If you grew up with the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock or Labyrinth, chances are Jim Henson has been part of your world for longer than you realise. Now, some of the magic behind those much-loved characters has arrived in Brisbane.

‍

Running at QAGOMA from 12 September 2026 to 18 April 2027, Make, Believe, Magic: The Worlds of The Jim Henson Company is a world-first exhibition celebrating 70 years of imagination, puppetry and seriously impressive creature design.

‍

Founded by Jim and Jane Henson in 1955, The Jim Henson Company has spent decades creating characters and fantastical worlds that have become part of popular culture, from the colourful chaos of The Muppets and Sesame Street to the darker fantasy worlds of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.

‍

And this isn't just a case of looking at a few famous puppets behind glass.

‍

The exhibition offers a behind-the-scenes look at how these worlds were brought to life, with hundreds of objects spanning practical puppets, animatronic creatures, costumes, props, original drawings and footage. It also traces the evolution of puppetry from its practical beginnings through to the animatronic and digital techniques used on screen today.

‍

One of the major drawcards is the Great Hall set from the Emmy Award-winning series Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock, appearing in Brisbane for the first time. It offers a rare chance to step onto a working puppeteer's film set and see the craft up close.

‍

Running alongside the exhibition is a trio of free film programs at GOMA's Australian Cinémathèque, while QAGOMA's public, learning and access programs will give visitors even more ways to dive into the worlds, characters and creative techniques behind the exhibition.

‍

Whether you're a lifelong Henson fan or simply appreciate a little movie magic, this is one for the nostalgic, the curious and anyone who has ever wondered how the heck they made that puppet move.

‍

Book your tickets here.

‍

‍

Image Credit:Production still from Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock 2022–present / © Apple. As seen on Apple TV. All Rights Reserved / Image courtesy: Apple, The Jim Henson Company