
- Live podcast recordings
- Film premieres and Q&As
- Author panels and book signings
- Pop-up markets
- Free community events
From heartfelt storytelling to playful celebration, Blussh offers something for every kind of romantic. Come down to Dendy Cinemas Coorparoo & Coorparoo Square to share the love!
2026 Festival Highlights
- Exclusive Australian premiere cinema screening of Beauty From Pain – shot entirely in Brisbane for PassionFlix.
- Lussh Literary Lunch: One Is the Loneliest Number, exploring collaborative writing, including Australia’s first First Nations romance anthology (Magabala Books)
- Free community events within Coorparoo Square (Love Poetry readings, breakfast with free coffee courtesy of Cr Fiona Cunningham, morning after markets, etc).
Blussh Romance Festival celebrates Queensland as the beating heart of Australia’s romance industry and our shared love of powerful, emotional storytelling.
Media Enquiries & Interviews
For interviews, images, event access and talent requests, please contact:
Amanda Goddard – 0405 101 739
Media is invited to attend selected festival sessions, screenings and panels, please reach out for details.
About Blussh
Now presenting its third festival, audiences continue to embrace the little romance festival that could. Blussh Romance Festival exists because of love. The love of stories, of cinema, of books dog-eared and films rewatched, and above all, the unwavering love and support of the romance community that continues to champion this genre and each other.
About Romance Society
Romance Society is for the lovers of love.
Through film, literature, podcasts, blogs and more, Romance Society celebrates the magic of falling in love and the power of romantic storytelling.
It inspires hope, curiosity and connection – helping people discover new stories, form new friendships, and share their passion for the genre with a like-minded community.
About Coorparoo Square
Located in the heart of Coorparoo on Old Cleveland Road, just 4.5 km from Brisbane’s CBD, Coorparoo Square is a vibrant lifestyle destination. Anchored by ALDI Supermarket and Dendy Cinemas, the Centre features 25 diverse retail tenancies offering dining, health, beauty, banking services and everyday essentials, all under one roof.