12 of Queensland’s most accessible events to check out this year
Event
By Scott Russell
Watch the world’s best hit a hole in one, experience chamber music in the tropics or enjoy an art festival along the beachfront—when it comes to events, Queensland has it all.
We believe that events should be inclusive and accessible to all. To help you find an event that meets your needs, we’ve put together a list of our favourite accessible events in Queensland to check out.
Medieval living history, seaside fun runs, elite sports, and fireworks along the Brisbane River—you’ll find it all right here in Queensland.
Ability Fest, Brisbane
When: 26 October 2024
Not-for-profit event, Ability Fest is a music festival designed for everyone to experience the magic of live music, with 100% of proceeds going directly to the Dylan Alcott Foundation.
Celebrating its fifth edition in Brisbane, come along for a beautiful day of live music and community.
Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast
Groundwater Country Music Festival, Gold Coast
When: 18 - 20 October 2024
A festival where you can pack your cowboy boots and your beach towel? Sign us up! Groundwater Country Music Festival brings some of the biggest names in country music to Broadbeach for a free, three day-festival, headlined in 2023 by Australia’s Lee Kernaghan, and Jackson Dean from Nashville. 2024 lineup to be announced shortly.
The festival offers viewing platforms, accessible toilets and an accessibility map. Because of the mixed terrain (gravel, grass), organisers recommend that wheelchair-users use a wheelchair with large wheels.
Australian PGA Championship, Brisbane
When: 21 - 24 November 2024
The prestigious DP World Tour tees off with the Australian PGA Championships at the illustrious Royal Queensland Golf Club, where the world’s best will compete for $2 million in prize money.
Witness your heroes up close along the course, make your way to the three-par 17th ‘Party Hole’, where the beats are pumping and the beers are cold, or let the kids loose on the Callaway Kids Course.
An accessible map highlighting the accessible viewing path and wheelchair-specific viewing points is available, along with directional signage for spectators with low vision.
Woodford Folk Festival, Brisbane
Woodford Folk Festival, Brisbane
When: 27 December 2024 – 1 January 2025
More than just a music festival, the Woodford Folk Festival is a lifestyle—six days of music, dance, culture, food and art that brings together Australia’s largest gathering of performers.
Live the bohemian life and start your day with meditation. Admire stunning art installations, take a dip in Lake Gluka, and choose from over a thousand performances—just don’t miss the spectacular New Years’ Day Fire Event.
The festival is on rugged ground, but has accessible parking and camping close to performance venues (including a free bus to the fire event for people with disabilities). The festival also offers selected Auslan interpreted performances, refrigeration for medication, and complimentary carer tickets.
This year's tickets will be launched soon. Use this festival guide to help plan your adventure.
NRL Magic Round, Brisbane
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
When: May 2025
It’s the weekend all footy fans want a part of. Over three days, an entire round of NRL plays out at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium – and the atmosphere at the stadium and neighbouring Caxton Street precinct is electric. But what makes it special is it’s truly a weekend for all fans, no matter what supporter’s jersey you’re pulling on or what access needs you may require.
The stadium’s state-of-the-art design includes 220 wheelchair positions with 220 escort seats, over 300 enhanced amenity seats, manned lifts, along with two Changing Places facilities, a parents room, quiet rook and audio loop and hearing assistance. They’ve worked with Autism Spectrum Australia to develop a visual story to prepare for a visit to the stadium, and have introduced the Sunflower Program so those with hidden disabilities are able to get the assistance they need.
Find more accessibility information – including how to purchase accessibility tickets – here.
Horizon Festival, Sunshine Coast
When: 2 - 11 May 2025
From the beach to the hinterland, Horizon Festival brings together dance, music, cabaret, comedy, theatre, and visual art into a multi-arts extravaganza.
Catch a show in the Wonderland Speigeltent, marvel at the art and culture of First Nations artists and performers or enjoy free live music in the afternoon—there’s something for everyone.
Detailed accessibility information is available for each event, including wheelchair and mobility aid access information, visual content (from partially subtitled with background music to events with no sound at all) and availability of Auslan interpretation.
Abbey Medieval Festival Brisbane
Abbey Medieval Festival, Caboolture
When: TBC September 2025
Medieval Europe comes to Caboolture at the annual Abbey Medieval Festival, where re-enactors, musicians, archers, jousters, Turkish oil wrestlers and sword-fighters bring the Middle Ages to life.
Cannon-fire, birds of prey and lavish banquets are among the attractions at this colourful living history festival, which takes place at the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology.
The festival site is mostly flat, with disabled parking, detailed accessibility guides and maps, facilities for service animals, and a sensory quiet tent available.
Jetty 2 Jetty Fun Run, Redcliffe (Brisbane)
When: TBC July 2025
Views out to Mulgumpin (Moreton Island), the world’s third largest sand island, provide the seaside backdrop to the Jetty 2 Jetty Fun Run.
What began as a fun run between the Woody Point and Redcliffe Jetty has grown into an event for 4,000 competitors, who tackle courses ranging from three kilometres to the half-marathon.
There is a 10-kilometre elite wheelchair race, while entrants with manual wheelchairs, power wheelchairs and power assisted devices can enter all events except the half-marathon and 10-kilometre wheelchair race.
Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Townsville
Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Townsville
When: 25 July - 2 August 2025
The Australian Festival of Chamber Music brings chamber music to the tropics—each year, some of the world’s best musicians perform across 30 concerts over 10 days.
There are a range of free and ticketed events to suit everyone from aficionados to those just starting to dip their toes into the world of chamber music. Soak up Schubert's most joyful and poignant melodies at the Sunday Night Concert at Townsville Civic Centre, embark on a whale-watching tour that ends with a concert on Magnetic Island, join a masterclass, or lay down a picnic rug and enjoy the free Queens Garden Concert (entirely accessible, along with the festival garden precinct).
Hearing Assistance is available at the Townsville Civic Centre, while the festival precinct offers rest stops and quiet zones.
BLEACH* Festival, Gold Coast
Bleach Festival, Gold Coast
When: TBC August 2025
The Gold Coast's natural landscape becomes a canvas for BLEACH*, an exciting showcase of contemporary art from 300 world-renowned artists.
Detailed information is available on the festival website outlining the accessibility and audio, visual and sensory content of each event with Auslan interpretation and audio descriptions available for selected events. Many performances are almost entirely visual or audio making them suitable for people who are hard of hearing or with low vision respectively.
Brisbane Festival, Brisbane
Brisbane Festival, Brisbane
When: TBC September 2025
Discover the magic of Brisbane, as spring's blooming jacaranda trees paint the suburbs purple and Brisbane Festival takes centre stage in a celebration of arts, theatre, music, and dance.
See the skyline lit up with fireworks during Riverfire. Marvel at the world premiere 'Love Stories' - Brisbane author Trent Dalton's book-turned-play, or new Torres Strait Island musical 'Strait from the Strait' - both of which offer dedicated Auslan and audio-described performances. There are musical adventures for kids and performances of all genres to enjoy.
Visit the festival website to filter events by accessibility options, including Auslan interpretation, assistive listening, audio descriptions, and open captioning. Complimentary tickets are also available for Companion Card holders.
SWELL Sculpture Festival, Currumbin Beach (Gold Coast)
Swell Sculpture Festival , Gold Coast
When: TBC September 2025
Art and surf come together at SWELL Sculpture Festival, a free and all-inclusive event featuring over 70 large-scale sculptures along Currumbin Beach.
Learn about the stories of local, Australian and international artists by attending twilight walks, artist talks, workshops and masterclasses throughout the 10-day event.
Most of the sculptures can be seen from the concrete path that runs along the beach, while beach matting provides additional access to the sand.
Making your way to Currumbin? Use this guide to plan your visit.
1770 Cultural Connections Immersion Festival | Seventeen Seventy (Southern Great Barrier Reef)
When: TBC October 2025
Immerse yourself in Indigenous history and culture at the 1770 Cultural Connections Immersion Festival, held in the town of Seventeen Seventy at the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef.
Dance, music, arts, crafts and speeches tell the stories of the Byellee, Gurang, Gooreng Gooreng and Taribelang Bunda peoples, from their pre-1770 history through to their ongoing survival today.
The festival features LED screens and stands so that visitors with a disability can enjoy the entertainment and cultural activities.
Seeking more accessible adventures in Queensland? Head to our Accessible Travel Hub for inspo.
