If you’ve ever wondered what happens when 600+ bowlers from 15+ countries arrive on the Gold Coast for 15 straight days of competition, the answer is spread across Broadbeach Bowls Club and a dozen other clubs stretching south to Coolangatta. The Australian Open Bowls runs 5-19 June 2026, features 18 disciplines (including three new formats introduced this year), and carries a prize pool exceeding $400,000. Spectator entry is free at all venues.
This is the sport’s second-biggest championship globally, and the Gold Coast has been its permanent home since 2009.
Event Details
Dates: 5-19 June 2026 (15 days of competition)
Primary Venue: Broadbeach Bowls Club, 169 Surf Parade, Broadbeach QLD 4218
Also played across: 15 clubs from Broadbeach to Coolangatta
Entry: Free to watch at all clubs
Official website: australianopen.bowls.com.au
Dates and details are subject to change — always confirm at the official website before you visit.
Getting There
Broadbeach Bowls Club is just a 5-minute walk from the G:link Broadbeach South station, making it easy to reach without a car. If driving, Pacific Fair shopping centre has secure parking close by. For the various clubs spread along the coast, a car gives you the most flexibility to follow the competition wherever it’s playing.
What’s Nearby
Pacific Fair shopping is right across the road from Broadbeach Bowls Club. Kurrawa Beach is a short walk for a swim between matches, and Surf Parade and Oracle Boulevard have great dining and cafe options. The Star Gold Coast entertainment complex is also in Broadbeach, with gaming, restaurants and live shows.
Venue List
While the Broadbeach Bowls Club is the epicentre, events are usually spread across several venues on the Gold Coast including
- Burleigh Heads Bowls Club
- Club Helensvale
- Club Robina
- Coolangatta Bowls Club
- Gold Coast Bowls and Community Club
- McKenzie Park Nerang Bowls Club
- Mermaid Beach Bowls Club
- Mudgereeba Bowls Club
- Musgrave Hill Bowls Club
- Paradise Point Bowls Club
- Southport Bowls Club
- Tugun Bowls and Community Club
Event Background
The Australian Open Bowls traces back to 1891, making it one of Australia’s most enduring sporting championships. For over a century it drifted between states and venues, never quite settling. Then in 2009, the Gold Coast made its pitch and won. What looked like a regional accommodation turned out to be a permanent home — and a good one.
The Gold Coast’s bowls infrastructure proved ideal for a 15-day event. Multiple clubs meant distributed venues, reducing congestion and allowing athletes to compete without centralized scheduling nightmares. Broadbeach Bowls Club became the flagship, but spreading competition across the region wove the event into local sporting life rather than isolating it at one facility.
The 2026 edition introducing 18 disciplines and three new formats signals that the event isn’t resting. Prize money has pushed towards half a million dollars, attracting elite athletes from across the Asia-Pacific region. That combination of stability, venue access, and prize money has made the Australian Open Bowls synonymous with Gold Coast winters — specifically, the kind of winter day (mild, sunny, 20 degrees) when watching outdoor sport on a pristine green feels like exactly the right way to spend an afternoon.
Nearby Accommodation
Broadbeach is the obvious base for the full 15 days of competition. You’ll have easy walking access to the primary venue and can jump on public transport to follow the action to other clubs along the coast. See our Broadbeach accommodation guide for options ranging from beachfront resorts to serviced apartments.