3 April 2025
VIKA & LINDA LEAD SECOND LINEUP ANNOUNCEMENT FOR BLUES ON BROADBEACH 2025
Blues on Broadbeach has turned up the volume with its second 2025 lineup drop - welcoming legendary voices, guitar heroes, and boundary-pushing blues acts from Australia and abroad.
Iconic sister duo Vika & Linda lead the new additions, bringing their signature harmonies and decades of soul-stirring music to the Gold Coast. They'll be joined by Memphis guitar maestro Eric Gales, renowned for his electrifying live performances and blistering solos that have earned him comparisons to Jimi Hendrix. With 30+ years in the industry and 18 albums, Eric's raw energy and virtuosity will make his Blues on Broadbeach debut unforgettable.
Also joining the lineup are New Zealand’s Salmonella Dub Soundsystem, known for their unique blend of reggae, dub, and blues, which has earned them a reputation as a powerhouse live act across the New Zealand and Australian festival and club circuit. The ever-electric Fiona Boyes & The Fortune Tellers, whose international reputation has earned her multiple Blues Music Award nominations and a place in the Blues Victoria Hall of Fame, will also perform. Alongside them, enjoy a jam-packed list of dynamic talent including Radical Son, 8 Ball Aitken, Bob Log III, Frank Sultana Blues Band, and many more.
Experience Gold Coast Festival Director, Mark Duckworth, says this year’s lineup “brings together international rhythm and blues musicians alongside the best in Australia. We can’t wait for May to see all these incredible artists light up the streets, bars, and parks, bringing their unique sounds to the heart of Broadbeach.”
Get ready - Broadbeach is set to pulse with blues magic from 15 – 18 May 2025.
CELEBRATING MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR 2025 AND BEYOND
Experience Gold Coast is excited to announce a series of major events set to elevate the city's reputation as a global sporting hub. With the return of world-class boxing, a landmark cricket match, and the long-term commitment of Swimming Australia’s premier national event, the Gold Coast is ready to shine on the international stage in 2025 and beyond.
GOLD COAST TO HOST MEN’S INTERNATIONAL T20I MATCH
In another major development for the Gold Coast, Gold Coast Stadium at Carrara will host a men’s international T20I match on Thursday, 6 November 2025. As part of the 2025-26 International Cricket Schedule, Australia will face India in a five-match T20I series, marking the first time the Indian men’s team will play on the Gold Coast.
This match is a key part of the ICC Future Tours Program, marking the first return of men’s international cricket to the city since 2022. With a broadcast expected to reach tens of millions of fans across Australia and Asia, this will be a highlight of the 2025–26 season and a significant milestone for Cricket Australia in its effort to bring international cricket to every major Australian city.
Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia’s CEO, shared his excitement: “It’s fantastic to bring international cricket to the Gold Coast for the first time in the men’s format. This is an important part of our mission to ensure cricket is accessible to fans in every city and capital across Australia.”
SWIMMING CHAMPIONSHIPS SECURE LONG-TERM COMMITMENT
The Gold Coast is set to become synonymous with swimming in the runway to the Brisbane Games with this week’s announcement that the Australian Age and MC Age & Open Swimming Championships will be held at the Gold Coast Aquatic Centre in 2026, 2028, and 2030. This prestigious event, which doubles as a starting block for Olympic and Paralympic medals, will bring more than 3,500 athletes from across the country every second year for the next six years.
The event generated more than $13 million for the local economy last year, and the Gold Coast’s ideal climate and world-class facilities make it the perfect venue for this key competition.
Swimming Australia’s Executive General Manager of Commercial, Jodie Hawkins, commented: “We’ve had a lot of success hosting this event previously on the Gold Coast, and the long-term commitment provides certainty for athletes and the swimming community.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate also expressed his enthusiasm: “We’ve hit the trifecta jackpot with Swimming Australia locking in these major championships for three years. These championships bring us closer to 2032 and, importantly, allow our city to showcase what we can deliver in the pool and through world-class support facilities, including sports science, our universities, accommodation, and technical expertise.”
JAI OPETAIA DEFENDS HIS TITLES IN GOLD COAST SHOWDOWN
We are thrilled to support the Return 2 Paradise World Title Boxing Event featuring World and Ring Magazine Champion Jai Opetaia. The event will take place on Tuesday, 13 May 2025, at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Opetaia, the IBF and Ring Magazine Cruiserweight World Champion, will defend his titles against Italy’s undefeated Claudio Squeo, ranked 14th in the world and 1st in Italy.
Leading up to the fight, the Gold Coast will host Fight Week, which will include open training sessions, weigh-ins, and live Q&A sessions, giving fans a unique opportunity to meet both fighters. The event will be broadcast globally on DAZN, providing the Gold Coast with international exposure.
A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE GOLD COAST
These major events exemplify the Gold Coast’s growing prominence in the global sports arena. As the city prepares to host these high-profile events, the combined economic impact and international exposure will further establish the Gold Coast as a leading destination for world-class sport.
We remain committed to supporting these incredible opportunities and to showcasing our region’s exceptional facilities, stunning landscapes, and welcoming community.
SPOTLIGHT ON THE SOUTHERN GOLD COAST
The event spotlight has been shining on the Southern Gold Coast, with thousands of athletes descending on Coolangatta Beach for the Gold Coast Volleyslam Beach Volleyball Festival (21–30 March) and the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships (29 March–6 April) across North Kirra and Tugun.
These two events - affectionately known as Volleyslam and The Aussies - are among the Gold Coast’s biggest annual mass participation events, generating tens of thousands of visitor nights and showcasing our city’s world-class sporting credentials.
Thank you to all our members who embraced the opportunity to engage with these visitors and contributed offers to the successful Passport to Aussies destination guide.
The Southern Gold Coast will continue to shine throughout April and May with the return of the Cooly Classic Ocean Swim Festival, Flotsam Festival and the World Surf League’s Gold Coast Pro, bringing some of the world’s best surfers to our shores.
COOLY ROCKS ON 2025: ROCKIN' LINEUP UNVEILED!
Check out the rockin' lineup for Cooly Rocks On 2025 that has recently been announced.
Get ready to dance along to a range of incredible artists playing at Cooly Rocks On, plus don't miss the iconic Show 'N' Shine proudly presented by Autoglym, Feature Shows, Dances, and the Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest!
VIEW THE 27 FEBRUARY 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.