Every winter, while much of the country slows into seasonal hibernation, the Gold Coast comes to life in the most vibrant way imaginable. For its fifth year, Surface Festival – Miami’s beloved street art celebration – is transforming suburban streets into an open-air gallery, inviting the community and visitors alike to explore a living, breathing canvas between 29 June and 13 July 2025.
What began as a grassroots initiative by the team behind Miami Marketta, supported by City of Gold Coast, has evolved into one of the most anticipated cultural moments on the Queensland calendar. Surface Festival isn’t just about splashing walls with colour – it’s about creating space for connection, creativity, and community expression.
In 2024, the festival drew over 28,000 visitors, with projections for 2025 nudging beyond the 30,000 mark. This year’s festival will be the biggest yet, with more than 1,500 square metres of blank walls secured across Miami and nearby suburbs – each set to be transformed into large-scale murals by a selection of local and international artists.
“The 2024 program attracted more than 330 submissions from artists around the world,” says Festival Director Natalie Lidgerwood. “That shows how attractive the Surface program has quickly become.”
From the wall behind Holliday Café on Wave Street, to spaces near SNAP Fitness and Elements on the Gold Coast Highway, and the Burleigh Heads Storage on Gardenia Grove, everyday places are being reimagined as urban galleries – spaces that reflect the Gold Coast’s growing creative energy.
Five Kilometres of Artistic Wonder
Central to the festival is the Fence Line exhibition, a five-kilometre outdoor art trail stretching across 20 suburban blocks. Designed to be experienced on foot, bike, or board, it invites people to truly inhabit the neighbourhood, discovering art at every turn.
Visitors can watch artists at work, with dozens of murals coming to life in real-time – a rare and intimate peek into the creative process. Add to that more than 30 free and ticketed events, and the whole experience becomes a street-level celebration of imagination.
From Streets to Sounds
It’s not just about paint and walls – the festival pulses with sound and movement. At the heart of the Surface Festival experience is Miami Marketta, hosting live music concerts and a vibrant mix of pop-up events. The community vibe is tangible, drawing locals and travellers into an immersive encounter with art in its most accessible form.
The program also includes the Slick Surfaces initiative – a school holiday workshop series blending art and skate culture, giving young creatives a platform to explore and express themselves.
A Cultural Landmark in the Making
For Mayor Tom Tate, the festival is more than just an event – it's a reflection of Miami’s identity.
“This festival has added so much depth and vibrancy to our annual arts and culture calendar. It's Miami at its best. Congratulations to organisers and artists. Make a date with Surface,” he says.
With 2025 marking the beginning of a multi-year funding partnership with the City of Gold Coast, the future of Surface looks brighter – and more colourful – than ever.
Surface Festival is looking for Artists
Submissions for mural and exhibition opportunities opened on April 9 and will remain open until 30 April, with artists encouraged to apply for a chance to leave their mark on the Gold Coast’s creative landscape.
Whether you’re an emerging artist or an established muralist, Surface offers an unmatched platform to connect with audiences in a raw, honest, and open-air setting
To find out more information on Surface Festival click here
