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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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15 Feb 2026 (Monthly)
Your Local Wedding Guide Gold Coast Expo
When you visit Your Local Wedding Guide Gold Coast Expo, expect to be inspired by exciting new products and ideas, see gorgeous displays, listen to live music, plus go in the draw to win great prizes! Register Online for Free Tickets to their Gold Coast wedding expo at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach. Loads of inspiration in a friendly and fun atmosphere!Showcasing reception venues through to cars, beauty, gowns, cakes, photographers, entertainment and much, much more, their amazing expo is the largest and longest running wedding expo on the Gold Coast. They help you plan your wedding using the most reliable and trusted wedding industry suppliers from the Gold Coast and South-East Queensland.All weddings are unique, so whether you're dreaming of a bohemian beach wedding, a rustic, vintage or modern styled wedding, let them help turn your dreams into reality. They don't cater to any one 'style' of wedding - everyone is welcome! See you there!
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From now until 18 Apr 2026
Welcome to Parad-Ice - The Variety Ice Skating Show
Get your tickets to 'Welcome to Parad-Ice', a one-of-a-kind variety show, featuring fierce ice-skating that will dazzle with acrobatics, spins, and clown antics. Fun for the whole family.Located at Planet Chill Ice-Skating Rink, inside Paradise Resort Gold Coast.
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From now until 07 Mar 2026
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 2U2
HAPPY BIRTHDAY 2U2When did you last receive a hand-drawn birthday card - or create one for someone else? Born from a treasured family tradition of gifting hand-drawn birthday cards, this installation by Hikoko Ito invites you to savour the joy of receiving one from a stranger who shares your birthdate - your “birthday twin” - and the delight of giving one in return. 366 Birthday Mailboxes, one for each day of the year, are arranged in deliberate disarray. Each bears a “Happy Motif,” reimagined from the Chinese character『樂』- symbolising happiness - by Hikoko and her late father, Sun Chan, celebrating its myriad expressions. Begin at The Calendar Wall: find the “Happy Motif” for your birthdate. Then, seek your matching Birthday Mailbox. Within, a card from your unseen birthday twin quietly awaits. The first batch of cards was created by local students and HOTA’s patrons - followed by offerings from visitors like you. Each one carries warmth and sincerity, sharing good wishes across all ages, cultures, and backgrounds. In the spirit of reciprocity, you are invited to craft a card for another birthday twin, continuing this chain of special connection. Each blank card features an artwork from HOTA’s collection to inspire your creation - you might even spot the original in the Gallery. Every motif matched, every card exchanged whispers: we are here - together. Through shared birthdates and strokes of ink and pigment, we transcend difference, embrace our collective humanity, and pass kindness forward - one heartfelt card at a time. Image Credit: Hikoko Ito, HB2U2 2025, Art Gallery of New South Wales. Image courtesy AGNSW. Hikoko Ito Japan/Hong Kong, Happy Birthday 2U2 2025 mixed media installation; powder-coated steel mailboxes with die-cut acrylic panels, printed vinyl wall design Collection of the artist
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From now until 03 Feb 2026
Hamnet
HamnetAfter losing their son Hamnet to plague, Agnes and William Shakespeare grapple with grief in 16th-century England. A healer, Agnes must find strength to care for her surviving children while processing her devastating loss. From Academy Award® winning writer/director Chloé Zhao, HAMNET tells the powerful love story that inspired the creation of Shakespeare’s timeless masterpiece, Hamlet.Country Of Origin: UK. Golden Globes Winner 2026: Best Motion Picture - Drama.Best Performance By A Female Actor In A Motion Picture Drama - Jessie Buckley. Golden Globes Nominee 2026: Best Director Motion Picture - Chloé Zhao. Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Supporting Role in any Motion Picture - Paul Mescal.Best Screenplay Motion Picture - Maggie O'Farrell & Chloé Zhao.Best Original Score Motion Picture - Max Richter.Academy Award Nominee 2026: Best Picture.Best Director - Chloé Zhao.Best Actress - Jessie Buckley.Best Adapted Screenplay - Chloé Zhao & Maggie O'Farrell.
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From now until 03 Feb 2026
The Secret Agent
The Secret Agent1977. In a Brazil tormented by the military dictatorship, Marcelo, a man in his forties fleeing a troubled past, arrives in the city of Recife where he hopes to build a new life and reconnect with his family. That's without taking into account the death threats that lurk and hover over his head. Countries Of Origin: Brazil, France, Germany, & Netherlands. Golden Globes Winner 2026: Best Motion Picture - Non-English Language.Best Performance By A Male Actor In A Motion Picture Drama - Wagner Moura.Academy Award Nominee 2026:Best Picture.Best International Feature Film (Brazil).Best Actor - Wagner Moura.
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From now until 01 Feb 2026
Blue Moon
Blue MoonRichard Linklater’s Blue Moon tells the story of the legendary lyricist Lorenz Hart bravely facing the future as his professional and private life unravel during the opening night party for his former partner Richard Rodgers’ hit show, “Oklahoma!”. The film unspools in real-time the events in Sardi’s bar on the evening of March 31, 1943. It is a meditation on friendship, art and love, featuring a rich tapestry of writers, actors, musicians, friends and protégés – a parade of the famous and the soon-to-be-famous. By the time this night is over, Hart will have confronted both a world irrevocably changed by the war, and the seeming impossibility of love.Country Of Origin: USA. Golden Globe Nominees 2026: Best Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy.Best Male Actor In A Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy - Ethan Hawke. Academy Award Nominees 2026: Best Actor - Ethan Hawke.Best Original Screenplay - Robert Kaplow.
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From now until 03 Feb 2026
Addition
Addition Grace Lisa Vandenburg (Teresa Palmer) counts everything because numbers hold her world together, but when a chance encounter with Seamus (Joe Dempsie) turns her world upside down, Grace’s meticulously ordered life starts to unravel. Addition is about accepting who you are and celebrating the things in life that really count. Country Of Origin: Australia.
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From now until 31 Jan 2026
The Choral
The ChoralThey were divided by war. He united them in song.1916. As war rages on the Western Front, the Choral Society in Ramsden, Yorkshire has lost most of its men to the army. The Choral’s ambitious committee, determined to press ahead, decides to recruit local young males to swell their ranks. They must also engage a new chorus master, and despite their suspicions that he has something to hide, their best bet seems to be Dr. Henry Guthrie (Ralph Fiennes) – driven, uncompromising, and recently returned from a career in Germany. As conscription papers start to arrive, the whole community discovers that the best response to the chaos that is laying waste to their lives is to make music together. Directed by BAFTA, Olivier and Tony Award winner Nicholas Hytner (The Crucible) and written by BAFTA, Olivier and Tony Award winner Alan Bennett, The Choral marks their fourth writer-director collaboration following the acclaimed films The Madness of King George, The History Boys, and The Lady in The Van.Country Of Origin: UK & USA.
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From now until 03 Feb 2026
Song Sung Blue
Song Sung BlueBased on a true story, two down-on-their-luck musicians (Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson) form a joyous Neil Diamond tribute band, proving it's never too late to find love and follow your dreams.Country Of Origin: USA.Golden Globe Nominees 2026: Best Female Actor In A Motion Picture – Musical Or Comedy - Kate Hudson.Academy Award Nominees 2026: Best Actress - Kate Hudson.
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From now until 08 May 2026
A Bigger View
Embark on a journey of epic proportions as you immerse yourself in monumental works of art from the National Gallery of Australia (NGA). Made possible through the Australian Government's Sharing the National Collection initiative, this exhibition brings together masterpieces from the NGA alongside major works from our very own collection.Spanning decades and continents, each epic in scale and subject, these artworks demonstrate the various and unique approaches artists take to the landscape.A highlight for visitors will be two artworks created by Henri Matisse (1869 -1954), one of Europe's greatest twentieth-century modernist artists. Accompanying Matisse's uniquely abstracted views of sea and sky forms is an extraordinary work by senior Australian artist, Imants Tillers, presenting a vision of the Australian landscape inspired by Eugene Von Guérard's 1863 masterpiece North-east view from the northern top of Mount Kosciusko, seen here together for the first time.These works will be complemented by stunning works from HOTA's own collection. Uluru by Pintupi artist Long Tom Tjapanangka brings a First Nations perspective of Australia's biggest landmark to the exhibition, and a stunning hinterland painting by beloved Australian artist Wiliam Robinson invites contemplation of the natural world around us.Prepare to be awestruck by the grandeur of these works, as you explore a bigger view.
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From now until 01 Feb 2026
Cloudy with a Chance of Art
Cloudy with a Chance of ArtEyes to the sky! HOTA’s Children’s Gallery is a place for daydreaming and creativity. The sky is the limit to your imagination, so we encourage families to look up and see amazing historical to contemporary artworks by Australian artists who also look to the sky for inspiration. A curated display of cloud artworks will set the scene for play and creativity ‘beneath the clouds’ in the Children’s Gallery. Proudly supported by Experience Gold Coast
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04 Feb 2026 - 05 Feb 2026
2026 AACTA Awards Industry Gala
AACTA is kicking off the celebrations in 2026 with the annual AACTA Awards Industry Gala! The Australian Academy is rolling out the red carpet to honour the exceptional artists whose creativity and talent bring stories to life. With over 30 AACTA Awards up for grabs, this is the event of the year you absolutely can’t miss.But wait - the night doesn’t finish there! The fun keeps going at the Official After Party presented by Screen Queensland. Join us for drinks and canapés, mingle with friends and colleagues, and dance the night away. Or join us at the AACTA Karaoke Bar - back for the second year in a row and known as the place to be. It’s the perfect chance to continue the celebrations and make even more memories!Discounted tickets are available for AACTA members by inputting your member number into the discount code section.Extend your stay on the Gold Coast and join us on Thursday February 5th for the AACTA Industry Day. Hear from the creators of Australia’s biggest productions and network with our nation’s brightest screen practitioners. Whether you’re a filmmaker, a producer, or just a passionate fan, AACTA Industry Day is your chance to immerse yourself in the dynamic world of screen entertainment and be a part of the future of film and TV.
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05 Feb 2026
On The Cutting Room Floor
Discover the hidden power of post production in On the Cutting Room Floor, a deep dive into the art and impact of film editing. Join a panel of acclaimed editors as they share how raw footage is transformed into cohesive, compelling stories through rhythm, structure, and intuition. From navigating hours of material to balancing creative instincts with distributor notes, these behind the scenes storytellers reveal the high stakes decisions that shape a film’s final form. Hear firsthand how a single edit can alter tone, shift narrative direction, or even save a troubled production. Insightful and eye opening, this discussion celebrates the unsung artistry of the editing room, where some of the most crucial storytelling truly begins.
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05 Feb 2026
Inside Bunya Productions
Join David Jowsey and Greer Simpkin for an in depth look at Bunya Productions, one of Australia’s leading independent production companies. They will share the vision, values, and creative approach that guide their work, and the challenges and opportunities of producing film and television in Australia. Hear about the company’s landmark projects, the stories that drive them, and how Bunya fosters collaboration with Indigenous and local talent from across Australia to bring authentic voices to the screen.
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05 Feb 2026
Building Grouse House
Since 2021, sketch comedy powerhouse Aunty Donna have been building a home for alternative Australian comedians - Grouse House. Starting out as a YouTube channel, Grouse House has already grown into a comedy brand covering online content (15 million views and counting across 21 original and acquired series on YouTube), a podcast network (5 original podcasts), live tours, merchandise, a commercial arm and more. And in early 2026, the Grouse House TV subscription platform is launching to the world.But how and why did Aunty Donna start Grouse House, and what do they hope to achieve? And most importantly, how do they make money by giving away content for free on the internet? Join Managing Director of Haven’t You Done Well Productions Georgia Mappin, Head Writer for Aunty Donna Sam Lingham and Head of Creative for Grouse House Lee Naimo as they invite you in to the Grouse House, and show you the secret basement where all the secrets are kept.Come along and learn how this unique Australian brand got to where they are today, and where they plan on going tomorrow. And the day after. And perhaps the day after that.
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05 Feb 2026
Audiences Now and into the Future
Explore dynamic strategies and opportunities to build and retain audiences like never before. Join leading digital media and audience strategists and media executives as they delve into current trends shaping audience engagement across platforms and territories.Together they will examine how Australian content continues to travel globally, identify the key markets where it resonates most and discuss innovative ways to leverage content IP to extend reach and create lasting audience connections. Through practical insights understand how to pinpoint your core audience, connect with them and position your project for the strongest possible market impact and long-term success.
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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.