12 March 2026
GOLD COAST MARATHON WINS SPORTING EVENT OF THE YEAR
The ASICS Gold Coast Marathon has been named the 2025 Gold Coast Sporting Event of the Year. The prestigious award was presented at the 57th Gold Coast Sports Awards on the 28 February at The Star, Gold Coast, which celebrated the city’s top athletes, volunteers, and sporting achievements for 2025.
The 2025 race delivered the event’s biggest ever turnout, with more than 39,000 registered participants hitting the course across the weekend which was the largest field in its 45-year history. The impact of the Gold Coast Marathon is substantial, delivering an economic boost across accommodation, restaurants, cafés and retail precincts, while further strengthening the Gold Coast’s profile as a destination that delivers world-class events and experiences.
Momentum is already building for the 2026 event, with both the marathon and half marathon selling out within 24 hours of entries opening.
GOLD COAST GEARS UP FOR THE AUSSIES 2026
The Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, ‘The Aussies’, will return to the Gold Coast from 21–29 March 2026, bringing together more than 300 surf clubs and 7,000 competitors across more than 500 beach, ocean, surf boat, board riding, lifesaving and adaptive surf sports events.
The Aussies are the centrepiece event on the annual surf sport calendar and is one of the largest participation events in the southern hemisphere. Beyond elite competition, the event develops practical skills for surf lifesavers, with the physical and mental demands of racing aimed at building fitter, faster, and stronger lifesavers who patrol beaches nationwide. Every competitor at The Aussies 2026 is a qualified and proficient surf lifesaver, showcasing both the high-performance sport and community impact.
The competition is hosted across North Kirra SLSC (ocean and beach events), Tugun SLSC (surf boats) and Bilinga SLSC (lifesaving events).
FESTIVAL OF GOLF HEADLINED BY THE AUSTRALIAN WPGA CHAMPIONSHIP
The Australian WPGA Championship will return to the Gold Coast from 19–22 March 2026, as part of the Festival of Golf at Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club. The Palms course will host world-class golf action, featuring top female golfers from the WPGA Tour of Australasia and the Ladies European Tour competing for the prestigious Karrie Webb Cup.
The 2026 Championship will mark the event’s first standalone edition following the 2025 cancellation due to Cyclone Alfred. The Festival of Golf transforms the precinct into a celebration of golf, fashion and community, offering visitors the chance to watch, play, learn, shop and enjoy a truly memorable experience.
Highlights include the Golf Discovery Hub, bringing together leading golf and lifestyle brands, retailers, and operators; the Wine & Dine Precinct, serving craft beverages and tasty bites from local food trucks; and the Festival Village, featuring music, pop-up bars, interactive golf challenges, chill-out zones and retail experiences.
The 2026 Australian WPGA Championship and Festival of Golf is free to attend, and to elevate your visit, there are limited exclusive experiences available, including a Players Party, wine tastings, and access to the Champions Lounge overlooking the 18th green.
TAP INTO THE POWER OF THE T100 TRIATHLON WORLD TOUR ON THE GOLD COAST 20-22 MARCH
The T100 Triathlon World Tour debuts on the Gold Coast from 20–22 March, delivering three days of world-class racing along our iconic coastline. The Event Expo will run at Broadwater Parklands on Friday and Saturday from 9am–3pm, featuring athlete registrations, brand activations, food and entertainment. The Olympic distance triathlon, 10km race and T100 age group events, all open to the public, will start at Broadwater Parklands and finish in Surfers Paradise.
The elite T100 race, showcasing some of the world’s best female triathletes, both starts and finishes in Surfers Paradise, with prime viewing along the foreshore. Spectators can expect a high-energy atmosphere as athletes tackle the swim, bike and run against the backdrop of the city skyline and beachfront, creating a spectacular showcase for the global race in the heart of the Gold Coast.
The event is expected to attract thousands of competitors and spectators to the Gold Coast across the weekend. Local businesses can capitalise on this influx by submitting exclusive offers tailored to visiting athletes and supporters, helping drive foot traffic, extend stays and maximise the economic impact of the event.
VIEW THE 26 FEB 2026 EVENTS 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.