This has now finished. The details below applied up to Saturday 24 October 2026 and are kept as a record. For current information, see our Gold Coast 500 2026 guide.
At a glance
- When
- Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 October 2026
- Parade
- Transporter Parade, Wednesday 21 October, about 9am to 9:45am and 12:30pm to 1pm, Main Beach
- Free signing
- Drivers Sunset Signing, Thursday 22 October, 5:30pm to 6:30pm, Surfers Paradise
- Street party
- Cars and Cocktails on Tedder, Saturday 24 October, 3pm to 7pm; price not stated
- Getting there
- G:link at full capacity; Tedder Avenue bus stops closed from 6pm Sunday 18 October
- Help
- Translink 13 12 30
Before the Gold Coast 500 racing starts on Friday 23 October, the organisers list three events around Main Beach and Surfers Paradise: a transporter parade on Wednesday 21 October, a free Drivers Sunset Signing on Thursday 22 October from 5:30pm to 6:30pm, and a Tedder Avenue street party on Saturday 24 October from 3pm to 7pm.
The times below come from the Supercars What’s On page and the organisers’ community brochure, checked on 15 October 2026. The organisers say all times and schedules are subject to change without notice.
When is the Transporter Parade?
On Wednesday 21 October, the teams’ race transporters roll through Main Beach and into pit lane, at approximately 9:00am to 9:45am and again from 12:30pm to 1:00pm, according to the Supercars What’s On page. The community brochure calls it the NTI Transporter Parade and says it shows the full fleet of race transporters. The organisers have not published a route beyond “Main Beach”, so check their page for updates.
Roads in the area are already changed that week: the circuit streets are one-way from about 5am on Monday 19 October, and the Gold Coast Highway has reduced lanes. Our Gold Coast 500 road closures guide covers the street-by-street changes.
Is the Drivers Sunset Signing free?
Yes. The organisers describe it as the “free Drivers Sunset Signing” on Thursday 22 October, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm in Surfers Paradise. You can bring your memorabilia for autographs, meet the drivers and see live entertainment and car displays. The page places it in Surfers Paradise but does not give a street address, so look for the official location before you go.
What is Cars and Cocktails on Tedder?
Cars and Cocktails on Tedder is the Tedder Avenue Street Party in Main Beach on Saturday 24 October, from 3:00pm to 7:00pm. The organisers call it a one-night-only event that brings together local businesses, food vendors, entertainment and community groups for a post-race atmosphere. The community brochure says it is new in 2026 and is brought to you by Councillor Darren Taylor.
The pages we checked do not say whether the street party is free or ticketed. They also do not say whether it sits inside the ticketed event precinct. The organisers’ traffic FAQ says that from Friday 23 to Sunday 25 October, entry to the event precinct requires a Resident Access Pass or a valid event ticket. Check the organisers’ page before you rely on walking in.
Tedder Avenue is changing that week too, according to the streets-affected listing:
| Section | Change |
|---|---|
| Main Beach Parade to Cronin Avenue | Open for business as usual, Monday 19 to Tuesday 27 October |
| Cronin Avenue to the Gold Coast Highway | Closed from Thursday 22 October to 5:00am Tuesday 27 October, with local access only for Tedder Avenue and Breaker Street residents |
| Tedder Avenue bus stops | Closed from 6pm Sunday 18 October to 5am Tuesday 27 October; route 704 services towards Sea World terminate at Scarborough Street |
What else is on during the week?
- Track Club, Friday 23 October: for one morning only, entrants can run the Surfers Paradise street circuit. Spots are limited.
- Soundtrack on Macintosh Island: three days of music. The brochure says all evening acts on Friday and Saturday finish by 9:00pm. Sneaky Sound System, Bag Raiders and Havana Brown are on Saturday’s line-up.
- On-Track All Drivers Signing Session, Saturday 24 October, 10:50am to 11:30am on Macintosh Island in front of the Soundtrack main stage. Macintosh Island is inside the event precinct, where the traffic FAQ says entry needs a ticket or pass.
- After Party at The Star, Atrium Bar (18+ only, subject to venue terms): Mashd N Kutcher on Friday from 9:00pm to 10:30pm, and Hot Dub Time Machine on Saturday from 9:00pm to 10:30pm.
How do I get there?
The brochure says the G:link will run at full capacity. Our Gold Coast 500 parking and public transport guide lists the stations, the extra tram services on race days and the free travel with an event ticket. Main Beach Parade stops are closed from 13 October and Tedder Avenue stops from the evening of 18 October, so check Translink before you rely on a bus.
More guides: Gold Coast 500 2026 guide
Sources
- Supercars — Gold Coast 500 What’s On (times; checked 15 October 2026)
- Supercars — Gold Coast 500 transport and traffic (community brochure, streets listing, traffic FAQ)
- Translink — Tedder Avenue, Main Beach temporary stop closures
Featured image: Main Beach, Gold Coast, with the Surfers Paradise skyline (photo: Kgbo / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Supercars, the City of Gold Coast or Translink. Times can change; check the organisers’ pages before you go.