The Sunshine Coast’s premier celebration of people, place and possibility, Horizon Festival, returns with 10 days of creativity and unforgettable experiences from 1 – 10 May 2026.
From joyous sunset performances on the shoreline to the contemplative tranquillity of the hinterland and music spilling out into the streets of Maroochydore, Horizon Festival marks its 10th year in 2026. The milestone year is celebrated through a world‑class program of more than 35 unique events across Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country.
The festival spans First Nations-led gatherings, immersive food experiences, dance and performance, live music, visual art, family adventures and workshops, each crafted to spark wonder and deepen connection across communities and place.
Horizon Festival Director Bec Martin said the event showcases the breadth of the region’s creativity and talent while taking artistic risks that delight and inspire. “Horizon Festival belongs to the Sunshine Coast. We’ve created a program where art doesn’t just visit our region, it responds to place, transforms experiences and celebrates community,” said Bec Martin.
“Our artistic community is vibrant, courageous and collaborative, and this year’s program brings ambitious new work to life across extraordinary settings. Audiences are invited to gather in unexpected places and to be moved, enchanted and surprised by all that the Sunshine Coast has to offer.”
Highlights of the 2026 Horizon Festival program include:
Opening Night Party (1 May) marks Horizon Festival’s 10th anniversary with a large‑scale, all‑ages celebration at Kings Beach, Caloundra.
Yauar Warai Wandi – Sing, Dance, Gather (2 May) enchants as the sun sets over Coolum Beach, celebrating the living relationships between flora, fauna and Country. This vibrant gathering honours the connections across Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi), Jinibara, Quandamooka and Butchulla Country through contemporary and traditional performance, music, ceremony and sculpture.
M’ap Boulé (2 and 3 May) is Haitian Creole for “I’m on fire” is a musical celebration of culture, connection and resistance. The charismatic Nancy Denis sets the stage ablaze with her journey to embrace her Black, Queer, Haitian and Australian identities.
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave (3 May) fresh from a critically acclaimed season at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, is a relentlessly high-energy, endurance dance work. Witness the bliss, euphoria, pain and destruction of a three-day dance rave, condensed into one hour, ahead of an international tour.
Burnt Earth: Bonyi Bounty (3 May) offers an unforgettable afternoon of sensory dining and cultural connection. Three local First Nations chefs collaborate to explore a bounty of native ingredients and cooking rituals, culminating in a spectacular three-course meal set among an ancient rainforest with sweeping views of the Glasshouse Mountains.
HELIOS (6 May) is an acclaimed, intimate gig-theatre show that blends live music with performance and audience involvement. A story about the son of the god of the sun, HELIOS transplants the Ancient Greek tale into a modern-day myth wound round the winding roads of rural England – and into the everyday living of a towering city.
Family Film Night (9 May) A celebration of 30 years of Australian classic Babe with an outdoor screening at Baringa Forest Park. Audiences can enjoy live music from Junior Burger, a real live farm‑animal petting zoo, and local food vendors and a sunset setting before the beloved film lights up the night.
Horizon Dance Hall (10 May) Pull on your dancing shoes, come together, and celebrate at Horizon Festival’s finale: Horizon Dance Hall, a free, all-ages, all-day party of music and movement with dance styles from across the world. The rollicking ride through dance performances, demos and workshops includes boot-scooting, hip-hop, samba, swing and bush dancing, and closes with a workshop and DJ set from Sydney’s queer line dancing sweethearts, Saddle Club.
In addition, the festival will feature a rocking line-up of live music and comedy at venues across the Sunshine Coast headlined by top talents including The Umbilical Brothers (7 May), Danny Widdecombe & The Wand’rin’ Stars (8 May), and multi-award-winning Jem Cassar-Daley (9 May).
And as the sun sets on the Horizon program, don’t miss Secret Garden as your perfect weekend wind-down – a heart‑warming way to spend Mother’s Day (10 May).
Queensland Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said Horizon Festival is a much-loved highlight of the Sunshine Coast arts calendar, celebrating creativity while delivering strong benefits for the local economy.
“Horizon Festival is the Sunshine Coast’s signature celebration of the arts, bringing our creative community together through visual art, performance, music and words,” said Minister Langbroek.
“Congratulations to everyone involved on reaching the 10-year milestone. It’s a testament to the organisers, the strength of the programme and the community’s support that the festival has achieved such longevity and continues to thrive.
The 2026 Horizon Festival runs 1 – 10 May 2026. For more information and full program, visit: www.horizonfestival.com.au for details.
Images: The Butterfly Who Flew into a Rave – photo by Mark Gambino | Horizon Festival Opening Night Party – photo by Georgia Haupt | Saddle Club will perform at the Horizon Dance Hall (supplied)