The Program Just Dropped For The Gold Coast’s Most Iconic BLEACH Festival Yet
heating things up
By Victoria Lewis | 24th July 2026Need something to warm your spirits at this chilly time of year? The news has dropped that BLEACH Festival is returning, and it will be even bolder than you’d expect. Warming things up from previous years, the Gold Coast’s premier arts and cultural festival will take over the HOTA precinct in springtime, having announced the iconic event will return in October, contrary to its previous wintertime slots.
From 1 to 11 October, expect 11 non-stop days of more than 50 free and ticketed events from local and international artists, spanning live music, contemporary dance, all-day theatre, and interactive installations.
What’s new at BLEACH Festival 2026?
On top of an expanded program and a warmer season this year, the much-loved arts and culture festival welcomes a new Artistic Director, Felix Preval, who is set to bring a fresh eye to the proceedings in October. Bringing experience as Artistic Director of Darwin Festival from 2017–2022 and Festival Producer at Melbourne Fringe from 2012–2016, Preval brings two decades of expertise in the performing arts to this year’s festivities.
Program highlights to look forward to
Cuddle by Harrison Ritchie-Jones
Just forewarning you, this performance will probably be the craziest and coolest thing you’ve ever seen. A playful and provocative contemporary dance number that needs to be seen to be believed, Cuddle is a daring, hilarious, and thought-provoking combination of performance art and dance (including inspirations from martial arts, figure skating, and rodeo barnyard dance). Honestly, I’ve sat on the floor and seen it for myself, and I vote: do yourself a favour and purchase a ticket.
When: 8 October – 10 October, 2026 Where: Black Box Theatre Tickets: Available here.
THAW by Legs On The Wall
The kind of performance where you’ll go “how (and why) are they doing that”, THAW is where the whole production takes place not on a stage, but a 3-tonne block of melting ice suspended on a crane. Having travelled the world with this melting pot (see what I did there) of theatre, aerial artistry, and climate activism, THAW offers audiences both a sense of poignant beauty and an act of incredible engineering that deserves a spot on your itinerary.
When: Thursday 1 October, 5am and Saturday 3 October, 11:30am Where: Surfers Paradise Beach & Hota Lake Precinct Tickets: Free
Six60
The New Zealand pop-rock band beloved around the world is heading back to HOTA for BLEACH Fest 2026. Infused with Kiwi culture, pop, and even dubstep, their sound and infectious stage presence have taken them on sold-out tours across the globe. Supported by festival-favourite Sub-Tribe, a reggae group based in Sydney, Six60’s performance will be an all-out groove fest.
When: Saturday 3 October, 6pm Where: Outdoor Stage Tickets: Available here.
100 Keyboards by Interference Frequency
Welcome to the sonic playground that is Moire Resonance by Interference Frequency. Here, 100 toy keyboards, each tuned slightly differently, intere, overlap and create an evolving soundscape all around you. Each person’s experience will be unique at this totally immersive activation, where the layers of sound transform depending on which way you turn your head.
When: 3 October – 5 October, 2026 Where: HOTA, Gallery 3 Tickets: Available here.
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave
Rave culture on steroids? Okay bet. This unique combo of performance art, dance, and theatre sees three dancers in an intense hour-long display of relentless synchronised movement. With a little bit of chaos, a whole heap of endurance, and the sounds of the techno album Nocturbulous Behaviour by Suburban Knights, The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave takes the phrase “dance ’til you drop” to a whole other level.
When: 2 October – 4 October, 2026 Where: HOTA, Basement Tickets: Available here.
Rekindle, Rekindle by Sarah Huston
This experimental film by Gold Coast skateboarder, actor, stunt performer, artist and filmmaker Sarah Huston takes on gender stereotypes in skating with a powerful feminist point of view. Shot on Super 8, the film examines the phrase “skate and destroy,” and follows a skateboarder as they experience friction, motion, impact and fire.
When:1 October – 11 October, 2026 Where: Lower HOTA Gallery, Lower Foyer Tickets: Free
Lady Blackbird & Electric Fields
This free performance of soulful melodies from the UK’s Lady Blackbird and Australia’s Electric Fields will open BLEACH Festival in spectacular fashion. Featuring powerful ballads from Lady Blackbird, soul, jazz, and storytelling will combine in what is sure to be an incredible performance. Aussie duo Electric Fields will also take to the stage on the night, bringing their collision of culture and electronic music. One memorable night of music and sonic storytelling, and it’s all free? Sign us up.
When Friday 2 October, 6pm Where: HOTA, Outdoor Stage Tickets: Free – book here.
No One Gets Out of Here Alive by The Farm
Irreverent theatre company The Farm confronts the taboo topic of dying head-on with their highly anticipated No One Gets Out of Here Alive. Also taking the stage at this year’s Brisbane Festival, the performance promises an interactive piece that merges dance, voice, music, and dark humour, in which the audience will feel a collective catharsis somewhere along the way.
When: 10 October – 11 October, 2026 Where: HOTA, Theatre 1 Tickets: Available here.
Live Music Stage
Alongside the theatre and art program, over 18 local artists will take over the Live Music Stage for totally free performances throughout BLEACH Fest. Hosted in the HOTA Lake Precinct, the open-air pop-up venue will transform the parklands into an energetic outdoor concert, complete with food trucks and bars. With appearances from BEACON Choir, Step by Step, and the Silk Road Project, now’s the time to gather the group chat and year up for some movin’ and groovin’ at the Live Music Stage.When: 1 October – 11 October, 2026 Where: HOTA Lake Precinct Tickets: Free
The need to know
What: BLEACH Festival When: 1 – 11 October, 2026 Where: The HOTA Precinct, Southport
Imagery: @six60 / @legsonthewall / @australasiandancecollective
