The Gold Coast 500 has wrapped up and the city is heading into the busiest stretch of its calendar. The race itself was soaked: Chaz Mostert won it in the wet by 23 seconds, and the rain did nothing to thin the crowds. Over the next few months the Coast moves from the track to the stage, the screen and the dinner table, and the diary fills up fast. Here’s what’s worth locking in now.
Jet at Miami Marketta, 7 November
First up is one of Australia’s biggest rock exports. Jet bring The Rumblin’ Regional Revue to Miami Marketta on Saturday 7 November, with Sydney indie five-piece Liquid Zoo opening. Expect Get Born favourites like “Are You Gonna Be My Girl” and “Rollover DJ” in a room small enough to feel them. Doors run 6:30 pm to 10 pm, and it’s strictly 18+.
Bryan Adams Goes Bare Bones at The Star
Bryan Adams has announced a one-night-only Bare Bones acoustic show at The Star Gold Coast. It’s a stripped-back format: just the songs, the guitar and a much more intimate room than he usually plays. Shows like this sell out quickly, so it’s one to book early.
A Quieter Night In
Not every summer night needs a ticket. Between the big shows, plenty of locals keep things low-key: takeaway, a new series, a board game with friends or a few casual spins after reading a ThePokies.net review. Set a budget, keep it fun, and save your energy for the next big night out.
New Tables Worth Booking
Valentina has brought a Mediterranean mood to Surfers Paradise, with coastal plates and spritzes made for long summer evenings. Further north, Runaway Bay Tavern has reopened its bistro and beer garden after a renovation, with a new menu and weekly events. Both are easy picks before or after a show.
Christmas Shopping, Upgraded
Harbour Town Premium Outlets is putting $8 million into its western mall precinct ahead of Christmas. That makes it a more comfortable place to tick off the gift list than it has been in years, and the timing couldn’t be better.
A Weekend Off the Coast
For a proper break, Tangalooma on Moreton Island has launched the Tangalooma Dunes cabanas. It’s billed as Australia’s first year-round beachfront cabana club, with 20 private, fully equipped cabanas on the sand. It’s a short hop from the Coast and a long way from the summer crowds.
Looking Ahead to 2027
The new year arrives with an unusually strong line-up:
- AACTA Awards and Festival. Australia’s premier screen event returns to HOTA in February 2027, bringing the country’s film and TV industry to Bundall.
- Thomas Green: Brainstorm. The UK comedian, fresh from sell-out shows at home, plays HOTA’s Lakeside Room on 27 February.
- Red Hot Summer Tour 2027. Jimmy Barnes leads an all-Australian rock bill with Jon Stevens across outdoor venues nationwide.
- Powderfinger. The reunion is official, and the band have confirmed a 2027 tour. Expect demand to be enormous.
- Pacific Airshow. The Gold Coast’s biggest sky show returns in 2027, turning the beachfront into a grandstand once again.
The Bottom Line
Summer on the Gold Coast has always been about more than the beach, and this season makes that easy to prove. Between an ARIA Hall of Famer at Miami, an acoustic legend at The Star, new tables in Surfers and a 2027 calendar that already looks packed, the hardest part will be choosing. Start booking now, because everyone else is reading the same list.
