1 May 2025
WHAT'S ON
A SERIES OF POP UPS WITH MARCO PIERRE WHITE
Thursday, 5 June – Saturday, 7 June 2025
Step inside the story of a legend.
HOTA will once again host the inimitable Marco Pierre White – the original rockstar chef, the youngest ever to earn three Michelin stars and grandfather to modern gastronomy.
Experience six unforgettable events, that fuse fine food, captivating conversation and unforgettable conversations with a culinary icon.
This is your once-in-a-lifetime chance to dine with a legend, learn from the best and savour a series that will go down in culinary history.
Seats are limited, and demand is high — book your events now before they’re gone!
WONDER 25: SOUNDS LIKE GOLD
By Gold Coast Music Network
Sunday, 1 June 2025
As part of WONDER 2025, welcome Sounds Like Gold; an all-ages music festival celebrating the brightest homegrown talent soundtracking our city.
Held on the iconic HOTA Outdoor Stage, experience the best of the Gold Coast's thriving music scenes with live performances from Hollow Coves, JK-47, Girl and Girl, Emily Grace Taylor and more.
For 10 years, the Gold Coast Music Awards have been shining a spotlight on the region’s top talent - now, Sounds Like Gold brings that celebration to the main stage.
Get ready for a night of live music, interactive fun, and surprises that’ll keep the whole crew entertained. Oh, and did we mention it’s FREE?
Presented by Experience Gold Coast through the EGC Arts Fund.
WONDER: CLOUD PLAY
Image: supplied render
Saturday, 31 May – Sunday, 13 July 2025
WONDER 2025 will see our biggest and boldest, 'not to be missed', artwork to date.
CLOUD PLAY by international artist Patrick Shearn of Poetic Kinetics, will feature as the hero artwork of Wonder 2025, designed exclusively for the Gold Coast, and exhibited at HOTA, Home of the Arts from Saturday 31 May - Sunday 13 July.
CLOUD PLAY is a 520sqm kinetic sculpture that soars in the sky, harnessing the wind as a constant reminder or nature moving around us. Making up this stunning movement of artistry and engineering are tens of thousands of ribbons that hold messages from the Gold Coast community.
The Sky Ribbons project undertaken in March, asked Gold Coasters to complete the sentence, ‘I’m grateful to call the Gold Coast home because…’. These written responses now installed within the artwork carry a living narrative that embodies the beating heart of the Gold Coast and its community in the spirit of gratitude.
Complementing the sculptural majesty of CLOUD PLAY will be an ethereal soundscape that blends ancient indigenous knowledge with an original score and natural sound recordings by Saltwater man Lann Levinge, Jose Carbo and didgeridoo virtuoso, William Barton.
By night, experience CLOUD PLAY in a different light as the team at IKONIX illuminate the work and site with a stunning display of light that responds to wind data and changes as the sculpture moves and dances across the sky in a symphony of colour.
This Australian exclusive and limited international exhibition promises to be a must-see attraction for locals and visitors, and it can be experienced at HOTA’s Outdoor Stage.
STRICTLY BAZ LUHRMANN: THE CONCERT
Saturday, 14 June 2025
As part of WONDER: CLOUD PLAY, join us for Strictly Baz Luhrmann: The Concert.
This signature performance under celebrated conductor Vanessa Scammell, will see four of Australia’s finest singers, Alinta Chidzey, Tim Draxl, Ryan Gonzalez and Phoebe Panaretos backed by Camerata, Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra, bringing to life the music from Baz Luhrmann films.
From Strictly Ballroom, Romeo + Juliet, Moulin Rouge! and Elvis, audiences will be treated to all the favourites such as Love is in the Air, Young Hearts Run Free, Come What May, plus many more.
Join us for a special night live on the outdoor stage with opulence and a score of unforgettable cinematic soundtracks.
Strictly Baz Luhrmann: The Concert is presented with Opera Australia in association with Make My Mark on Saturday, 14 June as part of WONDER: CLOUD PLAY.
WRITERS REVEALED: IN CONVERSATION WITH LEIGH SALES AND ANNABEL CRABB
Friday, 6 June 2025
As part of Writers Revealed, join powerhouses Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb as they take a deep dive to reveal their own personal reflections and musings of writing, stories and authors.
Through shared conversations, they will talk about the literature they love, the stories they get lost in, the authors that inspired them and books that had the most profound impact on them.
If you’re a fan of storytelling, writing, good friends, and book clubs, you will love this conversation between these two remarkable women.
This featured event as part of Writers Revealed will take place in Theatre 1 on Friday, 6 June. Tickets available now.
GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL
Wednesday, 30 April – Sunday, 11 May 2025
The Gold Coast Film Festival (GCFF) is a celebration of film and filmmaking; now in its 24th year, GCFF 2025 will showcase amazing local and international films, exploring diverse stories and unique perspectives on-screen through its short and feature film programme.
Across 12 incredible days, the festival includes inspirational panels, outdoor screenings, and special events at HOTA, including the crowd favourite event, SIPFest (Shorts in Paradise), that sees thousands gather under the stars.
The festival proudly offers several free-to-attend industry education events, providing inspiring and incredible opportunities for emerging and established screen creatives to learn, connect and grow.
The Gold Coast Film Festival is supported by the Queensland State Government through Screen Queensland, Experience Gold Coast along with Tourism and Events Queensland and venue partner HOTA, Home of the Arts.
GOLD COAST FILM FESTIVAL 2025 SIPFEST: SHORTS IN PARADISE
Saturday, 10 May 2025
Gather your friends, pull up a picnic rug and join us under the stars at the incredible HOTA Outdoor Stage for SIPFest (Shorts in Paradise). The premiere Gold Coast short film festival competition will showcase some of the best short films submitted from around Australia and Internationally.
With live music, incredible short films, food trucks and bars, this is the ultimate outdoor film experience and best of all IT’S FREE! The night culminates in the live announcement and presentation of the SIPFest award categories and gives our audience the opportunity to vote for their favourite "People's Choice" award on the night!
Proudly supported by Experience Gold Coast through the EGC Arts Fund.
CRUISE INTO ART AND INDULGENCE: A GOLD COAST JOURNEY TO HOTA
Discover the perfect mix of art, culture, and stunning waterfront views with the HOTA, Home of the Arts, Cruise & Dine Experience Pass.
Start your journey with a short leisurely ride aboard Hopo, cruising through the scenic Gold Coast waterways enroute to HOTA. Once there, immerse yourself in the vibrant HOTA Gallery, home to a dynamic array of exhibitions and its latest highlight, Writers Revealed - a rare collection of world-famous portraits and manuscripts from iconic literary figures, spanning six centuries. Showing until 3 August, this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to get up close with legends of English literature.
After exploring the gallery, treat yourself to a delicious culinary interlude using your included $30 food and beverage voucher at The Exhibitionist Bar. This rooftop haven offers sweeping views of the Gold Coast, thoughtfully curated cuisine, finely crafted drinks and offers a seamless transition from Art to flavour. Whether you're drawn by a passion for the arts, a love of fine food, or a desire to see the Gold Coast from a fresh perspective, this experience promises a memorable fusion of creativity, cuisine, and coastal beauty.
VIEW THE 17 APRIL 2025 ARTS & CULTURE UPDATE
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.