Award-winning surf filmmaker Taylor Steele is set to make waves on the Gold Coast this June, bringing the globally celebrated Solento Surf Festival to Australia’s surf capital for the first time. Running from 7–14 June, the eight-day event promises an immersive celebration of surf, film, art, and music, with festivities spread across Burleigh Heads, Mondrian Gold Coast, and HOTA, Home of the Arts.
The announcement marks a major moment for the region’s vibrant surf culture, with the Gold Coast chosen as the first destination outside the United States to host the festival. Following a successful Australian launch in April last year, Steele’s decision to bring the full Solento Surf Festival experience to Burleigh underscores his deep connection to the area – and his passion for community, creativity, and surf culture.
A One-of-a-Kind Festival
Curated by Solento founder and filmmaker Taylor Steele, the festival promises a one-of-a-kind experience. Surf enthusiasts and creatives alike can expect world premieres of captivating films, inspiring conversations with world-class athletes and filmmakers, as well as a community surf comp, live music, art exhibitions, and a filmmaking masterclass.
“The idea of the Solento Surf Festival is to bring the Gold Coast community together to share stories and culture inspired by surfing,” said Steele. “I’ve been lucky enough to experience pretty much every surf film festival from around the world, and I’m excited to help bring the Solento Surf Festival to one of my favorite places in the world.”
This sense of storytelling and connection is central to Steele’s vision. Inspired by his formative years in both the surf and film industries, the festival embodies Solento’s ‘slow’ culture—an ethos of presence, mindfulness, and creativity.
Surf, Cinema, and Connection
Backed by local community groups, businesses, and prominent brand partners including Experience Gold Coast, Mondrian Gold Coast, United Airlines, Vissla, and Yeti, the festival is gearing up for a high-energy kickoff.
The first weekend (Saturday 7 June) begins with a community surf contest at Burleigh Headland, giving locals the unique opportunity to take on professional surfers in their home break. The surrounding area, Burleigh Hill, will come alive with live music, a pop-up beach bar, and food vendors, creating a lively coastal gathering grounded in surf culture.
Later in the week, on 9 June, Taylor Steele himself will lead a filmmaking masterclass at HOTA, offering aspiring creators an inside look at the world of surf cinema. From storyboarding and production to distribution and post-production, the session promises to share decades of industry insight.
HOTA will also serve as the venue for the Solento Surf Festival art exhibit, running from 10–29 June. This dynamic showcase will feature works by artists including Otis Carey, David Bromley, and Jai Vasicek, among others, highlighting the creative intersections between surf, art, and lifestyle.
The final weekend (12–14 June) will shift focus to film, with a full program of screenings, panel discussions, and live performances taking place at the Mondrian Gold Coast. These events will not only highlight emerging talent and compelling stories but also offer an opportunity for the community to come together in a shared appreciation of the surf world.
“We couldn’t be more excited to partner with the Mondrian to bring some of the best new surf films to the big screen,” said Steele. “Nowadays we consume so much content on our phones and by ourselves. Having an elevated environment to connect with the community and celebrate surfing means so much.”
The Gold Coast: A Natural Fit
The city’s leaders are equally enthusiastic. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate hailed the arrival of the Solento Surf Festival as a major cultural win for the region.
“What a coup to secure this incredible surf festival which underscores the rich history of surfing as a sport,’’ said Mayor Tate. “Apart from an epic day of competition at Burleigh, the festival will draw crowds to film screenings, live music and masterclasses.
“With that in mind, it’s only appropriate our city has been chosen as the first destination outside the United States to host Solento. We are the spiritual home of surfing in Australia.’’
Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn echoed this sentiment, emphasising the city’s unique blend of surf culture and artistic energy.
“Solento Surf Festival is an exciting opportunity for locals and visitors to come together and share their passion for the waves,” Mr. Warn said. “With our world-renowned surf breaks and our city’s evolving arts scene, this festival reinforces our reputation as a hub for surfers, creatives, and ocean lovers alike while showcasing our iconic beaches and arts precinct at HOTA, Home of the Arts.”
The Vision Behind Solento
Behind it all is Taylor Steele, a figure synonymous with modern surf filmmaking. With a career that includes celebrated works such as Proximity (2016), This Time Tomorrow (2012), Hit & Run (2000), Missing (2013), and the TV mini-series Save This Shark (2020) and Nature Is Speaking (2021–23), Steele has long been a driving force in shaping how surf stories are told.
In 2019, Steele founded Solento Organic Tequila in the U.S., a brand that has since earned global recognition for championing a lifestyle of mindfulness and presence. The Solento Surf Festival is a natural extension of this ethos, blending surf, storytelling, and community in an experience that invites participants to slow down and connect.
From beachside action to immersive art and film, the Solento Surf Festival promises something for everyone – and it’s all happening right here on the Gold Coast from 7–14 June.
Solento Surf Festival, Burleigh Heads – June 7-14
For more information, visit solentosurffestival.com and follow on socials @solentosurffestival.
