Brisbane 2032 is a $7.1 billion infrastructure programme covering 17 venues. The numbers move, the venues change, and announcements land in fragments across government releases and news reports. This page keeps them in one place, with a source and a date against every figure.
If something here isn't sourced, it isn't here. Where a number is disputed or dated, we say so.
Where things stand, September 2026
- $7.1 billion Games Venue Infrastructure Program; the Victoria Park stadium alone is reported at about $3.8 billion.
- 17 venues delivered by GIICA. As at 30 June 2025, 11 were still in detailed business case and six in early procurement (Queensland Audit Office).
- Early works are underway at Victoria Park. GIICA took the site on 1 June 2026.
- The projected construction workforce deficit averages 19,100 people over eight years (Construction Skills Queensland).
- No completion dates are publicly confirmed for most venues. Everything must be ready before 23 July 2032.
What is actually being built?
Seventeen venues sit inside the Games Venue Infrastructure Program, run by the Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority (GIICA). The two genuine new builds are the main stadium and the aquatic centre, both at Victoria Park in Herston. Most of the rest are upgrades to existing facilities.
| Venue | Status | What's confirmed |
|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Stadium Victoria Park, Herston |
Early works | 63,000 seats for the Games. Reported at about $3.8bn. Designed by COX Architecture, Hassell and Azusa Sekkei. GIICA took the site 1 June 2026; early works began August 2026. Hosts the ceremonies and athletics. |
| National Aquatic Centre Centenary Pool, Spring Hill |
Early works | Games capacity up to 25,000, dropping to 8,000 in legacy mode. Designed by ARM Architecture, NH Architecture and Arkhefield. Centenary Pool closed at the end of August 2026. Construction planned from 2027. |
| The Gabba | Revamp ruled out | Sport Minister Tim Mander ruled out a major Games revamp in August 2026, saying the venue "fits the purpose now". The earlier rebuild plan was abandoned in favour of Victoria Park. |
| Rowing — Fitzroy River Rockhampton |
Confirmed site | Organisers have ruled out alternatives to the Fitzroy River site despite concerns raised about crocodile habitat. |
| Remaining 13 venues | Planning | As at 30 June 2025, 11 of the 17 venues were in detailed business case and six in early procurement (Queensland Audit Office, December 2025). Individual venue confirmations are still landing. |
A note on that venue table: the Queensland Audit Office figures are as at 30 June 2025 and were published in December 2025. They are the most recent audited numbers available, but they are over a year old. Several venues have moved since. We'd rather show you dated data than pretend to current figures we can't source.
What is it costing?
The headline figure is $7.1 billion for the Games Venue Infrastructure Program, jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian governments. The Victoria Park stadium accounts for roughly $3.8 billion of it.
Treat both as current reporting rather than final costs. The stadium number in particular has moved during planning — it was reported at $2.7 billion when consortia were shortlisted in April 2026, and at $3.8 billion by September. That's not necessarily a blowout; scope and inclusions change between reporting points. But it does mean a single number quoted without a date is close to meaningless.
Will it be finished in time?
Nobody has publicly committed to completion dates for most venues, which is itself worth noticing six years out.
The clearest independent assessment is the Queensland Audit Office's Major Projects 2025 report, published December 2025. It found that nearly all venue works are scheduled to complete in 2030 or 2031 — meaning the projects compete for the same workforce at the same time — and flagged workforce constraints and early-stage planning as delivery risks.
The workforce problem
Construction Skills Queensland projects the state's construction workforce running at an average deficit of about 19,100 people over eight years. In August 2026 an industry expert publicly called for migrant labour to close the gap; Construction Skills Queensland declined an interview on it.
This is the single biggest risk to the programme, and it's structural rather than political. Venues can be re-scoped. A workforce shortage across an entire state cannot be re-scoped away.
What's contested?
The stadium name
GIICA applied in March 2025 to trademark "Brisbane Stadium" — alongside "Gabba Arena" and "Brisbane Sports Park" — specifically so the name could never be sold to a corporate sponsor. Its own documents state that commercial naming rights "would not be made available, irrespective of the seemingly attractive remunerative arrangements which might be offered."
IP Australia refused the application in September 2026, finding the term descriptive and geographical. The policy now rests on political will rather than trademark law. Full story here.
Design transparency
GIICA has declined to release the unsuccessful stadium designs under Right to Information laws, citing the need to preserve competitive tension between BESIX Watpac and Built, the two firms tendering for the final contract.
What does this mean if you're planning a trip?
Two things, and only two.
Venue locations decide where you stay. With the stadium and aquatic centre both at Victoria Park, Spring Hill and Herston become the closest walkable suburbs — which is why they're worth booking early. See the best suburbs guide.
The venue programme does not solve the accommodation problem. Brisbane is about 10,000 hotel rooms short for 2032 according to Property Council of Australia and CBRE analysis, with the development pipeline covering less than a quarter of that. Building stadiums doesn't build hotel rooms. See when to book, and why cruise ships are being floated as a fix.
Both new-build venues are at Victoria Park
The stadium and the aquatic centre sit on the same site in Herston, on the northern edge of the CBD. Spring Hill is the closest suburb to walk from. With a 10,000-room shortfall forecast, a free-cancellation booking costs nothing to hold and can be changed later.
Check Spring Hill stays →Affiliate link. If you book through it we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. It keeps BRIS2032 independent.
What changed recently
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| Sep 2026 | IP Australia refuses the "Brisbane Stadium" trademark application |
| Aug 2026 | Centenary Pool closes; early works begin at Victoria Park; Gabba revamp ruled out |
| Jul 2026 | National Aquatic Centre design revealed (ARM, NH Architecture, Arkhefield) |
| Jun 2026 | GIICA takes possession of the Victoria Park site (1 June) |
| Apr 2026 | Consortia shortlisted for the stadium build |
| Jan 2026 | Stadium design team named: COX, Hassell, Azusa Sekkei |
| Dec 2025 | Queensland Audit Office flags workforce and planning risks |
Frequently asked questions
How much is Brisbane 2032 costing?
The Games Venue Infrastructure Program is reported at about $7.1 billion, with the Victoria Park stadium at roughly $3.8 billion. Figures have moved during planning, so treat any single number as current reporting rather than a final cost.
How many venues are being built?
Seventeen sit within the programme, delivered by GIICA. They range from new builds like the Victoria Park stadium and National Aquatic Centre to upgrades of existing facilities.
Will the venues be finished on time?
No completion dates are publicly confirmed for most venues. The Queensland Audit Office reported that as at 30 June 2025, 11 of 17 were still in detailed business case and six in early procurement, and flagged workforce constraints as a delivery risk.
Is there a construction workforce shortage?
Construction Skills Queensland projects an average deficit of about 19,100 people over eight years. Because nearly all venue works are scheduled to complete in 2030 or 2031, the projects compete for the same workers simultaneously.
What is GIICA?
The Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority — the Queensland body delivering the 17 venues. It took possession of the Victoria Park site on 1 June 2026.
What will the stadium be called?
Brisbane Stadium is the working name. GIICA tried to trademark it in March 2025 so it could never be sold to a sponsor, but IP Australia refused in September 2026 on the grounds that it's a descriptive, geographical term.
Does any of this affect visitors?
Two ways. Venue locations determine which suburbs are worth staying in, and the accommodation shortfall — about 10,000 rooms by 2032 per Property Council / CBRE — is not being solved by the venue programme.
Sources: Queensland Audit Office, Major Projects 2025 (December 2025) · GIICA · Australasian Leisure Management (September 2026) · Construction Skills Queensland workforce projections · Property Council of Australia / CBRE accommodation analysis.
Figures are as reported at the dates shown. This page is updated as decisions land — if something here is out of date or wrong, tell us and we'll correct it and note the change.
BRIS2032 is an independent site and is not affiliated with the IOC, the Brisbane 2032 Organising Committee, or any official body.