Check out what's on in February:
Friends of Antiquity Adrian Heyworth-Smith Memorial Lecture: Machiavelli and Rome
1 February 2026
Join UQ’s Friends of Antiquity for the Adrian Heyworth-Smith Memorial lecture, ‘Machiavelli and Rome’.
Exiled to the hills outside Florence, with Giotto’s campanile and Brunelleschi’s dome lingering in his thoughts, Niccolò Machiavelli found his mind drawn not to his beloved city, but to ancient Rome. Why would a Florentine deeply committed to Florence turn so insistently to Rome for inspiration?
Join Professor Richard Devetak as he takes us back to Renaissance Italy and the flourishing humanist culture of Machiavelli’s world to explore that question. By tracing Machiavelli’s engagement with classical Roman writers, from Lucretius and Sallust to Cicero and Livy and examining how he used Rome as empire, republic and Church, we will see how Rome became both his mirror and his weapon.
Register here
The Movement to Redress the Japanese Military Comfort Women: Grassroots' Concerns and Responses Today
6 February 2026
Presented by Professor Gil-Soo Hand from Monash University, this seminar will explore the contemporary grassroots movement seeking justice for survivors of the Japanese military "comfort women" system.
The session examines how civic groups, activists, communities, and transnational networks continue to advocate for recognition, redress, and historical accountability. It also looks at how these movements respond to ongoing political tensions, historical denialism, generational shifts, and changing geopolitical landscapes in East Asia today.
Register here
Shields, design and functionality
23 February 2026 - 4 September 2026
UQ's Anthropology Museum invites you to visit from 23 February 2026 to experience their new exhibition featuring over 130 Aboriginal shields from around the country.
Shields, design and functionality, an exhibition featuring Aboriginal shields that convey some of the most elaborately crafted, intricately detailed artistic and culturally significant stories and it will be the first time in the Museum’s 75+ years that these shields are shown together.
Contemporary Indigenous artists Judy Watson, Paul Bong, Jennifer Herd, Bernard Singleton Jnr and Dylan Sarra, that have been influenced by traditional shield designs will have selected works featured in the exhibition.
We look forward to welcoming you to view the exhibition soon and sharing artists and makers talks throughout the year.
UQ Alumni Book Fair
27 February 2026 - 1 March 2026
Over 130,000 books, records and other pre-loved goodies will be available at the 2026 UQ Alumni Book Fair from as little as $1.
UQ's beloved annual celebration of books is brought to you by Alumni Friends and our dedicated volunteers who have been busily sorting community donations. Every dollar raised goes towards student scholarships and research at UQ.
On Saturday 28 February, our Alumni and Community Day offers free activities for book lovers of all ages with story time, book talks, interactive stations and – new this year – a Kids Character Costume Parade, with prizes up for grabs!
Register for the Book Fair before 12pm on Thursday 26 February 2026 and you'll automatically go into the draw to win a box of books of your choosing. Terms and conditions apply.
Register here