Sunshine Coast's Best Local Experiences: What's New Right Now

The Sunshine Coast's Horizon Festival has appointed internationally acclaimed arts leader Bec Martin as Festival Lead for 2026.

This appointment arrives alongside other developments that define current cultural opportunities in the region. The timing aligns with recent major events and planning initiatives that continue to shape how residents and visitors engage with local arts and heritage.

Horizon Festival

Bec Martin's role as Festival Lead positions the Sunshine Coast's flagship arts event for its next edition. The festival has long served as a central platform for regional artistic programming and community participation.

Regional Gallery Competition

The Sunshine Coast launched a national architectural design competition for a new regional gallery. The project aims to boost cultural identity and attract over 90,000 visitors annually, providing a concrete focus for future public engagement with visual arts.

Community Leadership Recognition

Claire Smith, founder of Wildlife Rescue Sunshine Coast, received the 2025 Sunshine Coast Biosphere Citizen of the Year award. Her recognition highlights ongoing conservation and community work that intersects with local cultural identity.

Live Music Changes

Solbar, a longstanding live music institution on the Sunshine Coast, announced its permanent closure after more than two decades. This development alters the local music landscape and directs attention toward remaining venues and future programming.

Australian Deaf Games

The Sunshine Coast welcomed over 1,200 athletes and supporters from across Australia and the Pacific for the 2026 Australian Deaf Games, held from July 4-11, 2026. The event offered direct community participation through sport and cultural exchange.

These updates rest on verified announcements from local government and heritage sources. The gallery competition targets annual visitation above 90,000 while the Deaf Games figure of more than 1,200 participants provides a clear measure of recent activity. Further details on the Horizon Festival and gallery project will appear through official channels such as sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and heritage.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.