Video Credit: Andrew Friend CMC Rocks 2019 Highlights
Where else in the world can you watch a global motor racing event one minute and stroll down a pristine stretch of surf beach the next?Or snorkel with tropical fish in the morning and attend a breath-taking ballet performance at night?
The It’s Live! In Queensland calendar of more than 100 events feature Australia’s best live events staged in the best destinations. Visit Here to discover all the action.
JANUARY 2020
WATER – GOMA (BRISBANE) 7 DECEMBER – 26 APRIL 2020
When you think of Queensland summer you certainly don’t think snowman. But that’s exactly what you’ll get when Water bursts onto the art scene at GOMA in December. Tiptoe across a vast rocky riverbed created by Olafur Eliasson; see predator and prey gather to drink from Cai Guo-Qiang’s brilliant blue waterhole; gaze at Peter Fischli and David Weiss’s snowman frozen in Brisbane’s summer heat; traverse a cloud of suspended gymnastic rings in artwork by William Forsythe; reflect on the cultural traditions of bodies of water, including the Brisbane River, with Judy Watson; and on the long history of our reliance on water through Megan Cope’s re-created midden. Over two massive nights in March, Up Late offers the experience of 'Water' in tandem with live music across our indoor and outdoor stages, pop-up performances, playful science activations, karaoke, bars & dining, plus more! Water is the most talked about exhibition of the summer – it’s set to quench your thirst.
ATP CUP (BRISBANE) 3 – 12 JANUARY 2020
This summer, Brisbane welcomes the inaugural ATP Cup, a new men's team competition featuring 24 of the world’s top nations. They’ll be competing in Australia over two weeks in January, with group stages to be held across Brisbane, Sydney and Perth. Brisbane will host two groups of four teams from January 3 to 8. Each group winner will progress to Sydney for the ATP Cup finals. Headliners for the Brisbane Group Stage include Serbian superstar and 16-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, the Aussie contingent including Alex De Minaur and Canada’s Milos Raonic.
BRISBANE INTERNATIONAL (BRISBANE) 6 – 12 JANUARY 2020
A summer of tennis arrives in the River City with Brisbane International – so grab your tickets for a front row seat to see who claims the title. In 2020, the Brisbane International, now a women's only tournament, joins the men's ATP Cup in bringing 10 days of electric tennis action to the Queensland Tennis Centre. Headlined by Brisbane's own world No.1 Ash Barty, Japan's Naomi Osaka and grand-slam champ Venus Williams, the tournament boasts one of the strongest fields in the world as players prepare for the Australian Open.
THE STAR GOLD COAST MAGIC MILLIONS CARNIVAL: 3 – 14 JANUARY 2020
All that glitters is Gold Coast during Magic Millions. For 10 magnificent days in January, this beach-side city transforms into a world of glitz and glam as it plays host to the most prestigious horse racing carnival in Queensland. Don your most fabulous outfit and kick off celebrations with the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo on Sunday 5 January. On the morning of Tuesday 7 January, the thunder of Thoroughbred hooves along the sands of the Surfers Paradise Foreshore will be a feature spectacle of The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Barrier Draw, while premium yearlings from around Australia will go under the hammer from Wednesday onwards in the action-packed Sales arena. Come race day all eyes will turn to the track for the renowned AUD10 million The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Raceday, Fashions on The Field and the Magic Millions VIP Marquee will host the who’s who of the social and racing scenes
PACIFIC FAIR MAGIC MILLIONS POLO (GOLD COAST) 5 JANUARY 2020
The 2020 The Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Carnival is a week-long celebration of all things equine. Before the on-track action begins, the carnival kicks off with the Pacific Fair Magic Millions Polo at Doug Jennings Park, Main Beach. High-action polo, picturesque surrounds and a cheeky cocktail (or two) make for the perfect summer afternoon. Watch some of the world’s finest polo players take to the field, including Argentinian superstar Nacho Figueras.
WHITSUNDAYS CLIPPER RACE CARNIVAL (WHITSUNDAYS) 11 – 18 JANUARY 2020
The Whitsundays will once again come alive with festivities and fun when the world's most wondrous sailing event arrives, for the Whitsundays Clipper Race Carnival in January 2020. Airlie Beach will host the eleven identical 70-foot ocean racing yachts, their skippers and their international crew and supporters in the final stop of the Australian leg of the internationally renowned and spectacular Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. The carnival will be a one week-long celebration of vibrant regional events and signature events such as a long lunch on the iconic Whitehaven Beach, a rodeo on the beaches of Bowen and a welcome party in the center of Airlie Beach.
FEBRUARY 2020
EUROVISION – AUSTRLIA DECIDES (GOLD COAST) 7 – 8 FEBRUARY 2020
After Kate Miller-Heidke’s breathtaking performance at last year’s Eurovision, Australia will turn its attention back to the Gold Coast for Eurovision – Australia Decides to see who will wear the crown next. Hosted by Joel Creasey and Myf Warhurst, experience the dramatic brilliance of Eurovision as some of Australia’s most talented performers sing their hearts out over two days. The first four artists have been announced; Casey Donovan, Vanessa Amorosi, Montaigne, Didirri, Mitch Tambo and iOTA; with more artists to be announced soon.
ICC WOMEN’S T20 WORLD CUP WARM UP (BRISBANE) 15 – 20 FEBRUARY 2020
The ICC T20 World Cup is the flagship international T20 tournament. 2020 marks Australia’s first opportunity to host the T20 World Cup and the first time T20 cricket’s global showpiece women’s and men’s tournaments will be played as standalone events in the same host country in the same year. Allan Border Field will host five women's warm-up matches ahead of the tournament. In this double header, Bangladesh will take on Thailand, followed by India vs Pakistan.
SAND SAFARI ARTS FESTIVAL (GOLD COAST) 14 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH 2020
Fond memories of building sandcastles are taken up a few notches at Sand Safari Arts Festival. This larger than life beachside exhibition brings artistic flair to the sands of Surfers Paradise, with the Australian Sand Sculpting Championships hosted as part of the festival. Taking place over several days, you can watch the sculpts take shape and develop character, their finished forms creating a striking centerpiece for the Sand Safari Arts Festival.
AGNES BLUES & ROCK FESTIVAL (GLADSTONE) 21 - 23 FEBRUARY 2020
Get your dancing shoes ready and let the party begin! This chilled-out-blissed-out music festival – sitting on the edge of the Southern Great Barrier Reef no less – is all about delivering the best blues, roots and rock music this side of the Tropic of Capricorn over three jam-packed days. Discover new music, enjoy festival favourites and learn in one of their unique and inspiring artist led festival workshops. If you ever needed an excuse to make a big Blues, Roots and Rock weekend of it in paradise, this is it! Tour the region, surf, swim, play and still enjoy some of the best music on the planet. https://www.agnesbluesandroots.com.au/
NRL HARVEY NORMAN ALL STARS (GOLD COAST) 22 FEBRUARY 2020
Returning to the coast ten years after the inaugural contest at Cbus Super Stadium, the Australian Indigenous All-Stars are back to defend their victory in another epic match. Celebrate the power, passion and pride of the men's and women's teams, as they face off against the New Zealand Maori Kiwis in a modern tribal showcase of First Nations players proudly representing their cultures. https://tickets.nrl.com/allstars/
NOOSA FESTIVAL OF SURFING (SUNSHINE COAST) 22 FEBRUARY – 1 MARCH 2020
Established 29 years ago, the Noosa Festival of Surfing celebrates eight days of perfect waves, incredible surfing and the stoke and camaraderie of the global surfing community. Longboards, finless, bodysurfing and tandem – every style of surfing is showcased during the festival, with plenty of action in and out of the water.
In 2020, for the first time in a decade, the World Surf League is returning to Queensland with the world championship WSL Longboard Open barreling into Noosa’s iconic First Point break.
Noosa has recently been named as the tenth World Surfing Reserve, so there’s no better time to experience it for yourself.
STANTHORPE APPLE AND GRAPE FESTIVAL (SOUTHERN QUEENSLAND COUNTRY) 28 FEBRAURY – 8 MARCH 2020
Whether you love to eat grapes or drink them, it’s time to get well acquainted with the Granite Belt region’s produce and booming wine industry at the Apple & Grape Harvest Festival. The biennial festival is a celebration of the Granite Belt region’s produce and booming wine industry. Held in Stanthorpe, the heart of the Granite Belt Wine Region, you can expect nothing less than ten days of non-stop fun with events like the ‘When in Rome’ gala ball, a multicultural carnival and wine fiesta, the legendary grape crush and more.
MARCH 2020
BRISBANE CYCLING FESTIVAL (BRISBANE) 12 MARCH – 5 APRIL 2020
Get ready for the ride of your life when the Brisbane Cycling Festival rolls back into Brisbane for 2020! The festival will get you psyched up with professional, amateur and mass participation events at the celebrated Anna Meares Velodrome and other venues this March. See some of the world’s best track cyclists for the Six Day Cycling International Series Final, which combines elite track cycling with an energetic party atmosphere. Not to be outdone, Cycling Australia will host the Cycling Australia Track National Championships including Junior, Elite and Masters. The festival will be supported by a series of activities for residents and visitors including a mass participation ride across the city, the Tour de Brisbane. Whether you’re a keen rider, a cycling fan or want to jump on a bike yourself, these events will ensure Brisbane is at the center of the cycling universe in 2020.
MOOLOOLABA TRIATHLON FESTIVAL (SUNSHINE COAST) 13 - 15 MARCH 2020
Tri the beach in 2020! Located in the heart of the Sunshine Coast, the Mooloolaba Triathlon Festival remains a standout event on the ITU calendar. The Olympic distance triathlon provides a course that is known and loved for its ocean swim along with the electric atmosphere as thousands of triathletes descend on this popular beach town. There is something for the whole family including the Asics Twilight five-kilometre Run, Mooloolaba Sprint Triathlon, Mooloolaba Superkidz Triathlon and the Special Tri. The event also features the Mooloolaba ITU Triathlon World Cup, where participants will see the world's best ITU triathletes in action!
CMC ROCKS QLD (BRISBANE) 20 - 22 March 2020
CMC Rocks Queensland is the biggest international country and roots festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Delivering an explosive array of international and national country music superstars, over three massive days and nights, at Willowbank in Ipswich – just a short drive from Brisbane City. Amongst this year’s hot country line-up are international guests Miranda Lambert and Kip Moore, along with Australia's very own emerging star, Morgan Evans. www.cmcrocks.com
CURIOCITY (BRISBANE) 20 MARCH – 5 APRIL 2020
Challenge your curiosity to create, discover and play during Curiocity Brisbane. For 20 days, Brisbane will come to life with a myriad of curious encounters as innovation, science and technology collide. Spanning the Brisbane River, the city will be transformed with curiosities popping up from the South Bank Cultural Precinct to the Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm featuring augmented reality spaces to life size puzzles and immersive art. Touch, see, hear, taste, learn, play and wonder. Curiocity Brisbane is a fully immersive, sensory experience for everyone.
WORLD SCIENCE FESTIVAL BRISBANE (BRISBANE) 25 - 29 MARCH 2020
As part of Curiocity, the World Science Festival Brisbane returns in March to spark curious minds and connect them with awe-inspiring concepts and discoveries. The world’s best thought leaders will come together to produce a stunning program of live and digital content that connects Asia-Pacific audiences of all ages. The luminaries of the science world will present the beauty, complexity, and importance of science through diverse, multidisciplinary programming that is the World Science Festival signature. This is a great event for budding scientists too, with a fantastic kid-friendly program set to inspire.
CORONA OPEN GOLD COAST (GOLD COAST) 26 MARCH – 5 APRIL 2020
When it comes to waves worth watching (and world-class athletes too), there’s no better place to sit in the sand than the southern Gold Coast in March. Join surfing’s biggest names as the world’s best male and female surfers take to the water and battle it out at the Corona Open Gold Coast (formerly Quiksilver Pro) at Snapper Rocks. As the season opener for the WSL Championship Tour, this event sets the tone for the competition year to come.
Image Credit : Queensland Surfing
*101 reasons and more to start packing: these featured events offer just a taste of more than 100 events on Tourism and Events Queensland's It's Live! In Queensland calendar, showcasing Australia's best live events staged in the best destinations. Visit www.queensland.com/events to discover all the action.
