Mark your calendars for an eight-day celebration of wave-riding and coastal creativity hitting the shores this May
Curated by renowned filmmaker Taylor Steele, the Sessions Surf Festival (formerly the Solento Surf Festival) is back to highlight the region’s deep ocean roots and vibrant creative community
Saturday, May 23 – Live Tunes at Miami Marketta: The festivities launch with a major music showcase headlined by Dope Lemon, the popular indie-rock project of Angus Stone
. The stacked lineup also features Makua, Mt. Warning, and Babe Rainbow, with two spots currently left open for local artists to submit their applications to join the bill
Tuesday, May 26 – Visual Arts at HOTA: Dive into contemporary, ocean-inspired art with a new exhibition opening at Home of the Arts
. The showcase features leading local talents including Otis Carey, Paul McNeil, Karlee Mackie, and Jai Vasicek
Thursday, May 28 & Friday, May 29 – Cinema at Mondrian Gold Coast: Enjoy curated ocean documentaries and film premieres from both Australian and international storytellers
. Special guest appearances are expected to take place throughout the evening screenings
Saturday, May 30 – Headland Takeover at Burleigh: The festival concludes with an action-packed beach day where locals can ride head-to-head with professionals
. Don’t miss the crowd-favourite “Surf of Origin” competition, featuring a friendly Queensland versus New South Wales rivalry between football icons and surfing legends
. Attendees can also grab a bite from local food vendors and enjoy live music alongside pop-up beach bars hosted by Balter Brewing, White Claw, and Solento Tequila
.
