Get ready to get barrelled Flotsam Festival 2025 is riding a wave of creativity back to the Gold Coast, bringing 14 epic days of surf, film, photography and artistic energy from May 1 to May 14.
Now in its fourth year, Flotsam has grown into an authentic, multi-venue cultural swell that celebrates everything surf and sea. From Coolangatta to Burleigh, this grassroots festival transforms the coastline into a vibrant celebration of ocean-inspired arts. With an ever-expanding footprint and a stacked program of exhibitions, screenings, performances, and workshops, Flotsam is more than a festival – it’s a full immersion into surf culture.
A Festival with Flow
This year, the festival footprint stretches through Coolangatta, Kirra, Tugun, Currumbin, Palm Beach and Burleigh, bringing the festival to streets, beaches, cafes, galleries and community hubs. It’s a journey that flows just like a swell up the coast, filling each space with energy, art and storytelling.
Whether you’re a surf junkie, a creative soul or just love a good community vibe, Flotsam is keeping the doors wide open. With a mix of free and low-cost events, the festival is designed to be accessible and inclusive – a true reflection of the diverse coastal community it calls home.
Flotsam Kicking Off with a Block Party
It all starts on May 1 with the Flotsam Block Party, a coast-hugging cultural takeover happening from 5–8.30 pm. Stretching across Coolangatta Sands, Rattlesnake, Wade’s World, Bar Evelyn, and Beach House, this launch event serves up a feast of wall-to-wall surf films (including Rage5 and Horse), projections, DJ sets, exhibitions, workshops and even an underwater photography showcase.
There’ll also be podcast recordings, live music and collaborations with Badlands Vinyl, creating a dynamic, multi-sensory celebration of surf and street culture.
Dive Into the Immerse Hub
New for 2025 is the Flotsam Immerse Hub, a beachside pop-up at Doug Roughton Park, Kirra Beach, which will pulse as the heart of the opening weekend from May 2–4.
Presented by Div 13 Cr Gail O’Neill, this vibrant hub will host free film nights, artist displays, live music, and a range of interactive workshops. On May 2, the International Surf Film Fest transforms the Hub into a global cinema experience, featuring hand-picked surf films that capture the thrill and soul of the sea.
On May 3, it’s all about purpose with Flotsam Oceans, a partnership with Surfrider Foundation focused on environmental awareness. From a beach cleanup and kids’ art workshops to the Found Objects photography competition, the day turns eco-activism into an artistic statement. As the sun sets, conservation films and live music take the stage, wrapping up a powerful day of ocean advocacy.
Celebrating the Next Wave
May 4 shines a spotlight on the future with Next Wave, a platform championing the next generation of local filmmakers, photographers and musicians. Presented by Tugun Community Bank, this event empowers young creatives to share their perspectives and push surf culture forward.
Art That Swells
Flotsam’s 2025 exhibition lineup is overflowing with iconic names and fresh voices.
Acclaimed adventure photographer Tony Harrington launches his new book, Defining Moments, at The Pink Hotel on May 9, with accompanying large-scale photo installations along the fence line.
Meanwhile, surf legend Richard Harvey brings his rich legacy of surf, art and photography to Iron & Resin, Currumbin with Spirit of Adventure – Indonesian Odyssey. This deep dive into 1970s Bali runs throughout the festival, with a Talk Story event on May 8.
Also on May 7, Mo’s Desert Clubhouse will host the Gold Coast premiere of Women and the Wind, a moving exploration of ocean adventure and resilience aboard a 50-year-old wooden catamaran crossing the North Atlantic.
A Month-Long Wave of Conservation and Creativity
Partnering with Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve Inc., the Stoked! exhibition at Dust Temple, Currumbin blends surf photography, film and art with ocean conservation. Featuring works by local creatives and the late Peter Ramsay, it’s a tribute to the beauty and fragility of the surfing ecosystem.
Other returning favourites include:
- Focal Point outdoor photography exhibition
- (Surf) Girls on Film – showcasing the female lens in surf media (May 8)
- International Masters of Surf Photography, uniting legends of the lens
At the heart of Flotsam is the championing of local and emerging talent. Homegrown returns with a wave of locally made film, photography and live music, featuring the Flotsam Homegrown Surf Clip Comp and two major photo contests.
The final screening and showcase will take place at Burleigh Headland on May 11, where community, creativity and coastline collide.
Staged by not-for-profit Flotsam Arts Inc, this festival isn’t just about good vibes and great visuals. It’s about supporting artists and shaping the cultural identity of the Gold Coast through the lens of the ocean.
“Flotsam Festival was created to celebrate our coastline, shining a light on the vibrant arts and culture of the region. Now in its fourth year, Flotsam Festival 2025 promises to be one of the world’s largest journeys into surf art and culture, raising the profile of ocean-inspired creatives both locally and globally,” said Festival Director Carolyn Emge.
Whether you’re there to soak up the sights, shoot your shot in the surf clip comp, or just catch a few waves between exhibitions, Flotsam Festival 2025 is a ride you won’t want to miss.
Plan your festival journey at flotsamfestival.com.au
