Events Update

4 September 2025

GOLD COAST SHINES WITH A BLOCKBUSTER SCHOOL HOLIDAY CALENDAR

It’s school holiday time again and the Gold Coast is set to shine with a vibrant line-up of spring events that celebrate the city’s unique blend of sport, lifestyle and culture – delivering strong tourism outcomes across the region.

The holidays open with the final weekend of the SWELL Sculpture Festival (12–21 September) featuring wellness sessions, workshops, live music and large-scale art along Currumbin beach. At Tugun, Australia’s top surf athletes will contest the Shaw and Partners Iron Series Trials (20-21 September) , battling for coveted places in the national series.

The National Club Gymnastics Carnival (17 September–5 October) brings over 5,000 competitors from across Australia and overseas, while Australia’s largest junior football tournament, the Premier Invitational (26 September–5 October) welcomes over 650 teams including from the USA, Japan, and New Zealand.

UniSport Nationals are back on the coast (27 September–3 October) with over 6,000 participants from 40+ universities across 32 different sports. The flagship event on the pickleball calendar, the Australian Pickleball Championships kicks off 29 September until 6 October at Pimpama, showcasing some of the best homegrown and international talent.

And as the King’s Birthday long weekend (4-6 October) rolls around, it brings the Volleyball Queensland State Championships at three locations (Coomera, Runaway Bay and Arundel), showcasing the best of the sport from across the state. And back for its 16th year, and hosted by Southport Yacht Club, Sail Paradise brings a spectacular offshore yachting regatta to the Gold Coast seaway.

SINGLE-MATCH TICKETS NOW ON SALE FOR AFC WOMEN’S ASIAN CUP 2026™

The countdown to the AFC Women’s Asian Cup Australia 2026™ has reached another milestone with single-match tickets officially on sale. For the first time, fans can choose their matches, cities, and dream moments, with world-class football set to light up the Gold Coast, Perth, and Sydney from 1–21 March 2026. Tickets start from just $20 for adults and $10 for children, making this an accessible way to be part of Asia’s biggest women’s football tournament.

Don’t miss your chance to cheer the Tillies on at Gold Coast Stadium, Robina, one of six games to be played here across four exciting dates in March (all times AEST):

• Monday 2 March: 7pm Korea Republic v Islamic Republic of Iran
• Thursday 5 March: 1pm Philippines v Korea Republic, and 7pm Islamic Republic of Iran v Australia 
• Sunday 8 March: 7pm Islamic Republic of Iran v Philippines  
• Thursday 19 March: 1pm Playoff Game 1, and 7pm Playoff Game 2

Don’t miss this chance to be part of football history!

UNISPORT NATIONALS RETURN TO THE GOLD COAST

The Gold Coast will once again host Australia’s largest university multisport event when the UniSport Nationals return from 27 September to 3 October 2025. Held biennially, the event will attract more than 6,000 student-athletes from 42 universities competing across 32 sports – from athletics, swimming and football to netball, hockey and beach volleyball – with one institution crowned Overall Nationals Champion.

The Nationals deliver strong tourism outcomes, filling hotels and venues across the city while showcasing the Gold Coast as a hub for major sporting events. Finals and medal presentations will be staged at venues including Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, Kurrawa Beach, Southport and Runaway Bay, highlighting the city’s world-class infrastructure.

With the support of Experience Gold Coast, UniSport Nationals is set to bring another week of high-energy competition, student camaraderie and national attention to the city during the spring school holidays.