16 July 2026
THE GOLD COAST IS SET FOR A HUGE SIX MONTHS OF EVENTS
EGC has supported an incredible year of major events, and there's no slowing down in the second half of 2026. The Gold Coast will welcome another exciting lineup of sport, festivals and live entertainment, ensuring the year finishes just as strongly as it started.
July sets the tone with the inaugural Gold Coast Festival of Skateboarding, Australia's largest multi-day celebration of skateboarding, youth culture and action sports, featuring elite competition, adaptive skateboarding, participation programs and activations across the city.
The action continues in August with Pacific Airshow Gold Coast, transforming Surfers Paradise into Australia's largest airshow with breathtaking aerial displays from the RAAF, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps and some of the world's best civilian aviators.
September celebrates a major milestone as Crafted Festival marks its 10th anniversary, bringing together the best of craft beer, live music and local food. The month also welcomes back Gymnastics Australia's premier participation event, the National Clubs Carnival, which has called the Gold Coast home since 2018 and attracts more than 4,500 gymnasts from across Australia.
October is absolutely stacked, with the 30th edition of the fisiocrem GC50 Run Festival, as well as Coolangatta Gold, one of the city's most loved events and a true test of surf lifesaving endurance. Groundwater Country Music Festival fills the streets of Broadbeach with free live music from some of Australia's biggest country artists, as well as our annual dose of arts and culture, BLEACH returning to celebrate the city's creative spirit. Surfers Paradise roars to life as the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 transforms the precinct into a high-octane festival of supercars racing, live entertainment and beachside energy, before the Gold Coast hosts a Rugby League World Cup triple-header featuring both men's and women's international matches.
November is equally exciting, with the Red Hot Summer Tour returning, this time to the sands of Coolangatta, with an all-star Australian music lineup headlined by the first Australian Crawl reunion in more than 40 years. The month also welcomes back the 14th Pan Pacific Masters Games. Held every two years, the Games bring more than 16,000 athletes competing across more than 40 sports, alongside a vibrant entertainment program that takes over the city. The major events calendar rounds out with the Australia v England T20 International, marking England's first international cricket match on the Gold Coast.
From international sport and live music to homegrown festivals and community favourites, the months ahead highlight the diversity of experiences that make the Gold Coast one of Australia's leading event destinations.
TAKE YOUR HOSPITALITY TO NEW HEIGHTS AT THE PACIFIC AIRSHOW GOLD COAST
Looking for a client experience that's anything but ordinary? The Pacific Airshow Gold Coast returns from 14-16 August, bringing Australia's largest airshow back to the iconic Surfers Paradise beachfront, along with a range of premium hospitality experiences designed to impress.
Whether you're entertaining valued clients, rewarding your team or simply looking for a memorable day out, there's an option to suit every occasion. Enjoy front-row views of breathtaking aerial displays from the RAAF, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Marine Corps and world-class civilian performers, all from exclusive beachfront hospitality spaces with premium food and beverage offerings.
From the relaxed atmosphere of the Garden Bar to private cabanas and premium beachfront chalets, it's a unique opportunity to connect, celebrate and experience one of the Gold Coast's most spectacular events from the best seat on the beach. Premium hospitality packages are on sale now, with limited availability across the event weekend.
TOUCH RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP HEADS TO THE GOLD COAST
The Gold Coast will welcome the 2026 Touch Rugby League World Cup and State of Origin, with Runaway Bay Sports Precinct set to host the event from 24-26 July. Touch Rugby League (TRL) is a non-contact version of rugby league, combining the structure of the traditional game with an accessible, social and fast-paced format. As one of Australia's fastest-growing sports, TRL continues to attract participants of all ages and abilities.
The 2026 event will bring together teams from around Australia and overseas to compete across Men's, Women's, Mixed and Men's 30s divisions. The action kicks off on Friday with the State of Origin, before the Touch Rugby League World Cup takes centre stage across the weekend.
The event is another welcome addition to the city's diverse events calendar and will deliver an exciting weekend of competition at Runaway Bay Sports Precinct. The Gold Coast has secured the Touch Rugby League World Cup and State of Origin through to 2028, ensuring the event remains on the city's sporting calendar for a further two years.
VIEW THE 2 JULY 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.