17 April 2025
SOLENTO SURF FESTIVAL
For the first time outside of the United States, acclaimed surf filmmaker Taylor Steele will bring his Solento Surf Festival to the Gold Coast for a week-long celebration of surf, film, art and music. We are thrilled to have secured the festival’s international debut for the Gold Coast, which will celebrate our city’s rich surf culture and creative energy.
The multi-faceted program will feature a community surf contest where locals can take on pro surfers, alongside film screenings, live music, a visual art exhibit and masterclasses that celebrate surf culture.
With ties to the United States and global surfing communities, the event will bring people together to share stories and experiences inspired by a love of surfing.
The festival will run from 7 - 14 June 2025, spanning Burleigh Heads beach, the new Mondrian Gold Coast, and HOTA, Home of the Arts.
4 WEEKS, OVER 16 STAGES, 60+ ARTISTS: BLUES ON BROADBEACH COUNTDOWN BEGINS!
The countdown is ON - in just four weeks, over 60 mind-blowing artists will take to over 16 epic stages and venues in the heart of the Gold Coast! From 15 -18 May, the city will be buzzing with blues, rhythm, and soul.
Download the Blues on Broadbeach 2025 App to check out the latest additions to the incredible lineup, and get ready to access the full schedule, build your dream lineup, receive real-time updates, explore festival maps, and more!
Kicking things off on Thursday are Stefan Hauk and Jason Delphin, launching a jam-packed day of blues - capped off with Bondi Cigars at Victoria Park and Frank Sultana at Den Devine.
Friday heats up with Queenie, Eli Paperboy Reed, and DIESEL at Kurrawa Park, plus Sunpie Barnes (USA) & Dom Turner, BOB Log III, BULLHORN, and more lighting up the night.
On Saturday, powerhouse live dance act Salmonella Dub Soundsystem hits the stage as well as Memphis-born blues virtuoso Eric Gales. Plus, don’t miss the iconic sister duo Vika & Linda and headliners The Cruel Sea.
Then on Sunday, Australian rock legend Jimmy Barnes brings his one-off Soul Deep show to Kurrawa Park (ticketed), while the non-ticketed program features 8 Ball Aitken’s All Star Jam, The Meltdown, and so much more.
Don’t miss a moment - download the festival app or visit bluesonbroadbeach.com for all the details!
ATE COMES TO HOTA
Australia's largest annual tourism trade event, the Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE), will take place at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from Sunday 27 April to Thursday 1 May, 2025.
ATE brings together tourism businesses from across the country to highlight their products and experiences, showcasing the best of Australia, and more specifically showcases why Queensland is a must-see, and vibrant destination. This event will unite Australian tourism operators, wholesalers, retailers, and media from around the globe, providing opportunities for networking, collaboration, and business.
HOTA, Home of the Arts, is celebrated as the Gold Coast’s cultural hub, blending arts, entertainment, and lifestyle while showcasing the city’s creative spirit. As HOTA continues to attract national and international visitors with its gallery and world-class performances, it is an ideal venue to host delegates for ATE 2025.
Thanks to Tourism and Events Queensland, HOTA will offer a series of familiarisation programs, both pre and post ATE. These programs will give international buyers a chance to explore and experience the precinct, from visiting the Sunday markets to experiencing the art on display, learning about the renowned shows that take place here, and providing the opportunity to enjoy our incredible culinary offerings.
AUSTRALIAN PICKLEBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
The Australian Pickleball Championships has announced the dates for its 2025 return to the Gold Coast following the event’s smash hit debut in our city in 2024 that saw over 2000 people converge for the southern hemisphere’s largest annual pickleball tournament.
Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports around the world, with Pickleball Australia recently celebrating 18,000 official members. The Gold Coast has positioned itself at the heart of the sport’s growth, with the Australian Pickleball Championships locked in for our city until 2027.
The next Australian Pickleball Championships will be held 29 September – 6 October 2025 at the largest sports precinct on the northern Gold Coast, Pimpama Sports Hub.
Event registrations open soon for picklers ranging from amateur to pro, and the event site will have a fun festival atmosphere for those keen to spectate this rising sport.
VIEW THE 3 APRIL 2025 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.