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Find Your Perspective
There's a rumour that we're not a very "artsy" place. Good thing it's just a rumour. Galleries, theatre groups, nostalgia museums, sculpture festivals and indigenous performances just brush the surface of a cultural canvas that goes far deeper. As they say - art is purely a matter of perspective after all. Looking for more inspiration? Check out the cultural highlights of the Gold Coast hinterland.
arts & culture
- Free Event
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From now until 29 Nov 2026
Prison Island
Prison Island is an interactive adventure where teams take on 39 thrilling challenge cells. Perfect for all ages and group types including friends, families, or co-workers.The experience offers 60 to 120 minutes of gameplay with 39 unique themed cells and an adrenaline-fueled team challenge. Teams of 2 to 5 can participate, ideal for friends, families and co-workers. A thrilling mix of mental puzzles, physical challenges and team coordination is offered. Teams work to collect as many points as possible before time runs out.Perfect for any occasion including birthday celebrations, team building and bachelor and bachelorette parties.
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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 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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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 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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13 Nov 2026
GC Comedy Showcase
Laugh out loud with the funniest local* acts live at GC Comedy Shows – your new favorite night out! (*may include one ring in from Brisbane)GC Comedy ShowsGet ready to laugh your socks off at the GC Comedy Shows! (no replacement socks will be provided, this isn't Bounce) enjoy hilarious performances up close and personal. Hosted by Brad Pearson, stand up comedian and actor who has appeared on Foxtels The Comedy Channel, 10's Star Search, 7's Home and Away, plus many other TV shows, web series, and feature films for the last 20 years.A former Dracula's Cabaret performer and award-winning director he has worked with everyone from Ahn Do to Andrew Denton and Harry Connick Jnr.Whether you're coming with friends or flying solo, expect a night full of fun vibes, great jokes, and reviews written by AI. Don’t miss out on the chance to catch some of the funniest acts around and one guy who is a friend of the MC.
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From now until 26 Dec 2027
Carrara Markets Car Boot Sale
Carrara Markets is famous for its Sunday morning Car Boot Sale!If you love a second-hand bargain then you're sure to find it amongst the boots full of preloved fashion, books, toys, homewares, tools, bibs and bobs!If you have a garage full of stuff you don't know what to do with, then you can make some cash from your trash by becoming a car boot seller! Seller sites are $50. No bookings required. Just turn up on the day with your car loaded up & start selling!Carrara Markets Car Boot Sale is open every Sunday morning 7am to 10am in the car park.
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15 Nov 2026
The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend - The Celebration Concert
The Songs of John Farnham: A Living Legend – The Celebration Concert brings a once-in-a-generation musical event back to the big screen, capturing an extraordinary gathering of Australian and international stars at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena to honour the voice, the songs and the enduring legacy of John Farnham.Led by Farnham’s longtime Musical Director Chong Lim AM, the John Farnham Band joins a 38-piece orchestra and choir as part of a spectacular ensemble of more than 120 artists and musicians. The star-studded celebration features Vanessa Amorosi, Tina Arena, Jimmy Barnes, Mahalia Barnes, Kate Ceberano, Diesel, Celine Dion, Rob Farnham, Dannielle Gaha, Hans, Human Nature, Hugh Jackman, Jack Jones, Chris Martin, Richard Marx, Jessica Mauboy, Ruby Rodgers, Jon Stevens, Mitch Tambo, Keith Urban, Mark Vincent and Ross Wilson.Personally invited by John, the artists bring their own voices to his remarkable catalogue, breathing fresh life into the anthems and ballads that have soundtracked generations of Australian lives. A powerful celebration of music and connection, this unforgettable concert film also shines a light on Head and Neck Cancer Australia and its vital work supporting people affected by the disease
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From now until 06 Feb 2028
HOTA Farmers and Artisan Market
The HOTA Markets are one of the Gold Coast's most vibrant community markets, held every Sunday morning, in the iconic HOTA precinct from 6am-11.30am.Like the Gold Coast itself, we're a celebration of independence and lifestyle! They are passionate about local farmers, makers, bakers and growers, we like knowing where our goods come from, and we love supporting new and emerging small businesses. The markets are part of the fabric of the Gold Coast, they're proud to support and foster local artists and live music, as well as supporting social causes representing the local community.Each Sunday HOTA comes alive with in-season farm-fresh produce, delicious artisan foods, boutique fashion and handcrafted wears. All nestled against the backdrop of Evendale Lake and the stunning HOTA landscape.
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20 Nov 2026
Pickpockets
Jesse, a lone-wolf pickpocket, fights a turf dispute with Robin, a charming rookie. Their flirty competition quickly devolves into all-out war - With set-ups, public humiliation, stolen stashes, and a near-death trip to the ER. Until the score of a lifetime appears and the former rivals are forced into an uneasy alliance. But when the plan goes sideways (and feelings get involved) the thieves find themselves in the crosshairs of a murderous lunatic. If they want to stay alive, they must overcome their romantic insecurities and pull off the perfect heist. Not to mention, fix the rift with the last person they expected to be the love of their life.
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21 Nov 2026
Bangarra Dance Theatre - Horizon
Bangarra Dance Theatre - HorizonThere is a place between sea and sky—a sacred realm, where the sun rises and falls and the light is new.From two of the world’s great First Nations comes a new work: Horizon. Some call it a feeling, some call it the mother spirit. It’s the place where sea meets sky, the horizon we all look to, the compass that guides us home.In Bangarra's first mainstage cross-cultural collaboration, leading Māori choreographer and Arts Laureate Moss Te Ururangi Patterson joins beloved Bangarra alumna Deborah Brown. Together they guide their award-winning ensemble in stories that honour their mother countries and the spirit that calls them home.Brown is a proud descendent of the Wakaid Clan and Meriam people in the Torres Strait, and has heritage from far across the seas in Scotland. She carries strength and resilience from her ancestors. Patterson, born near Lake Taupō, is a proud mokopuna (grandson) of the Ngāti Tūwharetoa tribe, and describes his sense of home as something alive, a fire inside, that he carries like a beating heart.To open the work, Saibailayg (Saibai Islander) Sani Townson expands his acclaimed work Kulka, which debuted in Dance Clan in 2023, to make a thrilling opening piece, paying homage to Sani’s grandfather and his Torres Strait heritage.Come explore the cultural forces that bind us together, across oceans and eons. Experience the resilience of the First Peoples of the Oceania region, that extends across the continent now known as Australia, the Torres Strait Islands and Aotearoa, our southern neighbour.Horizon is a double bill opening with Kulka by Bangarra alum Sani Townson, followed by the primary piece, The Light Inside, choreographed by Bangarra alum Deborah Brown and Māori choreographer and Arts Laureate Moss Te Ururangi Patterson.
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22 Nov 2026
Wedding Expo and Open Day at Historic Rivermill
Wedding Expo and Open Day at Historic Rivermill brings a bridal expo, a venue open day and a relaxed look around one of the Gold Coast Hinterland's most romantic heritage wedding venues together in one Sunday, timed for the jacarandas in full bloom.Couples can wander the chapel, riverbank, jacaranda gardens and rustic barn, each styled as it would be on a wedding day, and picture their own celebration on the banks of the Coomera River.Local wedding specialists who work at Historic Rivermill will be on hand, including florists, cake makers, celebrants and photographers, making it easy to meet the people behind the day in a single visit.The Historic Rivermill wedding team will also be available for walk-in chats about dates, guest numbers, catering and on-site farmstay accommodation, with no appointment needed.Registered couples who attend go into the draw to win a wedding ceremony at Historic Rivermill.Just a short drive from the Gold Coast and Brisbane, it is an easy Sunday outing for couples, families and wedding parties.
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22 Nov 2026
Royal Ballet: Manon
A life of luxury… or love? In the seedy underbelly of 18th-century Paris, money is king. Nothing is sacred – even love itself can be bought for the right price. A native of this hedonistic underworld, Manon is caught between twin desires when she falls in love with the student Des Grieux. Steadfast and devoted, he offers the possibility of an honourable life. Yet, the riches promised by the world of Parisian society remain tempting... Manon’s inner turmoil and struggle for survival lie at the devastating heart of Kenneth MacMillan’s 1974 adaptation of Abbé Prévost’s novel. In this signature work of The Royal Ballet, MacMillan’s nuanced understanding of human psychology makes for an unflinching look into the moral degradation of Manon’s Paris, while all its decadence and decay are brought to life through Jules Massenet’s score and Nicholas Georgiadis’s designs.Captured live from Covent Garden, London, 27 Oct 2026
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25 Nov 2026
It's Time That I Confess: Premiere + Live Performance
A breast cancer diagnosis in her twenties changed the course of ALBII’s life, but the story didn’t end when treatment did. Filmed over three years, this intimate documentary moves between the raw reality of diagnosis and treatment and the quieter, often unseen aftermath: PTSD, fear of recurrence, and learning how to live in a body and life that no longer feel quite the same.Through personal footage, music and conversations with women navigating breast cancer and survivorship, ALBII explores how creativity became a way to process what words couldn’t always hold. Music becomes a thread through the story, a place to grieve, make sense of what happened, reconnect with herself and find a way forward.Ultimately, it’s time that I confess is a story about what remains after cancer, while shining a light on the reality that breast cancer can happen at any age.TicketsVIP: $65.00 Includes a CD: It's time that I confess EP + PosterAdult: $45.00
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28 Nov 2026 - 06 Nov 2027
River House Markets
River House Markets bring fresh flowers and trinkets to the riverside deck of River House, a waterfront restaurant on the Nerang River in Southport on the Gold Coast, every weekend.Seasonal bunches are sold first come, first served, so early visitors get the best choice, and a selection of trinkets sits alongside the flowers. On request, children can draw their dream bunch on butcher's paper with crayons, then have real flowers wrapped in their own drawing.Dogs are welcome on the deck, and when the weather turns the markets move indoors, so they go ahead rain or shine and on public holidays. Visitors can make a morning of it with breakfast or brunch overlooking the water. River House has its own pontoon, so guests can also arrive by boat.
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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.