Jim Henson Exhibition at GOMA Brisbane: What to Expect

Step into 70 years of Jim Henson magic at GOMA, with much-loved characters, incredible sets, costumes and a fascinating look behind the scenes.

The Brisbane Travel Guide acknowledges the Turrbal and Yuggera people, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which GOMA is situated. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continued spiritual and cultural connections to Country. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, Kermit the Frog and some rather more sinister-looking creatures have taken over Brisbane’s Gallery of Modern Art.

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company is showing exclusively in Brisbane at GOMA until 18 April 2027, bringing together 70 years of puppetry, television, film, creature design and imaginative storytelling.

We recently visited the exhibition, and while seeing the familiar Sesame Street characters delivers an immediate hit of nostalgia, what surprised us most was just how broad the exhibition is.

It moves from early television and much-loved characters through Fraggle Rock, Kermit and the Muppets to the elaborate fantasy worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

We paid for our own tickets to visit the exhibition. This article is not sponsored, so you can expect our usual independent and honest review.

This post may contain compensated links. Please refer to our disclaimer here for more information.

What is Make, Believe, Magic?

Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company celebrates the company’s 70-year legacy. Founded by Jim and Jane Henson in 1955, The Jim Henson Company became known for innovative puppetry and world-building across television and film.

This isn’t simply a line-up of famous puppets. Alongside the characters are drawings, early concepts, costumes, sets, film footage and displays exploring how the performers, makers and filmmakers brought Henson’s worlds to life.

What you’ll see at the Jim Henson exhibition

There’s a lot to see throughout the exhibition, from familiar characters and original puppets to sets, costumes, sketches, film footage and behind-the-scenes material.

Below are just a few highlights from our visit; there’s plenty more to discover as you make your way through the exhibition.

Sesame Street

For many visitors, the Sesame Street displays will provide the biggest dose of nostalgia. Big Bird and Mr Snuffleupagus tower over the gallery, while Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Cookie Monster, Elmo and Grover are among the familiar faces you’ll encounter.

What makes this section more interesting than simply seeing the characters is the surrounding material about how Henson’s ideas and techniques developed.

Fraggle Rock

One of the most impressive sections is dedicated to Fraggle Rock. Visitors move through sets used for Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, including Doc’s Workshop and the Great Hall.

It’s one of the points where the exhibition shifts from viewing individual objects to feeling as though you’ve stepped into one of Henson’s worlds.

Kermit and the art of puppetry

Naturally, Kermit appears, complete with his banjo.

Throughout the exhibition, film clips and behind-the-scenes material show how puppetry, sets, costumes, camera techniques and later digital technology combine to create the finished performances.

The Dark Crystal and fantasy worlds

The mood changes considerably when you reach The Dark Crystal. The colourful characters of Sesame Street give way to enormous fantasy creatures, intricate costumes and the wonderfully unsettling Skeksis.

Seeing these characters up close is one of the best demonstrations of how sophisticated Henson’s work became.

How long should you allow?

It took us approximately one hour to make our way through the exhibition at a comfortable pace.

I’d allow longer if you like to read every information panel or stop to watch all of the audiovisual material.

Once you’re admitted, there is no set exit time, so you can take your time.

A tip about timed entry

This is worth knowing before you arrive: entry really is timed. We arrived approximately 10 minutes before our booked session and weren’t permitted to enter until our allocated time.

So while you certainly don’t want to be late, there’s little advantage in arriving very early specifically for the exhibition. QAGOMA recommends buying tickets in advance to guarantee entry.

Tickets and opening hours

Ticket prices vary by age or ticket category and the day you visit, with QAGOMA using off-peak, mid-peak, and peak pricing. Timed-entry tickets currently range from $18 to $42, with Adult, Child/Youth and Concession tickets available.

Eligible families can receive a 10% family bundle discount. QAGOMA also offers Flexi day passes and five-visit Multi Passes. As prices vary by date and ticket type, check the current QAGOMA pricing when booking.

GOMA is generally open daily from 10 am to 5 pm. The final exhibition session is at 4 pm, and the exhibition closes at 5 pm.

Check current ticket prices, session times and book tickets on the QAGOMA website.

Accessibility

The exhibition is wheelchair accessible, and QAGOMA accepts Companion Cards. QAGOMA is also offering selected accessible programs associated with the exhibition, including low-sensory sessions and tours for visitors with low or no vision.

Location and getting there

The exhibition is at the Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), Stanley Place, South Brisbane, in Brisbane’s Cultural Centre precinct.

GOMA is within walking distance of South Brisbane railway station and the Cultural Centre bus station. Paid parking is also available at the Queensland Cultural Centre, subject to availability.

There’s more happening at GOMA

If you want to turn your visit into a longer Jim Henson day, check what’s screening at the Australian Cinémathèque. GOMA is running three related cinema programs during the exhibition, with free screenings on selected days.

Who will enjoy the Jim Henson exhibition?

If you grew up with Jim Henson’s characters, there’s a huge amount of nostalgia here.

I grew up loving Fraggle Rock and the movie The Dark Crystal, so these were easily two of my favourite parts of the exhibition. Both sections are particularly comprehensive, with so much to see that I absolutely loved exploring them.

And really, who doesn’t love Sesame Street? All the most iconic characters are here, including Big Bird, Mr Snuffleupagus, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie, Oscar the Grouch, Elmo and Grover. Seeing so many of them together was such a fun trip down memory lane.

I would have liked to see a few more of the classic Muppet characters represented, but everyone’s favourite frog, Kermit, is here — complete with his banjo.

Even if you’re not a lifelong Jim Henson fan, there’s plenty to appreciate in the creativity and craftsmanship behind the puppets, costumes and sets.

Jim Henson exhibition at GOMA: At a glance

• What: Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company
• Where: Gallery of Modern Art (GOMA), South Brisbane
• Dates: 12 September 2026 to 18 April 2027
• Opening hours: Generally 10 am to 5 pm daily; final exhibition session 4 pm
• Allow: Around one hour based on our visit
• Tickets: Timed entry currently $18–$42
• Booking: Advance booking recommended

Enjoy the Jim Henson exhibition at GOMA

For us, around an hour was enough to see the exhibition comfortably, and the combination of childhood nostalgia and genuinely interesting behind-the-scenes material made it an easy Brisbane outing.

Looking for more things to do in Brisbane?

If you’re planning more Brisbane adventures, check out our guides to the best things to do in Brisbane City, Dopamine Land Brisbane and The FRIENDS Experience Brisbane.