What’s on Gold Coast
The Gold Coast hosts an impressive lineup of exciting events each year, with Currumbin and surrounding suburbs at the southern end of the Gold Coast welcoming both locals and visitors alike to enjoy the best events along the coastline.
Upcoming Events
Palm Beach Farmers Market – Palm Beach Currumbin State High School, Thrower Drive, Palm Beach
every Saturday from 6am to 11:30am
Sanctuary Market – Currumbin Sanctuary
every Friday from 4-9pm
Annual Events
Gold Coast Open – Burleigh Heads
Wednesday 17 to Sunday 21 February 2027
Cooly Classic Ocean Swim – Coolangatta
Saturday 15 to Sunday 16 May 2027
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro – Snapper Rocks
2027 dates not yet announced
Cooly Rocks On – Coolangatta
9 to 13 June 2027
Creekfest On Currumbin Creek – Currumbin RSL
2027 dates not yet announced
BLEACH Festival – HOTA, Surfers Paradise
2027 dates not yet announced
Swell Sculpture Festival – Currumbin Beach
Friday 10 to Sunday 19 September 2027
Coolangatta Gold – Coolangatta Beach
next date not yet announced
Beach 5s Australian Championships – Greenmount Beach, Coolangatta
Friday 12 to Sunday 14 February 2027
Astra Lumina
Every Friday and Saturday evening, with extra nights in school holidays | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin
A night-time light walk at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. Buy one get one free applies to visits from 6 November to 5 December 2026 with the code ASTRA. Check the sanctuary’s page for session times and to book.
Koalas by Twilight
Every Saturday night | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin
An after-dark koala experience at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, held every Saturday night from 6pm, with up to 50 guests per session. Enjoy a koala pat and chat, then the Astra Lumina night walk, with an arrival drink and canapés included.
Koala Breakfast at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Saturday to Wednesday, ongoing | Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, 28 Tomewin St, Currumbin
Start your morning among kangaroos, koalas and lorikeets at one of the Gold Coast's best-loved wildlife experiences. The breakfast session combines a guided sanctuary walk with native Australian animals and a gourmet set-menu breakfast, just 12 minutes from Rocks Resort.
HOTA Collects: Alchemy
Saturday 24 October 2026 to Sunday 4 April 2027 | HOTA, Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise
A free, non-ticketed gallery exhibition at HOTA, on show through the summer in HOTA Gallery 2. Works from the HOTA Collection span photography, ceramics, sculpture and painting, including two light sculptures by Lindy Lee. Check the HOTA listing for opening hours before you go.
Dumpling Masterclass at HOTA
Wednesdays, from 4pm | Rooftop Terrace, HOTA, Surfers Paradise
A weekly hands-on cooking class held on HOTA's rooftop terrace, where you learn to fold and cook traditional dumplings before sitting down to enjoy what you've made. Recommended for ages 12+, it's a sociable mid-week activity with views over Surfers Paradise.
The Coastal Markets, Coolangatta
Second Sunday of the month, plus the fourth Sunday in months with five Sundays, 8am to 2pm | Coolangatta
A Sunday market at Queen Elizabeth Park, off Marine Parade and opposite The Strand in Coolangatta, on the schedule published by The Coastal Markets. Free entry, with handmade and artisan stalls and live music. Check their site for the date of the next market.
Mayor’s Christmas Carols
Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November 2026, 6pm to 8:30pm | HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise
Tickets to the Mayor’s Christmas Carols are sold out. A free live broadcast runs on big screens in the HOTA Parklands from 4pm, so you can still enjoy the evening without a ticket.
North Burleigh Carols by the Sea
Thursday 3 December 2026, 4pm to 8pm | Ed Hardy Park, The Esplanade, North Burleigh
A free community carols night by the sea at North Burleigh. The programme runs from 4pm through to 8pm, with stage entertainment and carols from 6pm, so you can arrive early and make an evening of it.
Cooly Carols
Sunday 13 December 2026, from 5:30pm | Queen Elizabeth Park, Marine Parade, Coolangatta
Free Christmas carols in the park at the southern end of the Gold Coast. Settle in beachside at Queen Elizabeth Park in Coolangatta from 5:30pm to 7:30pm, presented by City of Gold Coast. The line-up is still to be announced.
Magic Millions Gold Raceday and TAB Magic Millions Raceday
Saturday 9 January 2027 and Saturday 16 January 2027 | Gold Coast Turf Club, Bundall
Two Saturdays of racing at the Gold Coast Turf Club during the Magic Millions Carnival, with the Gold Raceday on 9 January and the TAB Magic Millions Raceday on 16 January.
Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Tuesday 12 to Sunday 17 January 2027 | Magic Millions Sales Complex, 28 Ascot Court, Bundall
The Gold Coast Yearling Sale runs for six days at the Magic Millions Sales Complex in Bundall, from 8am on 12 January through to 5pm on 17 January. The catalogue goes online in November 2026.
Stay nearby
Make Rocks Resort your base for the Gold Coast’s southern end. Our apartments at 828 Pacific Parade, Currumbin Beach put you close to the sanctuary, the beach and the Currumbin and southern Gold Coast events above. Events at HOTA and Bundall are a drive north.
Past Events
HOTA Winter Season 2026
8 July – 22 August 2026 | HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise
HOTA's winter programme brings eight shows to its intimate indoor stages, spanning comedy, music and theatre for adult audiences. Highlights include Heartbreak Hotel, AUTO-TUNE and Gillian Cosgriff. A strong season for couples or friends looking for a quality night out on the Gold Coast.
SWELL Sculpture Festival 2026
11 – 20 September 2026 | Currumbin Beach ocean walkway, Currumbin to Tugun
More than 80 large-scale sculptures by local, national and international artists are installed along the Currumbin Beach ocean walkway for ten days each September. Guided twilight walks, live music, artist talks and family workshops run alongside the free outdoor exhibition. One of the Gold Coast's most beloved annual events, and it starts right at Rocks Resort's front door.
Gold Coast Show 2026
28 – 30 August 2026 | Broadwater Parklands, Marine Parade, Southport
The annual Gold Coast Show brings together agricultural displays, sideshow alley, live entertainment and showbag pavilions across three days at Broadwater Parklands. A long-running community tradition, it suits families and couples alike and draws visitors from across South East Queensland.
Crafted Beer and Cider Festival 2026
Saturday 12 September 2026 | Kurrawa Park, Broadbeach
Celebrating its 10th anniversary edition, Crafted brings together independent breweries and cider makers for a single-day outdoor festival at Kurrawa Park in Broadbeach. Sample craft releases, enjoy live music and browse food vendors in a casual beachside setting.
BLEACH Festival 2026
1 – 11 October 2026 | HOTA, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise
An 11-day arts festival celebrating culture, dance, theatre, circus and outdoor installations at the HOTA precinct. BLEACH programmes range from free events to ticketed performances, making it accessible at any budget. One of the region's standout cultural events of the year.
This Moment Dining Experience at Palette Restaurant
Through 10 October 2026 (Saturday and Wednesday to Saturday sessions) | Palette Restaurant, HOTA, Surfers Paradise
A curated gallery tour followed by a two-course lunch at HOTA's celebrated Palette Restaurant. This intimate experience combines art with fine dining in a setting overlooking the arts precinct gardens. Designed for adults and couples, it's a memorable way to spend a Gold Coast afternoon.
Earlier 2026 editions of annual events
Gold Coast Open, Burleigh Heads, Feb 18 – 22, 2026
OSMAC Gold Coast Beach 5 Spring Festival, Greenmount Beach, Coolangatta, 13 – 15 February 2026
Creekfest On Currumbin Creek, Currumbin RSL, Thu, 19 March 2026
Bonsoy Gold Coast Pro, Snapper Rocks, Friday 01 May 2026
Cooly Classic Ocean Swim, Coolangatta, May 16-17, 2026
Cooly Rocks On, Coolangatta, 3 – 7 June 2026
Coolangatta Gold, Coolangatta Beach, 17 to 18 October 2026