Unmissable Gold Coast events to mark on your calendar
Event
By Jarrod Meakins
Famous for its vibrancy and energy, with the type of events that make the hairs on your arm stand and your heart beat just a little faster, the Gold Coast is an entertainment playground.
From sporting blockbusters to endurance events and music festivals, here are the unmissable Gold Coast events you should mark in your calendar.
Sporting blockbusters
Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500
Supercars Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500
When: 24 - 26 October 2025
Switch on the lights. The Supercars Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 returns to the streets of Surfers Paradise. The high-octane atmosphere continues off-track with meet-and-greets, live music and helicopter tours during the carnival.
Coolangatta Gold
When: TBC 2025
Prepare to become a master of the seas. One of the most challenging endurance races in surf sports, the Coolangatta Gold is tempting water fiends across the country to fine-tune their multi-disciplinary techniques so they can swim, run, paddle board and surf ski to salty glory in either the 32.4km Short Course or 41.5km Long Course.
Starting and finishing at Coolangatta (Cooly), the Long Course event heads down to Broadbeach and back, covering some of the most beautiful stretches of coastline on the Gold Coast.
Pan Pacific Masters Games
When: TBC 2025
The Gold Coast’s famous celebration of master sports will showcase competition in more than 40 sports at some of the best sporting facilities on the planet and feature an amazing entertainment program at the Games Village.
Thousands of participants from all over the country are converging on one of the most popular holiday destinations to compete in the 13th Pan Pacific Masters Games on the beautiful Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia.
The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival
When: TBC January 2026
Don your best get-up for one of the Gold Coast’s most internationally renowned sporting events.. There are plenty of fast-paced races to check out plus live entertainment and of course – fashions on the field. Here's the ultimate guide to the Magic Millions Carnival.
Gold Coast Open
When: TBC February 2026
Pop yourself on the sand of Burleigh for a front-row seat to the Gold Coast Open. Witness the best of the best battling it out at one of surfing’s most iconic breaks. Additional attractions include sunrise yoga sessions, live bands and skateboarding events. Post-event, there’s nothing better than enjoying a cold one with the locals overlooking the ocean – simple yet perfect.
Summer of Surf – Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic
When: TBC February 2026
Soak up the quintessential beach culture of the Gold Coast as you celebrate Australia's surfing culture. The Summer of Surf event, which includes the prestigious Shannon Eckstein Ironman Classic, showcases some of the fittest athletes in Australia racing in the surf – however, it's open to all and makes for incredible spectator viewing and family-friendly fun.
Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle Grand Final
When: TBC March 2026
The Hyundai Australian Boardriders Battle is one of the most highly anticipated events on the Surfing Australia calendar. This event features incredible surf talent and will be held at one of the world-famous point breaks on the Gold Coast, Burleigh Heads.
Pho3nix Gold Coast Triathlon – Luke Harrop Memorial
When: 5 - 6 April 2025
Push yourself with this ultimate triathlon. Children as young as seven can get involved in the Kids Triathlon and Aquathon, while the adults can test themselves with a 750m swim, 20km bike, and a 750m sprint. Or if you prefer to watch, there’s plenty of excitement and cheering to be had on the sidelines as some of the country’s best athletes hit the course.
Gold Coast Running Festival
When: 28 April 2025
Pull on your runners and hit the pavement for the 12th anniversary of the 7News Gold Coast Running Festival. Test your speed solo or gather a crew for a social trot in the Gold Coast sunshine. With everything from a 1km dash to a 5km run and a half marathon, no matter your fitness level there’s a track for you.
Cooly Classic Ocean Swim
When: 12 - 13 April 2025
The Gold Coast’s premier ocean swim, the Cooly Classic Ocean Swim is an annual event that offers participants four distances (1km, 2km, 3km and 5km) in which to compete, with the 2km Cooly Classic from Snapper Rocks to Kirra Beach – passing Rainbow Bay, Greenmount and Coolangatta beaches along the way – the most popular of the four races. For younger swimmers (10-16 years old), the 1km Junior Giants from Coolangatta to Kirra Beach is a popular event where family and friends are encouraged to share in the experience and swim alongside the kids.
Australian Open Lawn Bowls
When: 7 - 20 June 2025
Think Bowls is only for an older demographic? Maybe you’ve never sat green-side, beer in hand, watching as a bowl begins to pull up perilously close to the jack.
The Gold Coast continues to entrench itself as the home of Bowls in Australia, with the iconic Queensland sporting event, the 2024 World Bowls Championships to be held at three Gold Coast clubs. Broadbeach Bowls Club, Musgrave Hill Bowls Club and Club Helensvale will host the two-week-long tournament, with over 240 bowlers expected to take part in one of the world’s best Bowls events.
Gold Coast Marathon
When: 5 - 6 July 2025
The Gold Coast Marathon brings more than 27,000 participants of all ages and abilities to compete across multiple formats along one of the flattest and fastest courses in the world. The marathon is the premier event, but you can’t go past the wheelchair marathon for sheer excitement and inspiration. These men and women are true champions as they travel 42.195km with their arms faster than most of us could do on a motorcycle.
Check out our complete guide to the GC Marathon and while you’re at it, have a peruse of other marathons across Queensland worth travelling for.
2025 Lifesaving World Championships
When: 29 March - 6 April
The Lifesaving World Championships event showcases excellence in lifesaving sport and rescue through different competition events on the beach, in the ocean and in the pool. It attracts the world’s most talented and skilled lifesaving athletes, competing for the title of 'the world’s best'. Running over 19 days, the beach and ocean events will be held at Kurrawa Beach, Broadbeach and Gold Coast Aquatic Centre for pool rescue events.
Music, movies and masterpieces
SWELL Sculpture Festival, Gold Coast
Groundwater Country Music Festival, Broadbeach
When: 17 - 19 October 2025
One of Australia’s fastest-growing country music festivals, Groundwater Country Music Festival (CMF) is a free three-day music event held over a number of stages along Surf Parade in beautiful Broadbeach. Showcasing some of the country’s premier country music icons such as last year's headliners Fanny Lumsden and Travis Collins, along with select international artists, this year’s festival is shaping up to be one of the best years yet!
Gold Coast Film Festival
When: 16 - 27 April 2025
The city’s flagship film event, the Gold Coast Film Festival, brings cinema to life in distinctly Gold Coast fashion for the 2025 edition of the festival. The 2025 program which will be announced in the lead-up to the event, will feature more than 100 films and special events like music trivia, long lunches, panel talks and parties.
Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival
When: 15 - 18 May 2025
The streets, parks and venues across Broadbeach will rattle and hum to the sound of blues once again for the Blues on Broadbeach Music Festival. Held across the central Gold Coast suburb over four days, this is one of the biggest free music festivals in Australia and with sensational dining, world-famous beaches and ancient rainforests just a short drive away, this is the perfect event to base a Gold Coast long weekend around.
Cooly Rocks On
When: 4 - 8 June 2025
Slick back your hair and don your polka dot dress, because the Cooly Rocks On is back. Relive the nostalgic culture, cars and music of the 50s and beyond as you transform back in time at the iconic beachside streetscape of Coolangatta.
Celebrate the good ol’ days complete with vintage markets, outdoor dance workshops, live music and signature street parade. Soon you’ll be twisting your hips like they did back then.
BLEACH* Festival
When: TBC 2025
Ready to be inspired? One of the country's leading contemporary arts events, BLEACH* Festival is set to launch an exciting, re-imagined program for 2023. Experience the Gold Coast's landscapes and public spaces to become unconventional venues for a range of arts performances, including moving storytelling from the traditional custodians of this land.
Pacific Airshow
When: 15 - 17 August 2025
The largest airshow in the United States is going international – taking the Gold Coast to new heights in August 2023. Over three days, visitors will experience jaw-dropping aviation antics high in the sky - while on the sand, there’s live music, food precincts and loads of entertainment. Here's everything you need to know.
SPRINGTIME Festival
When: TBC September 2025
What's the only thing better than an incredible festival that brings world-class local and national dance music artists to multiple stages throughout Surfers Paradise? When it's all served up for free! Now in its second year, SPRINGTIME is an epic music festival that celebrates music, art and the feel-good vibes of spring.
Once you've worked up an appetite, hit up our picks of the best restaurants in Surfers Paradise.
SWELL Sculpture Festival
When: 12 - 21 September 2025
SWELL is Queensland’s premier outdoor sculpture exhibition and presents up to 50 Australian and international artists to captivate the hearts and minds of all who visit. Set along Gold Coast’s Currumbin Beach, the free event transforms the coastal landscape, showcasing thought-provoking and sculpturally impressive works across a range of mediums.
To turn SWELL into the perfect family weekend, add on a day at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (here’s our one-day guide) and cool down with a family SUP or kayak along Currumbin Creek.
Crafted Beer & Cider Festival, Broadbeach
When: TBC September 2025
Featuring a line-up of 300+ craft brews from over 40 brewers right across the country, a range of tasty food trucks and some of Australia’s top musical talent, the Crafted Beer & Cider Festival is a must-do Gold Coast event. While 2023's line-up hasn't yet been revealed, tickets are usually snapped up fast, so be quick if you’re to join in the action.
Looking for more ideas on else to do on your visit? Here are 30 of the best things to do on the Gold Coast.
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