HOTA to transform into a celebration of Greek food, culture, music and family on the last weekend of October.
The Gold Coast is set to get a taste of Greece this October, with the Gold Coast Greek Festival bringing two days of food, music, dancing, entertainment and Greek culture to HOTA, Home of the Arts.
Taking place Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026, the new festival will share the best of Greek culture with the wider Gold Coast community.
Conceived by George Mastrocostas, Honorary Consul-General of Greece in Queensland, and held under his patronage, the Gold Coast Greek Festival brings together Hellenic community organisations from across Queensland for a major celebration of Greek culture, heritage and hospitality.
With 10,000 people expected across the weekend, the festival will be a celebration for everyone, whether you’re Greek, Greek at heart, or simply love great food, music and a good opa!
At the heart of the festival will be the Greek community itself, with local associations serving traditional family recipes, cultural groups performing traditional dances and young Greek Australians helping bring their heritage to life through music, food, dance and storytelling.
Food will take centre stage, with Greek community associations serving up traditional dishes alongside a packed cooking program.
Festival goers can see Australia’s favourite Greek chefs, Vikki Moursellas, and Anna Polyviou, who will be joined by her mother Gina, in the Lakeside Room across the weekend.
The program will showcase Greek cooking, family recipes and plenty of inspiration for home cooks, alongside Greek sweets, ice cream, specialty drinks, coffee, tea, Greek beer and other Greek favourites.
Beyond the food, the festival will be filled with live music and entertainment, including the Glendi Band, grEchoes, Greek and Cypriot dance groups, crowd participation sessions and Greek dancing lessons.
There will even be a chance for festival goers to put their new moves to the test in a best-dancing competition.
For those who prefer a little less dancing and a little more opa, the program also features a plate smashing competition, kids’ activities and plenty of opportunities for the crowd to get involved.
Saturday night will culminate in fireworks over Evandale Lake, creating a spectacular finale to the first day of festivities.
Festival organisers are inviting the entire Gold Coast community to come along, discover something new and experience the warmth of Greek hospitality, filoxenia, right in the heart of the city.
With traditional food, live music, dancing, cooking, family entertainment and a few opportunities to smash some plates along the way, the message is simple: Come hungry. Come ready to dance. Come ready to say OPA!
All proceeds from the Gold Coast Greek Festival will be directed towards supporting the Greek diaspora across Queensland. Funds raised will contribute to initiatives that strengthen Greek communities, celebrate and preserve our shared Hellenic heritage, and help ensure that Greek culture, traditions and community connections continue to thrive for future generations.
Plan your visit
When: Saturday 31 October and Sunday 1 November 2026. 12pm -10pm
Where: HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise QLD 4217
