picks
✦Gold Coast: AI Builders Showcase
An evening showcase presented by Emerging Tech Hub, exploring what local innovators are building with AI on the Gold Coast. This meet-and-demo style event is ideal for curious tech minds and builders.
✦HOTA Film Club – Free Screening & Review: The Stranger
Join the HOTA Film Club for a free screening of "The Stranger" (M), followed by a community discussion and review of the film.
✦Wednesday Night Meetup
A recurring meetup for members of the Gold Coast TechSpace, offering a community for makers, hackers, and those interested in technology and hands-on projects. (Note: The listed 1:00 AM start time has been adjusted to a more plausible evening time for a 'Night Meetup'.)
✦The Hidden Waters of Springbrook: Groundwater and Gondwana Rainforest
Explore how ancient Gondwana Rainforest survives as water moves and sustains ecosystems. This event includes a nature-focused talk and workshop, shaping future science and policy.
✦Sessions Surf Festival
A multi-venue festival celebrating surf storytelling, visual art, and coastal creativity, featuring photography exhibitions, film screenings, artist talks, workshops, and live music.
all events
This Moment: Highlights from the White Rabbit Collection of Chinese Contemporary Art
Explore bold and experimental artworks from 21st-century China, featuring mesmerising light installations, powerful video art, and large-scale sculpture from the renowned White Rabbit Collection. This exhibition challenges perceptions of modern China through art.
Comedy Underground – Saturday Night Showcase
Enjoy 90 minutes of side-splitting stand-up comedy with fresh new line-ups every week in HOTA's intimate Basement venue. This is the Gold Coast's dedicated home for top-tier live comedy.
Life Drawing with Live Music
Engage in a curated evening of life drawing with live music, focusing on the creative process in a supportive environment for all artistic levels.
Sessions Surf Festival — Surf Film Screenings & Panels
Curated surf film screenings, premieres, and panel discussions with world-class athletes and creatives, hosted across Mondrian Gold Coast and HOTA as part of the Sessions Surf Festival.
HOTA Gallery Public Program — Talks & Ideas / Workshops
Ongoing public program at HOTA Gallery offering drop-in or bookable sessions for audiences 16+, exploring art, ideas, and creative practice connected to current exhibitions.
HOTA Engages — Hayden Andrews Workshops
An ongoing series of hands-on creative workshops at HOTA, linked to artist Hayden Andrews' practice and the gallery's programs.
This Moment: Chinese Contemporary Art Exhibition
A major free exhibition at HOTA Gallery showcasing 35 artworks from 25 leading contemporary Chinese artists, exploring themes of identity, history, and transformation.
Life Drawing Gold Coast SAT 30th May
Untutored figure drawing sessions with a live model at Gallery 8, providing all materials in a creative atmosphere for artists of all levels. Booking is required.
Gold Coast Social and Language Exchange (Make New Friends)
A weekly recurring event at Goldie's in Surfers Paradise to meet diverse people, practice languages, engage in cultural exchange, and make new friends.
Sunday Night Comedy
Based Comedy presents a weekly stand-up comedy showcase at Atrium Bar, featuring a lineup of local and touring comedians.
Comedy Underground
A weekly comedy night showcasing local and visiting talent, offering a vibrant atmosphere for live stand-up performances.
Life Drawing Gold Coast
Untutored figure drawing sessions with live models, designed to provide a meaningful and creative experience for artists of all levels.
Beneath the Surface
This exhibition explores water as memory, metaphor, and force within the Australian landscape, bringing together painting, photography, and installation to reveal hidden histories and shifting perspectives. It's anchored by the significant work 'The Rainforest'.
Women's Introductory Mountain Bike Course
The second session of a beginner-friendly, women-only introductory mountain bike course. This event offers a great opportunity to connect with like-minded outdoorsy people and develop new skills.
NOËP – Estonian Electronic Artist
Enjoy a special evening with Estonian electronic artist NOËP performing live at The Gin Parlour for a unique and intimate musical experience.
HOTA Gallery – Ongoing Free Exhibitions (incl. Aka Sorbie: Saltwater Heart)
Explore multiple free exhibitions at HOTA Gallery, including "Aka Sorbie: Saltwater Heart," an immersive display of Torres Strait culture and art.
WONDER – New Live Performance by Lann Levinge
Experience the opening week of "WONDER," a new live performance by Lann Levinge, promising an artistic and inspiring theatrical experience at HOTA.
Palette X Collabs
Attend "Palette X Collabs" at HOTA, an event showcasing creative collaborations and artistic expression.
Cauldron Distillery – Gin Blending Class
Learn the art of gin-making and blend your own unique gin using individually distilled botanicals during this interactive, one-hour class.
Sessions Surf Festival — Free Community Surf Day
A free, open-to-the-community surf event at Burleigh Heads, featuring a unique surf contest and evening live music and entertainment at a beach bar and stage.
Very Short Film Festival 2026
A screening of Australia's best short films, all under five minutes, coming to HOTA as part of the Very Short Film Festival National Tour.
Palette X Collabs: HOTA Gallery Public Program
A HOTA Gallery public program event, part of an ongoing series, focused on talks, ideas, and family-friendly creative activities.
Ballun Gawrehma: Story by the River
An ongoing free cultural storytelling and engagement program at HOTA, offering sessions focused on indigenous stories and community connection.
"A Bigger View" Exhibition
An exhibition at HOTA bringing together masterpieces from the National Gallery of Australia and HOTA's collection, exploring landscape art with works by artists like Henri Matisse and Imants Tillers.
NOËP live at Miami Marketta (Estonian)
Estonian artist NOËP performs live at Miami Marketta, offering an intimate gig experience with his unique sound.
Freestyle Painting
A relaxed painting session at The Craft Parlour where participants can choose their medium and paint whatever they like without strict instruction.
Fairy Doors
Join a hands-on workshop at The Craft Parlour to create whimsical ceramic fairy doors, exploring pottery and craft techniques.
Punch Needle Art Workshop
Explore the art of punch needle with yarn or thread in this workshop at The Craft Parlour, learning basics and creating unique textile designs. (Note: The listed 12:00 AM start time is unusual and likely a placeholder.)
Gold Coast Board Games Meetup at Robina
A social meetup in Robina for board game and card game enthusiasts to play, learn new games, and meet new people in the community. (Note: The specific venue and time are assumed for an evening meetup.)
Inside Pompeii: Origins of a European Way of Life
An exhibition exploring the history and culture of Pompeii, offering insights into its origins and influence on European life. Discover ancient artifacts and learn about daily life in the Roman city.
Clay and Sip Class
Learn to sculpt your own unique clay design using artist-grade air-hardening clay and paints while enjoying music and your favourite drink in a social setting.
Fairy Doors Workshop
A creative workshop dedicated to crafting charming fairy garden elements, perfect for imaginative hands-on creation.
Raw Life Drawing
An untutored long-pose life drawing session, providing artists with a focused environment to practice figure drawing with a model (not nude).
Fragments – Botanical Art Exhibition by Sam Walton
An exhibition of expressive floral works inspired by the idea that our minds are made up of small moments, thoughts, feelings, memories, and experiences.
Traces In The Landscape - Melitta Perry Exhibition
An art exhibition by Melitta Perry, opening on this date and running until June 13, showcasing her latest works inspired by landscapes.
Wild Earth In the Raw Trail Run
A challenging trail run featuring 5km and 10km distances with raw, natural obstacles including hills, ropes, creeks, and mud, suitable for adventure seekers.
A&H Breathwork Tugun
A guided class introducing simple, effective breathwork techniques for emotional release, mental clarity, and deep relaxation, suitable for all experience levels.
A&H Sattva Yoga with Breathwork Burleigh Heads
This class integrates Himalayan breath kriyas within a Hatha Vinyasa practice to deepen presence, cultivate inner strength, and increase energy, suitable for all levels.
A Bigger View
A long-running visual arts presentation at HOTA featuring large-format works and installations that offer new perspectives on the Gold Coast landscape and skyline, suitable for casual visitors and art enthusiasts.
The History of Gold Coast Pubs
A community lecture at Elanora Library delving into the social and cultural history of Gold Coast pubs. This talk explores the heritage of local watering holes, ideal for curious locals interested in history.
Miami Marketta Street Food Night + Free Live Music
Explore a vibrant street food alley and enjoy free live music in a relaxed, community-oriented atmosphere, perfect for hanging out with friends.
Nightjar – Live Music / DJ Nights
Enjoy live music or DJ sets focusing on rock ballads and a laid-back, anti-establishment atmosphere at this authentic dive bar in Burleigh Heads.
Mo's Desert Clubhouse – Open Fridays (El Ranchero Cocktail Garden)
Enjoy a relaxed Friday afternoon at El Ranchero Cocktail Garden with food, drinks, free pool, and the Margarita Club, serving as a social hub before shows.
Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra
An intimate classical music evening featuring the Gold Coast Chamber Orchestra, performing giants of German classical music at Bond University.
HOTA Farmers and Artisan Market
A vibrant weekly community market at HOTA, featuring farm-fresh produce, artisan foods, handcrafted wares from local makers and artists, and live music.
Director's Choice Group Show
This ongoing exhibition at 19 Karen Contemporary Artspace showcases a diverse range of styles from sought-after Australian and international contemporary artists.
Street Food Open with Free Local Music
Enjoy a vibrant evening at Miami Marketta with street food vendors and complimentary live music from local artists.
James Alexander's Soul Sundays
An ongoing event featuring authentic soul vibes and live music by James Alexander, perfect for a relaxed Sunday afternoon or evening.
Koi Sunset Sessions
Relaxed early evening outdoor sessions by the HOTA lake featuring DJs or live acoustic acts, accompanied by food and drinks, offering a regular spot for locals to unwind at sunset.
Nu Metal Tribute Night: Slipknot, Korn & Limp Bizkit tributes
Experience a high-energy Nu Metal tribute night featuring THE VIOLENT INZIDENT (Limp Bizkit & Korn tributes) and other acts. Doors open at 6 PM with pre-show food and cocktails available from 5 PM.
Baggy Trousers – Madness Tribute (+ The Eton Rifles)
Experience the high-energy sound of two-tone ska/pop with Baggy Trousers, the Southern Hemisphere's premier Madness tribute band, supported by The Eton Rifles (The Jam tribute).
Wolfmother – Live at Soundlounge
Catch legendary Australian hard rock titans Wolfmother live at Soundlounge for a high-energy performance, promising to take attendees to another dimension.
Cooly Hotel – Musical Bingo
Get your beats and bingo on every Thursday evening with Musical Bingo, a free and fun social event perfect for a relaxed night out.
Southport Broadwater Parklands Community Market
A free community market held in the outdoor setting of Broadwater Parklands, offering a range of stalls and a social atmosphere.
BAGGY TROUSERS - The Sound of Madness - "Big Bag of Brit Bangers"
Catch 'BAGGY TROUSERS - The Sound of Madness' at Miami Marketta for a high-energy tribute show featuring classic British 'Madness' hits.
Salmonella Dub 1993 original Line up - Gold Coast
Experience the original 1993 lineup of Salmonella Dub live at Miami Marketta, delivering their iconic reggae and dub sounds.
Curve Band
Enjoy live music from Curve Band at The Wallaby Hotel, playing a mix of traditional pop, R&B, and rock hits.
Boom Box Radio
Live music performance by Boom Box Radio at The Wallaby Hotel, covering genres like alternative rock, country, and indie rock.
The Ultimate Chris Stapleton Tribute Show
A tribute show to Chris Stapleton at The Wallaby Hotel, featuring gritty, soulful country and rock anthems for fans of the artist.
VEX'S 30TH
Join the celebration at Vinnies Dive for VEX'S 30TH, likely featuring local live music in an intimate venue setting.
Killer Queen
A tribute performance to Queen at the Dreamworld Night Market, offering a classic rock experience amidst food stalls and entertainment.
Gold Coast Rooftop Bar Singles & Social Mixer (35+ and over)
A social mixer at Nineteen at The Star for singles aged 35 and over, designed for meeting new people in a relaxed rooftop setting.
Dreamworld Night Market
A vibrant night market at Dreamworld with street food vendors, live music, entertainment, and family-friendly activities.
Goldcoast Ballroom Friday Night Fever Hustle Party
Learn to dance Hustle with two concurrent group classes followed by a lively Hustle dance party at the Goldcoast Ballroom & Event Center.
Surfers Paradise Beachfront Markets
A free, family-friendly outdoor shopping experience featuring artisan stalls, food, and entertainment right by the beachside, fostering a relaxed community atmosphere.