The ultimate celebration of surf culture is officially returning to Australia. Following a highly successful debut last year under the name Solento Surf Festival, the newly refreshed Sessions Surf Festival is set to take over the Gold Coast from 23 to 30 May 2026. Founded and curated by celebrated surf filmmaker Taylor Steele, the highly anticipated event brings together the absolute best of wave culture, live music, visual art, and film.
Expanding its footprint across the city, the 2026 event promises more community moments and activations at iconic coastal locations. According to Steele, bringing the festival back to the region was a natural choice. “The Gold Coast understands surf culture at every level. You’ve got some of the best surf breaks, elite performance, deep history, a strong creative community of people. When we brought the festival here last year, the response was immediate, so coming back bigger in 2026 was an easy call,” Steele shared. He noted that this year builds on that foundation with more music, more film, and more community involvement.
The festival programme drops in with a massive live music event at Miami Marketta on Saturday, 23 May. Headlining the stage is Dope Lemon, the popular indie-rock project of Angus Stone. The stacked music line-up also features Babe Rainbow, Mt. Warning, and Makua. In a major boost for the local creative community, submissions are currently open at sessionssurffestival.com for two Gold Coast artists to secure the final spots on the bill and share the stage with some of the biggest acts in the Australian music industry.
Visual art takes focus starting Tuesday, 26 May, with an exhibition opening at HOTA, Home of the Arts. This exhibition showcases surf-inspired works from leading local contemporary artists, including Otis Carey, Karlee Mackie, Paul McNeil, and Jai Vasicek. Film remains central to the Sessions programme, with curated surf film showcases and premieres by international and Australian storytellers taking place at Mondrian Gold Coast on Thursday, 28 May, and Friday, 29 May. Special guest appearances are also expected during the screenings.
Sending out the festival is a massive takeover at Burleigh Headland on Saturday, 30 May. Locals will have the chance to surf head-to-head with professionals. The day also sees the return of the crowd-favourite Surf of Origin competition, where football greats and surf legends compete in a friendly Queensland versus New South Wales heat. Attendees can enjoy live music, food vendors, and pop-up beach bars hosted by Solento Tequila, Balter Brewing, and White Claw.
Originally established in Encinitas, California, in 2021, the festival builds on four successful years in the United States. Steele, renowned for iconic surf films like Proximity (2016), This Time Tomorrow (2012), Hit & Run (2000), Missing (2013), and the television series Save This Shark (2020) and Nature Is Speaking (2021-23), notes his deep personal connection to the region. “The Gold Coast is a place that’s influenced me creatively. I lived here for a while. I surfed here every day, built friendships here, and experienced firsthand how strong the surf community is. That’s why we have Sessions Surf Festival back on the Gold Coast for 2026,” he explained.
The event is proudly supported by Experience Gold Coast, Councillor Josh Martin, and City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. “Our city’s star is on the rise as we continue to attract the best surfing festivals in Australia,” Mayor Tate stated. “The Sessions festival aligns perfectly with our brand, attracting surf lovers from across Australia and overseas. I encourage everyone with a love of photography, surf art, nature and the ocean to be part of the 2026 Sessions event.
Sessions Surf Festival kicks off on the Gold Coast, from 23-30 May.
For more information, visit https://sessionssurffestival.com/ and keep up to date with theactivities and more announcements to come by following on socials @SessionsSurfFestival
