Queensland Music Festival, originally named the Brisbane Biennial Festival of Music, was established in 1990 with the support of the Queensland Government.

Anthony Steel was Artistic Director for 1991 and 1993 Festivals, while the 1995 and 1997 Festivals were led by Nicholas Heyward as Chief Executive Officer and Artistic Advisors Jonathan Mills and Richard Mills.

From 1999 to 2003 the festival was renamed the Queensland Biennial Festival of Music, led in 1999 by Artistic Director Simone de Haan. From 2001 to 2005 the festival was led by Artistic Director Lyndon Terracini and the event became the Queensland Music Festival.

In 2006, pianist, composer and renowned conductor, Paul Grabowsky, was appointed Artistic Director for the 2007 Festival and went on to join the Adelaide Festival.

Celebrated Australian musician Deborah Conway was appointed Artistic Director of QMF 2009 and will direct the next Festival in 2011.