The Gold Coast has shifted into race mode as track construction gets underway for the 2026 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500. Work commenced yesterday to transform the streets of Surfers Paradise into a 2.96-kilometre street circuit. Construction crews are installing more than eight kilometres of concrete barriers and debris fencing along local roads ahead of the event.
To mark the start of the build, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate joined 2023 Supercars champion and 2024 Gold Coast 500 winner Brodie Kostecki, alongside Gold Coast-based driver James Golding. The drivers and Mayor swapped their racing helmets for hardhats as installation work began along the Gold Coast Highway and Surfers Paradise Boulevard.
Supercars Gold Coast 500 Event Manager Matthew Gegg highlighted the significance of starting the physical setup. “Once the barriers start going in, you know the countdown is officially on. In just a few weeks, these streets will go from everyday Gold Coast to one of the most thrilling street circuits in the country,” Gegg said.
“We’ve got a huge weekend planned, both on and off the track. The racing will be as fierce as ever, and we’re bringing even more entertainment, experiences and reasons for fans to make a weekend of it. Surfers Paradise is going to be buzzing from the moment the gates open, to the final race.”
Managing Traffic and Community Access
The construction schedule runs from mid-September through to race week, which commences on October 19. A staged build process is being delivered by long-term event partners and contractors to maintain access for residents, visitors, and local businesses where possible. Construction activities are planned with consideration for the surrounding community, local environment, and public spaces, with regular updates provided throughout the build and event periods.
Temporary traffic adjustments will affect areas around Main Beach and Paradise Waters as work progresses toward assembling pit lane, grandstands, and corporate facilities. Mayor Tate urged residents and visitors to prepare for the temporary road changes. “The Gold Coast 500 is a signature event for our city, and seeing the track come to life on our streets is always a highly anticipated step along the way,” Mayor Tate said. “We’re expecting around 200,000 visitors, bringing significant benefits to local businesses, hospitality and tourism. There will be temporary traffic changes around Main Beach and Paradise Waters as the circuit takes shape, so I encourage locals and visitors to plan ahead.”
Member for Surfers Paradise John-Paul Langbroek noted that the event continues to drive economic activity, supported by the Crisafulli Government as part of its Destination 2045 plan to cement Queensland as an events destination. “The Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 brings world-class racing, passionate fans and an atmosphere unlike anywhere else in Australia,” Langbroek said. “Events like this drive visitation, support local businesses and showcase Queensland to audiences across the country and around the world.”
Last year, the Gold Coast 500 contributed more than $64 million to the local economy, with 200,000 fans projected across race weekend this year.
Supporting Local Businesses on Tedder Avenue
The event build also brings dedicated community engagement initiatives for surrounding commercial strips. Supercars is encouraging race fans to visit businesses along Tedder Avenue in Main Beach through the “Tedder Ticket Takeover” initiative. The programme enables nearby traders on the doorstep of the circuit’s northern end to share tickets and engage with customers leading into race week.
“Tedder Avenue is an iconic neighbour of the GC500 track, and those businesses have embraced the event from the very beginning,” Gegg said. “The Tedder Ticket Takeover is a chance for us to give something back and let those businesses share the race weekend with the customers who support them throughout the year.”
Track construction coincides with a free public launch event today, Thursday, September 17, at The Star Gold Coast, starting at 5:00 p.m. The 2026 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 will take place from October 23 to 25 in Surfers Paradise, proudly supported by Tourism and Events Queensland and Experience Gold Coast.
