Excitement is building as Australia’s largest nostalgia festival, Cooly Rocks On, gets ready to swing back into Coolangatta on the Gold Coast from 3-7 June, celebrating everything yesteryear with a full program of classic cars and iconic music.
The five-day festival is free to attend with bespoke ticketed offerings available from today for those who wish to elevate their Cooly Rocks On 2026 experience.
“Every year Cooly Rocks On delivers a festival program that offers something truly special for lovers of nostalgia, celebrating the music, style and spirit of these iconic eras,” said Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn.
This year’s festival will do that once again, with crowd favourite events including the renowned Show ’N’ Shine, incredible tribute performances celebrating the legends we love, and the highly anticipated Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.”
“Whether you’re a lifelong fan or discovering nostalgia for the first time, there’s something for everyone, so don’t miss your chance to be part of Australia’s biggest celebration of the past.”
The Cooly Rocks On Show ‘N’ Shine proudly presented by Autoglym is on the bucket list for car enthusiasts as one of the country’s biggest showcases of classic cars and free for spectators. The renowned event features more than 1000 classic, hot rods and muscle cars manufactured on or before 1979 on display across six zones along the iconic beachside precinct of Coolangatta.
“It’s great for Autoglym to once again be part of Cooly Rocks On and present the Show ’N’ Shine, one of Australia’s largest classic car showcases,” said Autoglym Head of Marketing David Turney.
“This show brings together an incredible collection of more than 1000 cars and their passionate owners, and we love being involved in a festival that celebrates the craftsmanship and stories behind these fantastic machines.”
The dedicated 80’s zone is returning for the second year and will feature a spectacular curated lineup of cars from 1980-1985 celebrating the bold design, colour and unmistakable flair of the decade.
For those eager to start their engines early, the Early Bird Show ‘N’ Shine will be held on Thursday 4 June and Friday 5 June with tickets now available. The popular Show ‘N’ Shine Weekend Pass + Night Cruise also returns as a bundled option.
Those looking to get their dancing shoes on will have the chance to secure tickets to the ever-popular Moonlight Swing Dance.
The entertainment continues on Friday with Elvis: Live at Madison Square Garden. The show features current Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Competition winner Jimmy Holmes alongside 2019 champion Taylor Rodriguez from the USA, celebrating Elvis Presley’s legendary 1972 and 1973 Madison Square Garden concerts. Audiences are in for a high-energy tribute packed with the iconic hits that cemented Elvis as the King of Rock ’n’ Roll.
Adding to the entertainment at Cooly Rocks On 2026 is a spectacular lineup of ticketed tribute shows with a strong rock-leaning sound, while still remaining true to the event’s retro and rockabilly roots.
The feast of musical nostalgia continues all weekend with Tusk - The Fleetwood Mac Tribute Show, The Bee Gees Revival Tribute Show and The Queen Rhapsody Tribute Show.
The highly anticipated Cooly Rocks On Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist (UETA) Contest is back with tickets on sale for all three rounds of the competition. The annual contest attracts some of the best Elvis Tribute Artists throughout the country and overseas and is one of only three preliminary contests in Australia sanctioned by Elvis Presley Enterprises. The 2026 winner will go on to represent Cooly Rocks On in Memphis later this year to compete for the ultimate top prize of being named the best in the world at Elvis Week.
Produced by Experience Gold Coast, Cooly Rocks On turns back the clock from 3-7 June transforming Coolangatta into a nostalgic wonderland giving visitors the opportunity to take a trip down memory lane and see the best of rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly and swing.
Visitors can immerse themselves in a stellar program of free live music across the outdoor and indoor stages throughout the precinct, wander through the nostalgia markets and meet this year’s Cooly Rocks On Pin-up Pageant Finalists.
Cooly Rocks On is produced by Experience Gold Coast and supported by the Queensland Government, through Tourism and Events Queensland.
Cooly Rocks On
3-7 June 2026 | Coolangatta, Gold Coast
Tickets available on sale Thursday 12 February from 10am AEST (QLD time) HERE
Download the media kit HERE
Media accreditation application is HERE
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.