The Gold Coast’s premier contemporary arts festival, BLEACH, has dropped a massive announcement for its 2026 music series. New Zealand powerhouse SIX60 has been locked in as the absolute crowning jewel of the program, set to deliver an unforgettable, stadium-sized performance under the stars this October.
For SIX60, the headline slot caps off what is already shaping up to be a historic year. Fresh off the massive release of their single “Right Here Right Now” and their recent history-making show opening the brand-new One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch, the band is raring to bring that electric, stadium-level energy across the Tasman. Their genre-defying signature blend of soul, pop, reggae, and rock has earned them a reputation as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s most dynamic live acts, making this outdoor show a massive win for Gold Coast live music fans.
The announcement coincides with a bold seasonal shift for BLEACH Festival, which is moving to October for a vibrant spring awakening. Running from October 1st to 11th, 2026, the 11-day takeover will transform public spaces across the city into a national hub for contemporary culture. Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate even revealed the festival intentionally shifted its dates to align with holidaying Kiwi visitors, joking that he’d personally be waiting at Gold Coast Airport to welcome our New Zealand friends to their “second home.”
Beyond SIX60’s blockbuster night, BLEACH’s outdoor concert series will also feature a powerhouse, free double-bill performance from internationally acclaimed US soul vocalist Lady Blackbird and Australia’s award-winning electronic-pop duo Electric Fields.
The rest of the 11-day program is packed with massive, boundary-pushing art. Highlights include THAW—a powerful climate-reflection performance by Legs on the Wall taking place on a giant block of ice suspended by a crane over the HOTA Lake—and BEACON, a massive, glowing neon installation designed by Coachella and Paris Olympics artist Morag Myerscough in collaboration with over 500 local residents.
The full BLEACH Festival program will be revealed in the coming months, but tickets for SIX60’s exclusive headline set go on sale today at 11:00 AM QLD time. Music fans can lock in their tickets and check out the first wave of programming directly through the official box office at hota.com.au.