Bleach* started in 2012 as a sideline event to the Quiksilver Pro surf competition — one stage, three thousand people with nothing to lose. By 2023 it had exploded into a ten-day festival pulling 27,500 people per day with tickets selling out in an hour, headlined by Pale Waves, Rüfüs Du Sol, and The Kid LAROI. The 2026 edition moves to October for the first time, introduces new Artistic Director Felix Preval, and spreads across HOTA and city-wide Gold Coast locations across eleven days. Dance, theatre, music, circus, installations — Bleach* treats the Gold Coast as a full creative canvas, mixing free and ticketed events from 1-11 October.
What makes Bleach* distinct isn’t any individual component. It’s the commitment to treating a beach city as a legitimate festival epicentre.
Event Details
Dates: 1-11 October 2026 (11 days)
Location: HOTA (Home of the Arts), Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise; plus city-wide venues including beaches and parklands
Entry: Mix of free and ticketed events
Official website: hota.com.au
Dates and details are subject to change — always confirm at the official website before you visit.
Getting There
HOTA is on Bundall Road in Surfers Paradise, accessible via the G:link light rail (Surfers Paradise station, then a short walk). Parking is available at the venue and nearby Surfers Paradise car parks. On busy festival days, public transport is the easier option. The HOTA precinct is also walkable from Chevron Island and central Surfers Paradise.
What’s Nearby
Surfers Paradise Beach is a 5-minute walk from HOTA. The Chevron Island dining strip has excellent cafes, restaurants and bars for before or after shows. The Star Gold Coast entertainment complex is 10 minutes away in Broadbeach, and Surfers Paradise’s full range of shopping and nightlife is right on your doorstep.
Event Background
Bleach* grew out of the Gold Coast’s surf culture but quickly refused to stay tethered to it. Starting as a peripheral event to the Quiksilver Pro, the organisers realised the appetite for a broader cultural festival was genuine and independent. Rather than remain a supporting act, Bleach* became something complementary — a place where contemporary arts amplified the energy that surfers and visitors brought to the season.
By 2023, Bleach* had become bigger than the thing it was spawned from. That’s not accident — it’s the result of consistent curation and willingness to take risks on artists and formats that didn’t fit obvious commercial categories. Tickets selling out in an hour for a contemporary arts festival in a Gold Coast beach city is not a given. It reflects a genuine local appetite that the festival built over a decade of progressive programming.
For 2026, new Artistic Director Felix Preval takes the reins as the festival shifts to October for the first time, repositioning Bleach* into the warmer spring energy of the Gold Coast’s pre-summer season. The full 2026 programme will be revealed closer to the event — check hota.com.au for announcements.
Nearby Accommodation
Surfers Paradise has accommodation to suit every budget within walking distance of HOTA, from budget apartments to luxury resorts. If you prefer to stay slightly further out, Broadbeach is a short G:link ride away with solid mid-range options close to restaurants and the beach.