The best small-ship itineraries don’t just transport you from port to port – they weave cultural touchstones into the journey itself, creating connections between place and experience that resonate long after disembarkation. Viking’s 2026 Australian voyages offer precisely this kind of thoughtful curation, now enhanced by a partnership that brings guests face-to-face with one of contemporary art’s most compelling voices.
A natural alliance between exploration and creativity
Viking has announced a collaboration with Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art (QAGOMA) to support Olafur Eliasson: Presence, a major exhibition from the Icelandic-Danish artist whose immersive installations have transformed how audiences experience light, perception and the natural world.
Running through 12 July 2026, the exhibition spans three decades of work from an artist whose practice has been profoundly shaped by the glacial landscapes and ethereal light of the Nordic regions – environments that Viking’s ships regularly traverse.
“Eliasson’s work invites us to look differently at the world – and that sense of curiosity and discovery mirrors the journeys we curate for our guests.”
Michelle Black, Viking’s ANZ Managing Director.
It’s a fitting parallel: both the artist and the cruise line ask travelers to slow down, observe closely and engage with their surroundings in ways that shift perspective.
For North American travelers who may know Sydney and Melbourne but haven’t yet discovered Brisbane, this partnership offers compelling reason to explore Australia’s subtropical capital. The city’s cultural scene has matured dramatically over the past decade, with QAGOMA earning recognition as one of the country’s most dynamic institutions. Located on the Brisbane River, the gallery complex itself rewards a visit, but the Eliasson exhibition – exclusive to Brisbane – elevates the experience to something genuinely memorable.
Three voyages, one extraordinary cultural connection
Viking guests sailing on three distinct itineraries will have the opportunity to experience the exhibition during Brisbane port calls:
The Komodo & Australian Coast voyage departs Bali in February and March 2026, tracing Indonesia’s dramatic archipelago before turning south toward Australia’s eastern seaboard. This 15-day journey aboard Viking Orion arrives in Brisbane before continuing to Sydney, offering a natural pause to immerse yourself in Eliasson’s explorations of light and perception.
For those seeking a comprehensive Australian experience, the Grand Australia & New Zealand Circumnavigationrepresents the ultimate small-ship odyssey around the continent. Departing Sydney in January 2026, this 39-day voyage circles the entire Australian coastline, calling at Brisbane during the northbound leg. The extended itinerary allows for deeper engagement with diverse landscapes, from tropical reefs to temperate wine regions, with the cultural anchor of the Eliasson exhibition providing intellectual depth to the physical journey.
The South Pacific Sojourn takes the longest view, embarking from Bangkok in February 2026 for a 29-day passage that explores Southeast Asia before crossing to Australia. This voyage calls at Brisbane en route to Sydney, connecting the cultural traditions of Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia with Australia’s contemporary arts scene in a single, remarkably cohesive narrative.
Why Eliasson resonates with the Viking experience
There’s conceptual elegance in Viking guests encountering Eliasson’s work during Australian voyages. The artist’s installations often explore the interplay between natural phenomena and human perception – the quality of Arctic light, the movement of water, the sublime scale of glacial formations. These are precisely the encounters that define Viking’s expedition sailings to Greenland, Iceland and the Norwegian fjords, where Eliasson has drawn direct inspiration.
Olafur Eliasson: Presence invites visitors to engage with light, land and life through immersive installations that make the invisible visible and the familiar strange. It’s experiential art that demands active participation rather than passive observation – an approach that aligns naturally with Viking’s philosophy of cultural immersion over superficial sightseeing.
For travelers accustomed to Viking’s enrichment lectures, destination experts and carefully chosen shore excursions, the Eliasson exhibition extends that ethos into the realm of contemporary art.
Brisbane: Australia’s cultural dark horse
North American travelers who’ve ticked off Sydney’s Opera House and Melbourne’s laneways often overlook Brisbane, but the city deserves reconsideration. The subtropical climate creates a relaxed, outdoor-oriented culture distinct from Australia’s southern capitals. The Brisbane River winds through the city center, creating natural focal points and waterfront precincts that reward exploration on foot.
QAGOMA itself occupies a striking position on the river’s south bank, connected to the CBD by pedestrian bridges. The dual-gallery complex houses Australian and international collections spanning Indigenous art to cutting-edge contemporary work. Beyond the galleries, the South Bank cultural precinct offers botanical gardens, riverside dining and the Museum of Queensland – all walkable from cruise terminals.
The Eliasson exhibition represents Brisbane’s largest cultural moment of 2026, drawing international attention to a city that has quietly cultivated a sophisticated arts scene. For Viking guests, it transforms a port call from pleasant to essential, adding intellectual weight to an already compelling itinerary.
Small ships, big ideas
Viking’s ocean ships carry just 930 guests, fostering the intimate atmosphere and thoughtful service that distinguishes small-ship cruising from its mass-market counterpart. The scale allows for genuine cultural programming rather than generic entertainment – think lectures from historians and scientists rather than Broadway revues.
This approach attracts travelers for whom the journey matters as much as the destinations, who value learning over lounging and seek experiences that challenge rather than merely comfort. The partnership with QAGOMA speaks directly to this demographic: culturally curious travelers who recognize that understanding a place requires engaging with its creative output, not just its scenic vistas.
The 2026 Australian season offers exactly this kind of layered experience – dramatic landscapes and diverse ecosystems paired with one of contemporary art’s most thought-provoking exhibitions. It’s the kind of programming that transforms a cruise from vacation to genuine exploration, where every port call builds toward a richer understanding of how we perceive and interact with the world around us.
Olafur Eliasson: Presence is now open at QAGOMA and runs through 12 July 2026. For Viking itinerary details and booking information, visit viking.com
About the Author: Jason Kerr
