24 September 2026
AACTA AWARDS AND FESTIVAL RETURNS IN 2027
The AACTA Awards and Festival will return to HOTA, Home of the Arts from 3–7 February 2027, bringing five days of screenings, masterclasses, industry events and conversations with leading Australian and international screen talent to the Gold Coast.
Over the past three years, the event has established the Gold Coast as a major destination for screen culture. The festival has grown to feature more than 100 events and 350 speakers, attracting tens of thousands of attendees. Previous guests have included Margot Robbie, Cate Blanchett, Henry Cavill, Ron Howard and Robbie Williams.
Key dates include the Industry Gala on Wednesday 3 February, Industry Day on Thursday 4 February and the AACTA Awards Ceremony presented by BINGE on Friday 5 February. The Screen Careers Expo will return on Saturday 6 February, with further program and ticketing announcements to come.
RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP TICKET OFFER
International rugby league is returning to the Gold Coast, with Cbus Super Stadium set to host three Rugby League World Cup matches on Saturday 31 October 2026.
Fans can experience an action-packed afternoon featuring both the men’s and women’s competitions. Fiji will take on France in the opening women’s match, followed by New Zealand versus Fiji in the men’s tournament and New Zealand versus Papua New Guinea in the final women’s clash.
It’s a rare opportunity to see some of the world’s best rugby league nations compete on the Gold Coast, with a special ticket offer making it even easier to bring family and friends. Secure four tickets for $49 or 10 tickets for $100 using the discount code PASIFIKA2026 at checkout.
AUSTRALIAN WPGA CHAMPIONSHIP LOCKS IN 2027 DATES
The Australian WPGA Championship will return to Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club from 4–7 March 2027, bringing some of the world’s best female professional golfers to the Gold Coast.
Co-sanctioned by the WPGA Tour of Australasia and Ladies European Tour, the championship will once again be contested on The Palms course for the Karrie Webb Cup. Australian number one Hannah Green claimed the trophy in 2026, completing an extraordinary hat-trick of professional victories.
The second Festival of Golf will also be held alongside the championship, with a new location and footprint connecting the festival directly to the tournament action. The program will include interactive experiences, live entertainment, food trucks, pop-up bars and kids’ activities, creating a welcoming experience for golf fans and families alike.
Further tournament and festival details will be announced closer to the event.
WORLD’S LARGEST TOUCH FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT RETURNS TO THE GOLD COAST
The Gold Coast Titans All Schools Touch tournament will return to the Gold Coast Performance Centre at Runaway Bay from Wednesday 7 to Sunday 11 October 2026.
What began with just 18 schools and a few hundred players in 1983 has grown into the world’s largest touch football tournament. This year, up to 600 school teams from across Australia and overseas will compete, with more than 8,000 students playing over 2,000 games across five action-packed days.
The tournament has a proud history of nurturing sporting talent, with former competitors including Cowboys legend Matty Bowen, who was named Player of the Final in 1999, and former Queensland State of Origin player PJ Marsh.
VIEW THE 10 SEPTEMBER 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.