Mayor’s Christmas Carols 2026 at HOTA: Free Tickets Release 9am Monday 26 October and 6pm Tuesday 27 October, Plus Parking and Getting There (Surfers Paradise, QLD)

Free tickets for the HOTA Outdoor Stage at the Mayor’s Christmas Carols are released in two rounds: 9am on Monday 26 October and 6pm on Tuesday 27 October. The City of Gold Coast’s What’s On Gold Coast page for the event lists both times, and the shows are on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 November. Gold Coast is on Brisbane time, so these are Queensland times with no daylight saving.

This guide is from the City’s event page and its media release, checked on 25 October 2026, plus the City’s and HOTA’s own parking and travel pages.

When and where do I get a free ticket?

Start at the City’s What’s On Gold Coast page for the Mayor’s Christmas Carols. It says free tickets for the HOTA Outdoor Stage are limited and will be released at 9am on Monday 26 October and 6pm on Tuesday 27 October. Radio station Hot Tomato reports that tickets are limited to 4,000 people each night and that the event has sold out before, so it urges families to get in quickly. That figure comes from the station, not from the City’s page.

Release	Day and time
Round 1	9am, Monday 26 October
Round 2	6pm, Tuesday 27 October

The page text we read does not show a booking link or say which ticketing service is used, so go to the City’s page at those times rather than to a third-party seller. The City’s contact for the event is events@goldcoast.qld.gov.au or (07) 5588 4000.

What is on, and what time does it start?

This is the 15th Mayor’s Christmas Carols, and the City says it began in 2011. It runs on both nights from 6pm to 8:30pm, with gates opening at 4pm, and finishes with a fireworks finale. The City lists these acts and extras:

• ARIA Award-winning singer Samantha Jade and DJ Havana Brown headline.
• Warner Bros. Movie World’s Looney Tunes Christmas Show returns.
• A Navy band performs: the media release says The Royal Australian Navy Band Queensland, while the What’s On page words it as The Royal Navy Band Queensland.
• Santa makes an appearance.
• For the first time, there is a Ferris wheel.
• The show is hosted by 7NEWS’ Amanda Abate and Chris Parsons.
• Auslan interpreters are on hand.

The City says the event is supported by 7NEWS, HOTA, Home of the Arts, and Village Roadshow Theme Parks.

What if I miss out on a ticket?

Our guide to watching without a ticket has the Parklands details. The City says you can still take part from the HOTA Parklands. Bring a picnic blanket for a family-friendly screening of the event on the big screens, food trucks and free Ferris wheel rides for the whole family, all from 4pm. The Mayor said in the release: “If you miss out on a ticket, pack a picnic blanket and still be part of the magic at the HOTA Parklands.”

Can I park at HOTA for the carols?

Yes, with limits. The City’s event page says that if you drive, parking may be limited, and that parking regulations still apply during events. It also says you get four hours of free parking by entering your registration at the meter.

The City’s own HOTA Precinct Carpark page gives the rules behind that offer, as of October 2026:

When you park	Cost
9am to 7pm, first 4 hours	Free, once per day per vehicle, if you enter your registration at the meter
Staying longer than 4 hours	Flat rate of $8.40, paid upfront
Before 9am or after 7pm	Free and unrestricted

Two points matter on the night. First, the City says a vehicle may get a parking infringement if you do not enter your registration at a meter on arrival. Second, the City’s car park page says the four free hours cannot be redeemed through the EasyPark app, even though the event page suggests EasyPark for starting and extending metered parking from your phone. To get the free hours, enter your registration at a meter. Our HOTA parking guide covers the rest of the rules.

Gates open at 4pm and the main show ends at 8:30pm. The City says the first 4 hours between 9am and 7pm are free if you enter your registration at the meter, and parking is free and unrestricted after 7pm.

How else can I get to HOTA?

The City’s page says to skip the parking by using public transport, walking or cycling, and points to the Translink journey planner. HOTA’s Getting Here page lists these options:

Option	What HOTA says
G:link	Ride to Surfers Paradise and walk across Chevron Island, about a 20 minute walk
HOPO Ferry	Runs between Surfers Paradise and the Broadwater Parklands, with stops at HOTA, Marina Mirage and Sea World
Ride-share	Get dropped off on Chevron Island, then a short walk from Thomas Drive across the HOTA Green Bridge
Walk, cycle, scoot or skate	The HOTA Green Bridge connects the precinct directly to Chevron Island

None of the pages we checked gives ferry or extra tram times for the carols, so check the HOPO ferry guide and the Translink planner before you go.

How do I get home afterwards?

HOTA says that after popular events, demand for taxis and ride-share is high and waits can be longer than usual. It suggests arranging your pick-up away from the main precinct entrance, or walking over the HOTA Green Bridge to Chevron Island for a quicker pick-up. Drop-off and pick-up points at HOTA are limited and can get busy around event times, so allow extra time. HOTA also says traffic management may be in place around the precinct for major events, and asks visitors to follow staff directions and signs.

Is it accessible?

The City says Auslan interpreters will be at the event. HOTA lists accessible parking spaces in the car parks near the entrance to the main building, the HOTA Gallery and the playground by the lake, plus drop-off and pick-up points at HOTA Central and HOTA Gallery. For help with accessible seating, contact the HOTA Box Office on (07) 5588 4000. HOTA also says that bag checks may apply at selected events and that large bags may need to be cloaked, so bring only what you need.

More guides: Gold Coast parking guide

Sources

• What’s On Gold Coast — Mayor’s Christmas Carols (City of Gold Coast; tickets, times, parking; checked 25 October 2026)
• Mirage News — Mayor’s Christmas Carols Mark 15 Years of Festive Fun (reprint of the City of Gold Coast media release, 23 October 2026)
• Hot Tomato — Gold Coast Mayor’s Christmas Carols launched for 15th edition (4,000 ticket limit per night)
• City of Gold Coast — HOTA Home of the Arts Precinct Carpark
• HOTA — Getting Here

Featured image: Surfers Paradise skyline seen from Home of the Arts (photo: Kgbo / 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, 7NEWS or Translink. Ticket times and event details can change; check the City’s event page before you go.