Makers, dreamers and storytellers unite for Horizon Festival’s 2026 program
Over ten days this May, Horizon Festival will transform the Sunshine Coast into a vibrant hub of art, culture and community. Today, the festival announces its highly anticipated tenth anniversary program – a dynamic line-up of more than 35 events unfolding across Kabi Kabi and Jinibara Country from May 1–10. From powerful First Nations-led gatherings and standout live music to immersive dining experiences and family-friendly events, Horizon Festival 2026 promises a bold celebration of place, creativity and connection.
Since 2016, Horizon Festival has hosted a broad array of world-class contemporary art experiences across the Sunshine Coast, weaving a vibrant tapestry of creativity across the coastline, captivating locals and connecting audiences with the creatives who call the region home.
Now regarded as the region’s signature celebration of the arts, Horizon Festival showcases a diverse array of inclusive events across a ten-day program, encompassing First Nations culture, visual and performing arts, live music performances and family-friendly outings. Each event unfolds in a unique location across the area, from the tranquil surrounds of the Sunshine Coast hinterland to the bustling streets of the region’s waterfront enclaves, transforming familiar landscapes into stages for wonder and connection.
For its tenth iteration, Horizon Festival is looking to go above and beyond in 2026, launching a bold program that celebrates people, place and possibility. The fun will kick off on Friday May 1 with an all-ages opening-night party at Kings Beach in Caloundra, followed on Saturday by Yauar Warai Wandi – Sing, Dance, Gather. Held on Coolum Beach, the vibrant gathering that honours the connections Kabi Kabi (Gubbi Gubbi), Jinibara, Quandamooka and Butchulla Country through an evening of contemporary and traditional performance, music, ceremony and sculpture at Coolum Beach, inviting audiences to listen deeply and gather in respect and joy.
On May 2 and 3, Nancy Denis will take the stage for M’ap Boulé – an incendiary musical celebration of culture, connection and resistance informed by Nancy’s Black, Queer, Haitian and Australian identities.
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Touching down on Sunday May 3, fresh from a heralded season at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the high-energy dance work The Butterfly Who Flew Into The Rave will condense the euphoria and pain of a three-day rave into an hour-long sensory experience. On the same day, guests will congregate among the rainforests surrounding the Glasshouse Mountains for Burnt Earth: Bonyi Bounty – an afternoon of dining, connection and ritual, led by three local First Nations chefs crafting a three-course meal from a bounty of native ingredients, each dish a story of land and lineage.
This year’s program will also feature a line-up of incredible local music and comedy acts performing at venues across the Sunshine Coast. Locals can catch performances by The Umbilical Brothers, BIG NOTER, Jem Cassar-Daley and Danny Widdecome & The Wand’rin Stars, to name a few. Further south, at Baringa Forest Park, families will gather for an outdoor screening of classic Australian film Babe, with local food vendors, a petting zoo and live music from Junior Burger ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
Wrapping up the festival’s 2026 program is Horizon Dance Hall – a free, all-ages, all-day party bringing together music and dance styles from across the globe. Guests can enjoy performances, demonstrations and workshops covering everything from boot-scooting and samba to swing, bush dancing and hip-hop, before the event closes with a workshop and DJ set from Sydney’s queer line dancing outfit, Saddle Club.
Tickets for Horizon Festival are available now – head to the festival’s website to snag yours ASAP!
This article was written in partnership with our good friends at Horizon Festival.
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