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Your Event Line Up
Some say we like to see ourselves as the main event, but really, we do it all for you! High-energy stage show sound good? How about beach cinema or symphony under the stars? If sport's more your thing, why not check out a NRL or AFL game? Or for lovers of low-key, get into one of the many grassroots arts and food festivals. Check out the latest events on Gold Coast below.
All Events
- Free Event
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From now until 16 May 2027
Cooly Classic Ocean Swim Festival
Swimmers have a rare opportunity to swim a course with some of Australia’s most revered surf breaks as your backdrop – Snapper Rocks, Coolangatta and Kirra.There are four distances, from 1km to 5km, but it’s always the 2.0km Cooly Classic from Snapper Rocks to Kirra Beach which attracts the masses.Your start line, Snapper Rocks, is one of the world’s most famous surf breaks. Then, your course is a straight line to Kirra Beach, passing Rainbow Bay, Greenmount and Coolangatta Beaches as you swim.Throughout the week, there’ll be a range of small group sessions and clinics with guest coaches. This is a chance to receive specialist coaching and also swim with local squads at some of the Gold Coast’s favourite open-water training locations.
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From now until 22 Apr 2027
Gold Coast Eisteddfod
South East Queensland is home of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod which is the largest youth festival of performing arts in Australia.It is not only a platform for launching the careers of international performers, but also a place where enduring memories are created, future careers are fostered and the stars of tomorrow are developed.Gold Coast Eisteddfod has sections in all genres of Music, Dance & Drama including Dance Solos, Young People with Disability, Strings, Wind & Brass, String Orchestras, Small Ensembles, Dance Groups, Choral, Bands, Stage Bands, School Dance Groups, Piano, Vocal & Speech & Drama.Held from July to September each year at various venues across the Gold Coast.
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21 Nov 2026 (Monthly)
Monster Truck Mayhem Thrill & Stunt Show Beaudesert Showgrounds
Monster Truck Mayhem Thrill and Stunt Show delivers an unforgettable evening of high-powered family entertainment at Beaudesert Showgrounds.Visitors can experience the power of Outback Thunda alongside two brand-new monster trucks. The program also features USA V AUS with the Aussies taking on the USA in a shootout, along with entertaining comedy cars and thrilling stunt performances.Roaring engines, daring tricks and exciting arena action create a lively experience for monster truck fans of all ages. Each performance brings together skilled drivers, impressive machines and crowd-pleasing entertainment.Monster Truck Mayhem offers families an exciting night out and the opportunity to see some of Australia's most entertaining monster trucks and stunt performers in action.
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From now until 31 Dec 2026
Movie Review Club
On the fourth Wednesday of each month, HOTA Cinema hosts a Movie Review Club. Meet like-minded people and discuss the selected film* with a forum of academics. Simply see the listed film ahead of time and join us on the day for an interactive discussion. It’s FREE to join the club!*To view film cinema ticket prices apply.Film to be reviewed: Sense And Sensibility When: Wed 28 October 2026, 10:30am Where: Lakeside Terrace Cost: Free!
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From now until 01 Dec 2026
Heath Franklin's Chopper - GOLD - Mermaid Waters
WINNER Comedian's Choice Award - Melbourne International Comedy FestivalAussie comedy legend and icon - Chopper - is celebrating his 20th anniversary of making us laugh.Catch two decades of Chopper's funniest bits and hardest hits, from The Ronnie Johns Half Hour to today, including The Weather Sketch, HTFU Australia, Shopping at Bunnings and more comedy GOLD!This isn't just another show — it's a comedy heist. Grab a ticket and get your cut of the GOLD."If Heath is Clark Kent and his Chopper persona is Superman, then it is good to look up in the sky once again and see not a bird, not a plane, but a super comedian." - Scenestr"This is a top hour of uproariously entertaining comedy… packed with good gags and 'so wrong its right' moments" ★★★★ – Chortle UK"Australia's funniest comedy character." ★★★★ – Sunday Mail
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From now until 30 Jan 2027
HOTA Collects: Alchemy
The concept of alchemy is rich with allegory and metaphor, offering a framework for artists working across photography, ceramics, sculpture and painting. Alchemy brings together works from the HOTA Collection that engage with materiality, process, decay and transformation. From cameraless photography processes, to sculpture, ceramic and drawings made with wind and fire, this exhibition explores the philosophical and physical ways contemporary artists employ alchemical processes in their practice. Alchemy also features two light-based sculptures by Australian artist Lindy Lee, recently acquired for the HOTA Collection to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the HOTA Gallery.Artists include Daniel Boyd, Vincent Brown, Elisa Jane Carmichael, Rose Farrell & George Parkin, Leah King-Smith, Jae Hoon Lee, Lindy Lee, eX de Medici, David Oswald, Susan Purdy, Cameron Robbins, Justine Varga and John Wolseley.
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06 Nov 2026
ELITE ACADEMY SHOWCASE 2026
The Dance Force 2026 Elite Academy Showcase celebrates the dedication, growth, and passion of our Elite Academy students as they balance their schooling with their commitment to dance. Featuring routines from some of Australia’s best choreographers, this showcase highlights the students’ hard work, versatility, and development throughout the year.
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From now until 05 Dec 2026
Quiet Hour
On the first Saturday of every month between 9am-10am we offer Quiet Hour in HOTA Gallery. Our Quiet Hour is provided to ensure a relaxed and calm environment for anyone who prefers a quieter visitor experience. Please meet at Ground Entry for access to Quiet Hour.During Quiet Hour: Signage encourages visitors to contribute to a more calming environment Tannoys (public address system) are turned off Music is turned off Accessible bathrooms without electric hand dryers available for use Lower sound and light levels are employed where possible We can provide a quiet break out space, please ask a member of staff A Social Story for the Gallery is available at reception and to download below.
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From now until 23 Jan 2027
Energies 26
Energies is an annual exhibition showcasing the exceptional creative talents of senior secondary students on the Gold Coast. For nearly forty years, this prestigious exhibition has provided emerging artists with a professional platform to present their work, empowering students to pursue careers in the arts. Energies is a celebration of the creativity of our young people shaping the artistic future of the region.2026 Submissions are now closed.
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From now until 15 Nov 2026
BETWEEN FORMS - Group Exhibition | 4 Artists
BETWEEN FORMS brings together four artists working across painting, graphite and ceramics, each exploring the relationship between material, process and artistic expression.Through the considered practices of Chantal O'Malley, Nita Barca, Roz Perugino and Martina Skalicky, the exhibition reveals the distinct ways artists interpret, shape and respond to the world around them.From the fluidity of oil paint and the quiet precision of graphite to the tactile, transformative nature of clay, each practice offers a different perspective on the creative process.
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From now until 25 Dec 2026
CHRISTMAS AT HOTA
Christmas at HOTA brings the magic of the festive season to life with an exciting program of entertainment and dining. Enjoy a spectacular show, settle in for a festive movie, laugh the night away at the Christmas Comedy Gala, indulge in a festive feast, and discover so much more. Gather your family and friends and celebrate a very HOTA Christmas.
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From now until 11 Nov 2026
Sense And Sensibility
From Focus Features and Working Title comes an irresistible new take on Jane Austen’s iconic Sense and Sensibility: a charming, witty, and deeply relatable story of love and sisterhood starring Daisy Edgar-Jones and Esmé Creed-Miles.
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From now until 08 Nov 2026
UNLEASHED+
artisan are proud to present their biennial exhibition UNLEASHED+ at HOTA Gallery in 2026. Since 2004, artisan's UNLEASHED biennial exhibition has established itself as Queensland's premier platform for launching emerging craft and design practitioners. This year, UNLEASHED+ marks a significant evolution, introducing artisan’s largest cohort of artists to date, in partnership with HOTA, Home of the Arts. This exhibition unfolds in two chapters, bringing together emerging Queensland makers at a pivotal moment in their creative development. The first presents work from the inaugural artisan in Residence program, where five craft and design practitioners were engaged to develop new bodies of work, exploring process, gesture and material expression. The second chapter introduces the UNLEASHED+ biennial, supporting twelve makers through exhibition, mentoring and market development. The 2026 finalists were selected by a panel of leading art, culture and design professionals including Sally Brand, Dr Simon Maidment, Imelda Miller, Brian Parkes and Kimberly Stokes. Together, these artists reflect the exciting innovation of Queensland's emerging talent, offering compelling approaches to metal, timber, clay, glass and textiles. Gathering talent from the Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Ipswich, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Cairns, this exhibition represents a fresh chapter for craft and design in Queensland. UNLEASHED+ 2026 Finalists Ben Adams, Julia Bramich, Céline Caron, Gabi Harris, Petalia Humphreys, Jacqueline Kaytar, Michelle Le Plastrier, William MacLean, Jude Muduioa, Rachel North, Rhiannon Sothern, Tom Summersartisan Residence 2025-2026 Alumni Regi Cherini, Erin Conron, Norton Fredericks, Rick Hayward, Natalie Ward To learn more about the exhibiting artists, visit artisan.org.auAbout artisanartisan is Queensland's premier craft and design organisation. Since 1970, artisan have led, fostered, and profiled craft and design through place-based development and partnership programs. Makers and creators are central to everything they do. For over 55 years, artisan has been building pathways, creating opportunities, and championing Queensland's unique craft and design practitioners.
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06 Nov 2026
Geed Up
Expect soulful three-part harmonies, high-energy hip-hop choreography, breakdancing, acrobatics, a splash of DJing and rapping, and the biggest hits across every genre and era all wrapped up in a show that's equal parts hilarious and genuinely impressive. Think a slightly chaotic, laugh out loud tribute act with serious talent hiding behind the jokes.It's free, it's fun, and it's the perfect way to kick off your weekend with family and friends. All ages welcome so grab the crew and come find out why everyone's talking about the show that calls itself "the worst".
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From now until 11 Nov 2026
Wicker
On the outskirts of a village by the sea, lives a Fisherwoman; smelly, single and perpetually ridiculed. One day, fed up with her stuffy, small-minded neighbors, she commissions herself a husband to be made from wicker. In an otherwise conservative town, this unconventional romance sparks outrage, jealousy and chaos.
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From now until 11 Nov 2026
Pressure
In the tense 72 hours before D-Day, and the fate of the free world hanging in the balance, PRESSURE follows General Dwight D. Eisenhower and Captain James Stagg as they face an impossible choice—launch the largest and most dangerous invasion in history or risk losing the war altogether. Based on the Untold True Story.
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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.