Spring is one of our favourite times on the Gold Coast. The weather is warming up, the days are getting longer and, during October and November, the events calendar really comes alive.
Whether you’re visiting for a family holiday, a weekend with friends or simply looking for another excuse to escape to the coast, there’s plenty happening over the next couple of months.
Here are some of the highlights to add to your calendar.
OCTOBER 2026
BLEACH* Festival – 1–11 October
The Gold Coast’s contemporary arts festival returns for 11 days and nights this October.
BLEACH* brings together music, theatre, dance, large-scale installations and unique performances, with the 2026 festival transforming the HOTA precinct and other locations across the Gold Coast.
It’s a great opportunity to experience a completely different side of the city beyond our beaches and theme parks.
Gold Coast Open House – 10–11 October
Ever wondered what’s behind the doors of some of the Gold Coast’s most interesting buildings?
Gold Coast Open House gives visitors access to homes, buildings and spaces across the city that aren’t always open to the public. It’s a fascinating weekend for anyone interested in architecture, design, history or simply having a stickybeak somewhere you normally couldn’t!
Groundwater Country Music Festival – 16–18 October
Dust off the boots because one of Broadbeach’s biggest weekends is back.
The Groundwater Country Music Festival brings more than 60 artists to 15 stages throughout Broadbeach for three days of live country music – and best of all, entry is free.
The 2026 line-up includes Kasey Chambers, Kaylee Bell, The Wolfe Brothers, Beccy Cole, James Blundell, Lane Pittman, Kingswood, Andrew Farriss and plenty more.
With stages throughout the streets, parks and venues of Broadbeach and the beach just metres away, the atmosphere over Groundwater weekend is always fantastic.
Coolangatta Gold – 17–18 October
Head south to Coolangatta to see some seriously impressive athletes take on one of Australia’s most iconic surf endurance events.
The Coolangatta Gold combines swimming, running, board paddling and surf skiing in a gruelling test of endurance, with events taking place across the weekend.
Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 – 23–25 October
Get ready for the roar of Supercars through the streets of Surfers Paradise.
The Gold Coast 500 transforms the beachfront precinct into one huge motorsport festival, combining racing with entertainment and the unmistakable atmosphere that comes with one of the city’s biggest annual events.
Even if you’re not a die-hard motorsport fan, there’s no mistaking the energy around Surfers Paradise during Gold Coast 500 weekend.
Rugby League World Cup Triple Header – 31 October
Footy fans have another reason to visit the Gold Coast, with Cbus Super Stadium in Robina hosting a Rugby League World Cup triple-header on 31 October.
Three international matches in one day should make this one of the biggest sporting days on the Gold Coast calendar this spring.
NOVEMBER 2026
Red Hot Summer Tour – 1 November
November kicks off with a huge day of Australian music in Coolangatta.
The Red Hot Summer Tour hits the Gold Coast on 1 November, with the 2026 event headlined by an Australian Crawl reunion – the first in more than 40 years.
A day of classic Australian music beside the beach? That’s a pretty good way to welcome November.
Pan Pacific Masters Games – 6–15 November
For ten days in November, thousands of competitors will descend on the Gold Coast for the Pan Pacific Masters Games.
Running from 6–15 November, the event combines sporting competition during the day with entertainment and social events at night.
One of the great things about the Masters Games is the atmosphere it creates across the city – competitors come to participate, but they also come to enjoy everything the Gold Coast has to offer while they’re here.
Make Time for the Gold Coast Markets
You don’t need a major event to find something happening on the Gold Coast.
Spring is a lovely time to spend a morning wandering through one of our local markets or head out for some street food and live music in the evening.
Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets run on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday evenings, while Miami Marketta is a favourite for street food and live entertainment.
For a weekend morning, Burleigh Market is held every Saturday, while Carrara Markets operate Saturday and Sunday.
Broadbeach’s Coastal Markets are held at Kurrawa Park on the first and third Sunday of the month, with October dates of 4 and 18 October and November dates of 1 and 15 November.
Spring on the Gold Coast
October and November really are two fantastic months to visit.
You can spend the morning on the beach, catch a festival or sporting event during the day and finish with dinner overlooking the water – and the summer crowds haven’t quite reached their peak yet.
And, of course, this is where My Holiday Concierge can make your Gold Coast stay even easier.
Rather than spending the first day of your holiday organising groceries, airport transfers and everything else that comes with travelling, let us take care of the details.
From airport transfers and grocery shopping that’s unpacked before you arrive, to private chefs, babysitting referrals, massages and beauty treatments, yoga sessions, SUP and kayak hire and baby equipment, we can help have everything ready so your holiday starts the moment you arrive.
With so much happening across the Gold Coast this October and November, the only difficult part is deciding what to fit in!
x Shelley and Bel
