About this event
What to expect
The Great Barrier Reef Festival returns to Airlie Beach from 6–8 August 2027 for three days of reef-inspired fun, live entertainment, family activities, community celebrations and plenty of reasons to get out and enjoy the Whitsundays.
Held in the heart of Airlie Beach, the festival brings the community and visitors together for a weekend celebrating the Great Barrier Reef, the Whitsunday lifestyle and the people who make this region such a great place to live and visit.
The festival program features something for all ages, including live music, reef experiences, markets, art, street entertainment, family activities, parades and spectacular fireworks.
Highlights include the much-loved lantern parade, where colourful handmade lanterns light up the waterfront, the night markets and eat street, the vibrant street parade through Airlie Beach, revvin' the reef car show, the family fun day with reef education, activities and entertainment, and the recyclable regatta, where teams race homemade vessels built from recycled materials.
Visitors can also experience large-scale reef-inspired art installations, live music throughout the festival precinct and the spectacular fireworks on the foreshore.
Whether you're visiting Airlie Beach for the weekend or you're a local getting involved in the celebrations, the Great Barrier Reef Festival is a chance to experience the Whitsundays at its most colourful, creative and community-minded.
Be part of something great and save the date: 6–8 August 2027.
Event features
- All ages
- Live music
Accessibility
- Wheelchair access
- Step-free access
- Allergy and intolerance support
- Accessibility information available from the organiser