BLEACH 2025

One of Australia’s premier art and culture festivals, BLEACH 2025  returns for 11 extraordinary days with over 20 major works spanning music, visual art, dance and performance from July 31.

Under the fresh artistic vision of guest Artistic Director Michael Zavros, will feature both free and ticketed events, at various venues on the Gold Coast.

The festival begins at dawn with First Light: Skywhales Across Australia, a breathtaking aerial performance launching from RACV Royal Pines. 

Presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Australia, Patricia Piccinini’s much-loved hot air balloon sculptures, Skywhale (2013) and Skywhalepapa (2019–20), will drift across the city’s skyline as the sun rises.

The excitement continues into the evening with one of the festival’s most anticipated moments coming to HOTA’s theatre, an exclusive In Conversation with Jeff Koons, one of the world’s most influential contemporary artists, facilitated by Alison Kubler. 

Presented in partnership with the National Gallery of Australia and the American Friends of the National Gallery of Australia, this rare event offers audiences intimate insight into Koons’ creative process and global impact.

Running throughout the festival is the much anticipated Ladies Lounge by Kirsha Kaechele. Making its provocative debut at HOTA Gallery, Ladies Lounge offers a boldly feminist space with strict rules on who may enter. 

For those left waiting outside, Tora Lopez’s Complaints Department stands ready to receive their protests throughout the festival.

The first weekend promises a joyous celebration of culture and community as OPA! A Night of Greek Delights and Three Food Memories bring the flavours, stories and warmth of Greek heritage to life. On Saturday, August 2, join Savva Savas and fashion icon Alex Perry for a deliciously rich conversation about family, food and identity as they record a podcast episode live at HOTA.

BLEACH 2025 also marks the debut of several major new works supported by the Experience Gold Coast Arts Fund, which earlier this year awarded $1.5 million to 15 homegrown arts and cultural projects. Among these is the world premiere of Breaking Into Heaven by SELVE on Friday, August 1, a genre-defying music and visual experience recorded at the legendary Abbey Road and performed with a 33-piece orchestra and dancers from Karul Projects.

Also debuting is The City Speaks Softly, a thoughtful textile-based public installation by Gold Coast artists Melissa Spratt and Tal Fitzpatrick, exploring themes of care, softness and craft in urban spaces. The work will be located across the city including Kurrawa, the Broadbeach Cultural Precinct and HOTA for the duration of the festival.

Also supported through the Experience Gold Coast Arts Fund, Drum As You Are will close out the first weekend of BLEACH on Sunday, August 3, with a high-energy tribute to the Gold Coast’s live music legacy. Curated by the Gold Coast Music Network, this unmissable event will transform HOTA’s Outdoor Stage into a nostalgic Sunday session. 

Hosted by Bachelor Girl’s Tania Doko the production features 22 community and professional drummers, fronted by Grinspoon’s Phil Jamieson. Together, they’ll reimagine Nirvana’s iconic albums in a powerful homage to the band’s legendary 1992 performance at Fisherman’s Wharf.

The second weekend culminates in a truly awe-inspiring festival centrepiece, Cavalcade, proudly presented by The Star Gold Coast. Taking place at Kurrawa Beach from Saturday 9 to Sunday 10 August, this breathtaking fusion of opera, classical music and equestrian artistry will unfold as the sun sets over the Pacific Ocean. 

Featuring the elegant choreography of champion dressage riders John Thompson and Katharine Farrell, set to live orchestral music and operatic vocals, Cavalcade promises to be an unforgettable celebration of beauty, power and harmony on the edge of sea and sky.

Images and content supplied.