The Gold Coast Pride Collective has officially unveiled its 2026 Pride Month Calendar, featuring more than 20 events across the city throughout June and culminating in a huge day of LGBTQIA+ celebration with the Gold Coast Pride Fair Day at HOTA, Home of the Arts.
The month-long program brings together community organisations, businesses, venues, artists and performers to deliver a diverse range of events celebrating pride, inclusion, visibility and connection across the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Pride Collective President Michael James said the calendar reflected the strength and diversity of the local LGBTQIA+ community. “We are so incredibly proud to see our community coming together to celebrate this year,” said Michael James.
“We have worked together with various groups, organisations and venues to put together a calendar that offers something for everyone across the whole month.”
“The pinnacle of the celebrations is of course our Pride Fair Day at the brand new location at HOTA, The Home Of The Arts on the Gold Coast. This fantastic venue will offer the perfect location for our community to come together, connect and celebrate.”
“Following our Fair Day on June 27 we are so excited to see the officially closing party at Sky Pride as we see the biggest building on the Gold Coast turn rainbow as a shining beacon of hope across the Gold Coast.”
“Now more than ever hope and unity is crucial to helping the mental health and well-being of our community and we invite everyone on the Gold Coast to join us as we stand strong, united and proud this pride month,” said Michael James.
The Collective has also welcomed two major sponsors for this year’s celebrations, Coles and Travel + Leisure Co, whose support has helped make the expanded Pride Month program possible.
“On top of the incredible community support and participation we have received we are also incredibly thankfully to our sponsors and supporters who are helping support the event this year,” said Michael James.
“HOTA – Home of the Arts is thrilled to host the Gold Coast Pride Fair Day in 2026. HOTA values diversity and want to make HOTA a welcoming place for everyone to visit – including the LGBTIQA+ community,” said Felix Perval, Director of Creative Programming at HOTA.
“We’re excited that this afternoon event will be both fabulous and family-friendly and look forward to the Pride Pet Parade in particular! HOTA is also delighted to present international queer photographic exhibition LOVING across the month of June.”
“With further associated events still to be announced, we’re excited to be part of bringing the community together to celebrate Pride on the Gold Coast in June,” said Perval.
The celebrations officially began this week with the opening of a month long Pride Art Exhibition at Hairy Mary’s. The community gathered on Saturday 6 June for the annual Pride Walk at Kurrawa Park with a vibrant crowd making the walk to Broadbeach together. Celebrations continued at the official Pride Month Launch at Hairy Mary’s on Saturday afternoon.
Highlights across the month include Bebe’s Big Bash, the All Male Review, the Love on the Goldy Queer Art Exhibition at HOTA, drag brunches, sapphic community events, queer arts showcases, the Kings & Queens Masquerade Ball, major dance parties and the Gold Coast Pride Collective’s popular Trans and Non-Binary Picnic.
One of the month’s marquee events will take place on Friday 26 June when Australian entertainment icon and transgender trailblazer Carlotta joins the Gold Coast Pride Collective for a special screening of the acclaimed film based on her life. The evening will conclude with an intimate live Q&A hosted by DJ Beksis.
The celebrations culminate on Saturday 27 June with the Gold Coast Pride March and Pride Fair Day at HOTA. Beginning at the corner of Mawarra Street and Stanhill Drive, participants will march across the Green Bridge, around the HOTA lake and into the Fair Day precinct.
Running from 11am to 5pm, the free event will feature a full day of live entertainment, community stalls, food vendors, family activities, a drag pageant, pet parade, licensed bar and much more. Community members are encouraged to register for free Fair Day tickets to assist organisers with attendance estimates and event communications.
Following Fair Day, celebrations will continue with the inaugural Sky Pride Closing Party at SkyPoint in the iconic Q1 building. For the first time, the Gold Coast skyline will be illuminated in rainbow colours as guests enjoy an evening of entertainment, food, beverages and community celebration 230 metres above the city. Hairy Mary’s will then host the official after after party well into the night.
Gold Coast Pride Month continues to Sunday 27 June 2026. For more information and full program, visit: www.gcpridecollective.com for details.
Image: Participants at the Gold Coast Pride Walk – courtesy of the Gold Coast Pride Collective