Sixteen thousand athletes from 40+ countries descend on the Gold Coast for 10 days of competition across 42+ sports from 6-15 November 2026, with the Games Village anchored at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach and competition spread across venues throughout the city. The Pan Pacific Masters Games is biennial (so the next one after 2026 is 2028), and it functions as much as a gathering of sporting communities as a formal competition. Padel tennis is new for 2026, badminton is returning, and age eligibility typically starts from 30-40+ depending on the sport.
You’ll find genuinely fit 60-year-old swimmers racing like their qualifying depends on it. You’ll also find wholesome chaos, real camaraderie, and the kind of international friendships that form when people who love sport deeply gather in one place for ten days.
Event Details
Dates: 6-15 November 2026
Location: Multiple venues across the Gold Coast; Games Village at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, Broadbeach
Entry: Competitive registration fees — vary by sport
Official website: mastersgames.com.au
Dates and details are subject to change — always confirm at the official website before you visit.
Getting There
Athletes compete across venues spread throughout the Gold Coast, so the best transport option depends on which sports you’re competing in. The Games Village at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach is the main hub — easily reached via the G:link light rail (Broadbeach South station). Check the official website for venue-specific transport advice when registering.
What’s Nearby
The Games Village in Broadbeach puts you close to Pacific Fair shopping, The Star Gold Coast entertainment complex, and Kurrawa Beach. The broader Gold Coast has beaches, theme parks, hinterland villages and dining options to fill any time off between events. November is an excellent time to be on the Gold Coast — warm spring weather, building towards summer, without the peak-season crowds.
About the Games
The Pan Pacific Masters Games emerged from a simple truth: people don’t stop loving sport after 30, and the competitive infrastructure that exists for professional athletes under that age largely ignores the 30-plus cohort. Masters-level sports competitions have existed for decades, but gathering 42+ sports under one banner, in one city, over a ten-day period proved genuinely novel. The biennial structure means teams and individuals can plan around it, train specifically towards it, and treat it as a legitimate goal rather than a secondary event.
The Gold Coast’s appeal as host is threefold: subtropical climate (warm but not oppressive in November), infrastructure built from decades of multi-sport event hosting, and time-zone adjacency to the Pacific region that makes the trip viable for athletes from across the Asia-Pacific without destroying a week in transit. Those three elements combined make the Coast the logical choice.
What distinguishes the Pan Pacific Masters Games from other multi-sport events is its democratic approach. Athletics and lawn bowls get the same operational stage. Cycling and swimming get the same support. That even-handedness means the event genuinely belongs to all participants, not just marquee sports. Adding padel and returning badminton for 2026 signals that the games stay responsive to participant interests — which is why competitors keep returning every two years.
Main Competition Venues:
- Gold Coast Aquatic Centre
- Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre
- Coomera Indoor Sports Centre
- Gold Coast Hockey Centre
- Nerang Mountain Bike Trails
- Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre (Games Village)
- Various golf courses, bowls clubs and outdoor facilities across the region
Nearby Accommodation
Broadbeach is the hub of the Games with the Games Village and many sports venues close by — accommodation ranges from budget to luxury with the beach, dining and shops all on your doorstep. Surfers Paradise is a 10-minute G:link ride away with more options and a lively atmosphere. Southport offers mid-range options close to several inland venues.