Gold Coast festivals
The Gold Coast festival calendar blends free beachfront events, large-scale touring festivals and music weekends that draw crowds from across Queensland and beyond.
Major Gold Coast festivals
Australian country singer-songwriter Abbie Ferris performs at Groundwater Country Music Festival on the Gold Coast. Photo: Facebook.
The Gold Coast’s biggest festivals move between Broadbeach, Coolangatta, Southport and the wider city, mixing dance events, free multi-stage festivals and major touring brands.
Laneway Festival — February 7
Held at Southport Sharks, Laneway Festival became one of the Gold Coast’s biggest festival additions in 2026 after shifting from Brisbane.
Website → Laneway Festival Gold Coast
Ultra Beach — April 12
Held at Broadwater Parklands, Ultra Beach brings large-scale EDM production and international festival energy to the Gold Coast, built around dance music, big stages and a beachside setting.
Website → Ultra Beach Gold Coast
Blues on Broadbeach — May 14–17
Blues on Broadbeach brings major blues, roots and soul acts to venues and outdoor spaces across Broadbeach. The free festival has become one of the Gold Coast’s signature live music events, drawing audiences from across Australia.
Website → Blues on Broadbeach
Cooly Rocks On — June 3–7
Cooly Rocks On celebrates rock ’n’ roll, swing, rockabilly and vintage culture across Coolangatta. While broader than a straight music festival, its live program makes it a standout event on the Gold Coast calendar.
Website → Cooly Rocks On
BLEACH* — October 1–11
BLEACH* is the Gold Coast’s flagship contemporary arts festival, combining music, performance, visual art and large-scale public events across multiple locations. Its strong live performance program makes it an important part of the coast’s wider festival calendar.
Website → BLEACH*
Groundwater Country Music Festival — October 16–18
Groundwater Country Music Festival turns Broadbeach into a multi-stage country music hub across three days. With a strong mix of established and emerging artists, it has grown into one of the Gold Coast’s defining music festivals.
Website → Groundwater Country Music Festival
Gold Coast and nearby favourites
Nearby favourites
Gold Coast audiences also move between nearby Brisbane and South East Queensland events, with the wider region helping shape the festival year beyond the coastline itself.
Open Season — May 25 to July 25
Presented by The Tivoli Group, Open Season is Brisbane’s annual winter music and arts program, spanning multiple venues and public spaces across the city. Its scale and lineup breadth make it one of the region’s standout music-focused events.
Website → Open Season
Festival of the Stone — June 2026
Presented by Stone & Wood, Festival of the Stone is Byron Bay’s annual brewery and music event, bringing live music, beer and a relaxed Northern Rivers atmosphere together at the brewery.
Website → Festival of the Stone
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