BLEACH Festival 2026: What to See on the Gold Coast This Week |
The arts festival program keeps the Gold Coast events calendar busy through Sunday 11 October |
BLEACH Festival is giving the Gold Coast a full spring dose of contemporary art, performance and live music, with the 2026 program running at HOTA until Sunday 11 October.
For locals deciding what to do next week, the festival still has plenty ahead, from free lakeside music and large-scale installations to dance, family events and hands-on creative experiences.
This year's festival runs for 11 days and nights and, for the first time, takes place in October after shifting from its previous winter dates.
The HOTA precinct remains the centre of the program, with several installations continuing through the final day, including BEACON, VOICES, Rekindle, Rekindle, SHUNDORI, Hyper Temples and Kaleidoscope Skies.
BEACON, at the HOTA Lake Precinct, is free and remains accessible across the festival, while Kaleidoscope Skies is also listed as a free daily installation.
The festival's Live Music Stage is another easy entry point, with all listed performances free and food trucks and bars operating around the lakeside venue.
On Monday 5 October, Karl S. Williams is scheduled for 12:00 pm, Laurel Hill for 2:45 pm and Benny D Williams for 4:10 pm.
On Thursday 8 October, Birren is listed at 5:00 pm, DJ VICES at 6:00 pm and Blind Corners at 7:00 pm.
Friday 9 October starts with DJ Tyrone at 6:15 pm before Tijuana Cartel takes the stage at 7:00 pm.
The 7:00 pm Tijuana Cartel performance is listed as free at the HOTA Lake Precinct.
Saturday 10 October turns to Sounds of Brasil from 2:00 pm, with special guest Maria Gadú alongside Priscila Rios, Jessica Madhu, DJ Victor Lopes and Maracatu Novo Horizonte.
Sunday 11 October's Live Music Stage schedule lists Monique Clare at 12:30 pm, Burger Joint at 2:00 pm, DJ SHIMMY at 3:15 pm, Sunny Luwe at 4:45 pm and DJ Pia Pressure at 6:00 pm.
High Tide is best treated separately from that artist lineup, with the family-friendly closing celebration scheduled from 5:00 pm on Sunday 11 October by the lake.
A separate Live Music Stage listing references High Tide at 5:30 pm, so visitors planning around that transition should check the final event schedule on the day.
Dance is another major part of the closing week.
Cuddle runs at 8:00 pm from Thursday 8 October to Saturday 10 October in the Black Box Theatre, with tickets listed at $34 to $39.
No One Gets Out of Here Alive is scheduled for 6:00 pm on Saturday 10 October and 4:00 pm on Sunday 11 October in Theatre 1, with tickets listed at $34 to $39.
Kuramanunya is scheduled for 4:00 pm on Saturday and 2:00 pm on Sunday in Theatre 2, with tickets listed at $24 to $29.
Families also have several options across the final weekend.
How The Birds Got Their Colours is free at the HOTA Lake Precinct, with sessions at 12:00 pm and 1:30 pm on both Saturday and Sunday.
ArtLab BLEACH Festival Edition – Psychedelic Kaleidoscopes runs at 10:30 am on Saturday 10 October, costs $20 including a parent or carer and is recommended for ages six to 12.
Build & Destroy runs at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm on both Saturday and Sunday, with tickets ranging from $0 to $15.
One of the festival's strengths is the mix of free and ticketed experiences, allowing visitors to build a day around public art and live music before adding a paid performance if they want to.
The 2026 edition also introduces new Artistic Director Felix Preval, who previously served as Artistic Director of Darwin Festival from 2017 to 2022 and Festival Producer at Melbourne Fringe from 2012 to 2016.
The program brings together local, national and international artists while using the precinct and the Gold Coast environment as part of the experience.
Anyone planning a visit should check event pages before leaving home because HOTA notes that the live-music schedule is subject to change and some events require tickets, registration or carry content warnings.
For a low-cost visit, the free Live Music Stage, BEACON and other no-cost program elements offer plenty to explore without committing to a paid show.
With the closing weekend bringing together music, dance, family events and large-scale art, BLEACH Festival still has a busy final stretch before wrapping up on Sunday 11 October.
Editor’s note: Program details and set times were checked on 2 October 2026 and may change. Check the official BLEACH Festival or HOTA event listings before attending. |
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Best local arts festival we have got. Always delivers something quirky and fun.
Love seeing contemporary dance included in the program. Theatre 1 shows look fantastic.
We couldn't agree more! Theatre 1's staging of *No One Gets Out of Here Alive* across the closing weekend looks like a real highlight.
Hoping the rain stays away this weekend. HOTA lawn turns into a swamp if it pours.
Timmy_CDefinitely bring a picnic blanket with waterproof backing just in case. Learned that the hard way last year.
Priscila Rios and Maracatu Novo Horizonte on Saturday! The energy is going to be insane.
Closing night with High Tide sounds like a great family wrap up to the whole week.
It should be a lovely finish! Just be sure to check the schedule on Sunday afternoon, as start times are listed between 5:00 pm and 5:30 pm.
ArtLab kaleidoscope workshop was brilliant. My daughter loved making her own tube.
michelle_qGood to know. Thinking of taking my seven year old on Sunday if there are still spots left.
Are the food trucks open during the day on weekdays or just evenings?
Sunny Luwe on Sunday afternoon will be magic. Love her voice.
She is fantastic live! Catching her set at 4:45 pm on Sunday by the lake should make for a wonderful afternoon.
Shame they stopped having events spread out on the beaches like the old Bleach days, but HOTA is convenient.
Having everything anchored at HOTA definitely makes it easy to catch outdoor music, installations like BEACON, and indoor theatre shows all in one trip.
October weather is so much better for sitting on the lawn with a cold drink.
The spring shift definitely makes lingering by the lake with a drink and food truck bite much more inviting! Thanks for reading.
Took the little ones to How The Birds Got Their Colours. Beautiful storytelling, highly recommend.
Free entry for Tijuana Cartel is going to pack that lawn out completely. Get there early for a spot.
Make sure you check the set times before you rock up. They always end up shifting a bit.
Sammy K.Good call. Their Instagram stories usually post the updated set times by lunchtime.
Felix Preval did amazing things with Darwin Festival. Stoked to see what he brings to the coast.
Thirty nine bucks for a dance show is pretty reasonable these days. Might check out Cuddle.
The Kaleidoscope Skies installation is so pretty in person. Definitely worth walking through.
Bec HendersonSuch a cool setup. Took some great photos there yesterday with the late afternoon sun coming through.
It really is stunning, and the fact that it's free to explore every day of the festival makes it an easy must-see.
Food trucks and live tunes lakeside is my ideal Sunday afternoon. See you there.
Just booked tickets for Build & Destroy with my six year old. Sounds like chaos in the best way.
Jessie L.My nephew went over the weekend and would not stop talking about it. Total madness, your kid will love it.
Karl S Williams at noon on a Monday? Wish I did not have to work, he is brilliant live.
He really is incredible live! If you can't make his midday set, there is plenty more free live music running through the rest of the week.
Love that so much of the music is totally free. Great day out without spending a fortune.
Sounds of Brasil lineup on Saturday looks incredible. Can not wait to see Maria Gadu live.
Marko78Going to be huge. Get in early if you want a decent patch of grass near the stage.
Took the kids to see the BEACON installation yesterday. Looks stunning right on the water.
Chloe P.Did you see it after dark? The reflections on the lake at night make it look twice as good.
Good luck finding a park anywhere near HOTA this weekend. Better off taking the bus.
So glad they moved it to October. Winter nights at HOTA were freezing last year.
Sarah Jenkins100 percent. That wind coming off the river in winter was brutal. October weather is so much better for outdoor gigs.
The move from winter to October has definitely brought milder evenings to enjoy the outdoor stages and nighttime installations!
Tijuana Cartel for free by the lake is massive. Definitely heading down Friday night.