Burleigh Heads beach
EVENT · ENDS 29 NOVSurfers Paradise · Burleigh Heads

Gold Coast (QLD) Events 26 to 29 November 2026: Volunteer Awards, Cascada, Comedy at Currumbin, a Free Christmas Wonderland and School Basketball

by OZ Local Updates editorial team

At a glance

When
Friday 27 to Sunday 29 November 2026; the school basketball championships run from Sunday 29 November to Friday 4 December
Where
HOTA and the Hilton in Surfers Paradise, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads, Nerang and Carrara
Who it’s for
Anyone planning the last weekend of November: awards guests, music and comedy fans, families, and basketball parents
What to do now
Book the ticketed events (Volunteer Awards, Women in Tourism breakfast, Date Night, Cascada); the other five are free to attend, and HOTA Ideas asks you to register
Last checked
Monday 9 November 2026, against each event’s City of Gold Coast What’s On page
Not yet confirmed
Ticket availability and sell-out status for the four ticketed events, and the match schedule for the school basketball championships

Nine events on the City of Gold Coast’s What’s On listing fall between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 November 2026 and are not in our other November guides: a networking breakfast, the Volunteer Awards, a free photography talk and a free family Christmas event at HOTA, a comedy show at Currumbin, a Cascada concert at Burleigh, two free live-music sessions at Nerang RSL, and the school basketball championships. Each entry below gives the price, the time and the place as the listing states them.

Everything here comes from the City’s What’s On Gold Coast pages, read on 9 November 2026. The Gold Coast Mayor’s Christmas Carols at HOTA (Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November) and the Santa’s Arrival events are not in this guide; we cover them separately, linked below.

What is on, in one table?

Event When Where Price
Women in Tourism Gold Coast: Christmas Breakfast Fri 27 Nov, 6:30am to 9am Hilton, 6 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise General $80; members $70
Gold Coast Volunteer Awards Fri 27 Nov, 6pm HOTA, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise $160
Date Night Sketch Comedy Fri 27 Nov, 8:40pm to 9:40pm Currumbin Hotel, 3 Traders Way, Currumbin $25
HOTA Ideas: Photographic Practices in Focus Sat 28 Nov, 11am to 12pm HOTA Gallery, Surfers Paradise Free (register)
Jolly Jingo Sat 28 Nov, 5pm to 8pm Nerang RSL, 71 Nerang Street Free
Cascada Sat 28 Nov, 7pm to 11pm Burleigh Town Hotel, Tsipura Drive, Burleigh Heads From $64.80
Runes Duo Sun 29 Nov, 3pm to 6pm Nerang RSL Free
Journey 2 Learn Annual Christmas Wonderland Sun 29 Nov, 1:30pm to 4:30pm HOTA, Surfers Paradise Free
Footlocker Australian School Championships (basketball) Sun 29 Nov, 8am, to Fri 4 Dec, 9pm Four venues, Carrara, Coomera and Runaway Bay Free for spectators

What happens on Friday 27 November?

Friday has three ticketed events, from a 6:30am breakfast to a late comedy show.

The Women in Tourism Gold Coast Christmas Breakfast runs from 6:30am to 9am at the Hilton Hotel, 6 Orchid Avenue, Surfers Paradise. Tickets are $80 for general admission and $70 for members. The listing says guests are asked to bring a Christmas gift suitable for a teenager aged 12 or older, to support the local charity Walk With Us, and that the networking includes a gingerbread house decorating activity. The organiser’s contact is pr@womenintourismgc.com.au.

The Gold Coast Volunteer Awards start at 6pm at HOTA, Home of the Arts, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise. The listing calls it the city’s biggest celebration of volunteering and gives this year’s theme as “Vollywood on the Gold Coast”, with guests asked to dress as their favourite movie star. The ticket price is $160. The organiser is Volunteering Gold Coast, listed on 07 5526 0688. The listing links to a page for nominating a volunteer, but it does not say whether nominations are still open.

HOTA, Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise
HOTA, Home of the Arts, Surfers Paradise (photo: MarketingHOTA / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Date Night Sketch Comedy is at the Currumbin Hotel, 3 Traders Way, Currumbin, from 8:40pm to 9:40pm. Tickets are $25. The performers are Brisbane duo Chris Martin and Taylor Edwards, who are also a couple. The listing rates the show MA15+ and warns that access to the venue is via a staircase. It says there is parking on site.

Currumbin Creek lagoon at the creek estuary, Currumbin
Currumbin Creek lagoon at the creek estuary, Currumbin (photo: Kgbo / CC BY-SA 4.0)

What happens on Saturday 28 November?

Saturday’s choices run from a free artist talk in the morning to a ticketed dance concert at night.

HOTA Ideas: Photographic Practices in Focus is a free panel discussion from 11am to 12pm at the HOTA Gallery. It is held on the opening day of the Josephine Ulrick and Win Schubert Photography Award exhibition, with exhibiting finalists speaking and José Da Silva, Director of UNSW Galleries and a 2026 award panellist, hosting. The listing asks you to register. HOTA’s listed phone number is 07 5588 4000.

Jolly Jingo plays the Nerang RSL stage from 5pm to 8pm. The listing says the performer, Brett Jones, is one half of the musical comedy duo The Jingo Brothers, and that it is his first time at the venue as a soloist. Entry is free and the listing says parking on site is free. The venue is at 71 Nerang Street, Nerang, and its listed number is 07 5578 1222.

Nerang River at Nerang, Queensland
Nerang River at Nerang, Queensland (photo: Shiftchange / CC BY-SA 4.0)

Cascada plays from 7pm to 11pm in Burleigh Heads, on her first headline tour of Australia, which marks 20 years of the song Everytime We Touch. Tickets start at $64.80. The listing names Darren Bailie of Guru Josh Project as special guest, with Nick Skitz also on the bill. The listing’s text calls the venue Burleigh Town Hall, while its venue field says Burleigh Town Hotel (West Burleigh) on Tsipura Drive, Burleigh Heads, so check the address on your ticket. It lists a bar, a car park and a public toilet, and says the venue actively welcomes people with access needs. The promoter’s contact is info@sunnysideupevents.com.au.

Burleigh Heads beach
Burleigh Heads beach (photo: Misaochan2 / CC BY-SA 4.0)

What happens on Sunday 29 November?

Sunday has two free events and the start of a week of school basketball.

Runes Duo play the Sunday Session at Nerang RSL from 3pm to 6pm. The venue calls them its resident monthly rockers. Entry is free, and parking on site is listed as free.

The Journey 2 Learn Annual Christmas Wonderland runs from 1:30pm to 4:30pm at HOTA, 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise. The listing describes it as a free, inclusive celebration for children and families, with a visit from Mr and Mrs Claus, Christmas crafts, Christmas golf, a gingerbread village, a Grinch zone, face painting and market stalls. Entry is free. The listing links to a ticketing page, so check whether a free ticket is needed.

The Footlocker Australian School Championships start on Sunday 29 November at 8am and run to 9pm on Friday 4 December. Basketball Australia calls the event its pinnacle for school basketball and says secondary schools from around Australia travel to the Gold Coast for the week. Games are at four venues: the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre and Carrara Indoor Sports Stadium, both at 296 Nerang Broadbeach Road, Carrara; Coomera Indoor Sports Centre, 35 Beattie Road, Coomera; and Runaway Bay Indoor Stadium, Sports Drive, Runaway Bay. Spectators enter free, parking on site is listed as free, and the venues are cashless, taking EFTPOS only. The listing does not publish a match schedule, so ask the organiser which court a team is on before you drive.

Inside the Carrara Indoor Stadium during a futsal match; the stadium is a Games venue, but this photo is not from the Games
Inside the Carrara Indoor Stadium during a futsal match; this photo is not from the basketball championships (photo: GCFutsal / CC BY-SA 4.0)

How do I get to these events?

Every one of the nine pages carries the same City advice. It asks you to use public transport, walk or cycle, and to plan your trip with the Translink journey planner. If you drive, the City says parking may be limited, suggests the EasyPark app to start, stop or extend metered parking from your phone, and reminds you that parking rules still apply during events. The listing says the Currumbin Hotel, Nerang RSL and the basketball venues have free or on-site parking. For HOTA, the City’s page says nothing about parking beyond the standard advice.

We found no Translink service notice for 27 to 29 November as of 9 November. Call Translink on 13 12 30 or use the journey planner close to the day. Our Mayor’s Christmas Carols guide covers HOTA on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November, the same weekend as the HOTA Ideas talk and the Christmas Wonderland, so read it if you are going to HOTA on either day.

What else is on that weekend?

Santa’s Arrival and Buggy Parade at Hope Island and the Runaway Bay Carols by Candlelight, both on Saturday 28 November, are in our community Christmas carols and Santa guide. The earlier November listings, including Flicks and Fireworks on 29 November, are in our 13 to 29 November community events guide.

What should I check before I go?

  • Ticket availability for the Volunteer Awards, Women in Tourism breakfast, Date Night and Cascada: the listings show prices, not sell-out status.
  • Whether the Christmas Wonderland needs a free ticket: the listing links to a ticketing page.
  • The Cascada venue name on your ticket: the listing says both Town Hall and Town Hotel.
  • The basketball match schedule: not published on the listing.
  • Prices are as of 9 November 2026 and can change.

Sources

Featured image: Burleigh Heads beach (photo: Misaochan2 / CC BY-SA 4.0; text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Gold Coast, HOTA, Volunteering Gold Coast, Women in Tourism Gold Coast, Nerang RSL, Basketball Australia or any event organiser. Check the official pages above before you go.