Marking a decade of championing people, place and possibility, Horizon Festival 2026 will deliver more than 35 world-class events across Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country in an ambitious 10-day program set to transform the region from May 1-10.
The festival offers a program that honours culture and community while looking boldly to the future, from spectacular sunset performances along the coastline to immersive hinterland experiences and vibrant street-level celebrations in Maroochydore.
The milestone program spans First Nations-led gatherings, large-scale contemporary performance, live music, visual art installations, immersive food events, dance, family adventures and hands-on workshops. Together, they form one of the festival’s most expansive and diverse line-ups to date, designed to spark wonder, foster connection and showcase the creative spirit of the Sunshine Coast.
Horizon Festival director Bec Martin said the event showcased the breadth of the region’s creativity and talent while taking artistic risks that delight and inspire.
“Horizon Festival belongs to the Sunshine Coast,” Ms Martin said.
“We’ve created a program where art doesn’t just visit our region, it responds to place, transforms experiences and celebrates community.
“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.”
Horizon Festival 2026 is presented by Sunshine Coast Council with the support of Tourism and Events Queensland.
Sunshine Coast mayor Rosanna Natoli said Horizon Festival’s 10 year milestone highlighted its success and growing significance within the region.
“Horizon Festival is a unique reflection of the Sunshine Coast,” Cr Natoli said.
“It is a festival for our region, by our region, and its authenticity and commitment to place have also attracted the interest and attendance of visitors from across Australia.
“At its heart, Horizon is about community and connection. It invites us to see our landscape differently, to gather in surprising places and to discover how art deepens our understanding of each other, and of this extraordinary region.
“As our region’s key cultural pillar ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games, Horizon Festival works to engage and embed the creative sector in the cultural fabric of the Sunshine Coast.”
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Queensland Minister for the Arts John-Paul Langbroek said Horizon Festival was 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,” Minister Langbroek said.
“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.
“With around $1.4 million flowing into the local economy, Horizon Festival continues to deliver for community and tourism alike.”
Program highlights include:
M’ap Boule (May 2-3) is Haitian Creole for “I’m on fire”, and is a musical celebration of culture, connection and resistance.
The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave (May 3) 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.
Burnt Earth: Bonyi Bounty (May 3) 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.
Horizon Festival pays its deepest respects to the Traditional Owners of Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country, Sunshine Coast – the first artists, storytellers and dancers, whose enduring connection to Country continues on the lands and waters we now share.
View the full program and purchase early bird tickets on the Horizon Festival website.
