A Magical Journey into the World of Jim Henson
Make, Believe, Magic
Brisbane is preparing to welcome an extraordinary celebration of puppetry, storytelling, imagination and popular culture when Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company opens at the Gallery of Modern Art from 12 September 2026 to 18 April 2027.
Presented by the Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company, the Australian-exclusive exhibition will take visitors behind the scenes of one of the world's most influential creative companies.
For generations, Jim Henson's creations have captured the imagination of children and adults alike. From the colourful residents of Sesame Street and the mischievous Muppets to the fantasy worlds of Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal, Henson's work has transformed puppetry into an art form capable of telling stories on an extraordinary scale.
Now, visitors to Brisbane will have the opportunity to discover how these beloved characters and fantastical worlds were brought to life.
A World of Puppets, Creatures and Imagination
Make, Believe, Magic promises an immersive experience extending across the ground floor of GOMA, with hundreds of objects charting the evolution of The Jim Henson Company and its pioneering approach to puppetry and creature design.
Make, Believe, Magic
The exhibition will feature practical puppets, animatronic creatures, props, costumes, original drawings and moving-image material, allowing visitors to explore the craftsmanship behind characters that have become part of international popular culture.
Rather than simply presenting finished characters, the exhibition explores the creative processes behind them and demonstrates how performance, design, technology and storytelling combine to create believable worlds.
It is this combination of artistry and imagination that makes the exhibition appealing to multiple generations. Children can discover the magic of puppetry for the first time, while adults can reconnect with characters and stories that formed part of their own childhoods.
A World-First Fraggle Rock Experience
One of the major highlights will be the opportunity to walk among the Great Hall set from the Emmy Award-winning television series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock.
This world-first feature gives visitors an unusual perspective on the making of a television production, taking audiences beyond the screen and into a working puppetry environment.
For fans of Fraggle Rock, the experience offers the chance to see the environments and craftsmanship that helped bring the beloved characters to life.
For younger visitors, meanwhile, it provides an introduction to the practical creativity behind television storytelling.
From Sesame Street to The Dark Crystal
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| Make, Believe, Magic |
Visitors will encounter famous characters associated with Sesame Street, including Big Bird, Elmo, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, alongside characters and creations from Fraggle Rock, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and Farscape.
The exhibition demonstrates the extraordinary range of Henson's work, from educational children's television to ambitious fantasy films and sophisticated creature design.
The result is a celebration not only of familiar characters but also of the people, techniques and imagination that made them possible.
The Dark Crystal’s Giant Landstrider
Another spectacular highlight is the giant Landstrider puppet from The Dark Crystal.
The enormous creature demonstrates the scale and ambition of Henson's approach to fantasy filmmaking and provides visitors with an opportunity to appreciate the physical craftsmanship involved in creating creatures that appear to inhabit completely different worlds.
It is moments such as this that help transform the exhibition from a conventional display into an immersive exploration of imagination and creative invention.
More Than an Exhibition
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| Make, Believe, Magic |
An extensive cinema program will accompany Make, Believe, Magic, with more than 90 films showcasing productions created by The Jim Henson Company and projects featuring the work of Jim Henson's Creature Shop.
The program provides another opportunity to explore Henson's extraordinary contribution to screen entertainment and the development of innovative creature design.
Additional cinema programs will explore puppetry, world cinema and the work of Jim Henson's Creature Shop, creating a broader cultural experience around the exhibition.
A Creative Experience for Families
For families visiting Brisbane, Make, Believe, Magic offers an opportunity to share an experience that bridges generations.
The exhibition's combination of recognisable characters, fascinating objects, elaborate sets and behind-the-scenes material makes it suitable for children discovering the world of Henson for the first time as well as adults who grew up with his creations.
QAGOMA is also offering a timed-entry family bundle, with a 10 per cent discount automatically applied to eligible combinations of adult and child or youth tickets.
The exhibition is therefore well placed to become one of Brisbane's major family attractions during the 2026–27 summer holiday period and beyond.
Discover the Magic of Puppetry
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| Make, Believe, Magic |
Jim Henson's legacy demonstrates that a piece of fabric, foam, wood, mechanical components or carefully constructed costume can become a character with personality, emotion and a story to tell.
That philosophy continues to influence filmmakers, puppeteers, designers and storytellers around the world.
The exhibition offers visitors the chance to look beyond the finished characters and appreciate the remarkable human creativity behind them.
For anyone who loves Sesame Street, The Muppets, Fraggle Rock, Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal or imaginative filmmaking, this is an opportunity to step inside the worlds that have entertained generations.
Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company
When: 12 September 2026 to 18 April 2027Venue galleries: Gallery 1.1, Gallery 1.2, Gallery 1.3 and the River Room
Opening hours: Daily, 10.00am to 5.00pm
Tickets: Timed-entry tickets, Flexi tickets and Multi Pass options are available. Advance booking is recommended to guarantee entry.
The exhibition is organised by Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art in collaboration with The Jim Henson Company.
Planning a Brisbane Visit
The Gallery of Modern Art is located at Stanley Place in South Brisbane, beside the South Bank Parklands and within Brisbane's Queensland Cultural Centre.
The gallery is a short walk from the city and is conveniently accessible by public transport, including South Brisbane railway station, the South Bank CityCat and Ferry terminal and the Cultural Centre Busway station.
With the exhibition running from September 2026 through April 2027, visitors can combine a visit to GOMA with Brisbane's restaurants, South Bank attractions, riverfront precinct and other cultural experiences.
For families, art lovers, film enthusiasts and admirers of Jim Henson's extraordinary creative legacy, Make, Believe, Magic promises to be one of Brisbane's standout cultural experiences.
An Unmissable Brisbane Exhibition for 2026–27
Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company offers far more than a nostalgic look at famous puppets. It is an exploration of creativity, craftsmanship, technology and storytelling and an invitation to discover how some of the world's most memorable characters came into existence.
Make, Believe, Magic
Opening exclusively at Brisbane's Gallery of Modern Art on 12 September 2026, the exhibition is set to bring together generations of fans and introduce a new generation to the enduring magic of Jim Henson.
For visitors planning a Brisbane holiday between September 2026 and April 2027, it promises to be an experience where art, cinema, puppetry and childhood memories come together in one extraordinary journey.
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
Website: www.qagoma.qld.gov.auAddress: Stanley Place, South Brisbane, Queensland 4101, Australia
Phone: +61 (0)7 3840 7303
Opening hours: Daily, 10.00am–5.00pm
Tickets: Make, Believe, Magic exhibition information and tickets
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