Blues on Broadbeach 2026 runs Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 May, and for its 25th year the free four day program spreads across the Broadbeach precinct where Koko sits. Stay with us and you walk to every stage in minutes. Here is the plan: how to reach the music on foot, the acts to catch, where to eat between sets and when to book.
When is Blues on Broadbeach 2026, and is it free?
Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 May 2026, and yes, the main program is free. This is the festival’s 25th anniversary, and the outdoor stages around Broadbeach Town Square and Oracle Boulevard run at no cost across all four days and nights. The one paid element is the Sunday Ticket event on 17 May, headlined by The Teskey Brothers alongside Kitty Daisy and Lewis and Ash Grunwald. Programs and set times are published on the official festival website closer to the dates, so check them the week of the festival, because stage schedules do shift year to year. Everything else is turn up and listen.
How do you get to the stages from Koko Broadbeach?
On foot, and that is the whole advantage of staying here. From our front door on Elizabeth Avenue, the main festival footprint around Broadbeach Town Square and Oracle Boulevard is within a five minute walk. Do not plan to drive in: precinct parking fills early on festival nights and several streets close to traffic, which turns a short hop into a slow crawl. If friends are joining from Surfers Paradise or further north, point them to the light rail. Broadbeach North station is about 500 metres from Koko, and the G:link trams run late on event nights. Park your own car on arrival and leave it until checkout.
Which acts should you plan your days around?
Build your nights around the headliners and fill the afternoons with discoveries. The 2026 bill is led by The Teskey Brothers and American blues legend Charlie Musselwhite, with Cold Chisel’s Ian Moss playing the free program across the four days. Melbourne soul and funk favourites The Bamboos return for their third Blues appearance, Grammy winning bassist MonoNeon brings his Memphis sound, and folk artist Grace Cummings makes her festival debut, alongside homegrown names like Hussy Hicks and Minnie Marks. For scale, the festival started in 2002 as a two stage event with 5,000 people, and now draws around 13,500 visitors who travel to Queensland just for it. Wander between stages; that is how the best sets find you.
Where should you eat between sets?
Right where you are standing, because the festival runs through the Broadbeach dining precinct. For a quick sit down between acts, Broadbeach Tavern at the Oasis on Old Burleigh Road runs its bistro 11:30am to 9pm and takes walk-ins, which matters when every table is busy. If you want a proper dinner to break up a long day of music, Koi on Surf Parade does modern Australian seafood, with its sand crab lasagne the dish regulars order, and a lounge bar side for a cocktail and a couple of small plates. For something casual and beachfront, Kurrawa Surf Club sits a few minutes east with a bistro and pizzeria. All of them are inside a short walk of the stages and of Koko.
When should you book your Koko apartment for Blues?
As early as you can. Blues is one of the biggest weekends on the Broadbeach calendar, and the apartments closest to the stages book out first. One recent guest booked Koko last minute for the festival and still landed a two bedroom apartment on a high floor with ocean glimpses, but that is the exception rather than the rule. If you want to walk home from the final set rather than queue for a tram, lock in your dates well before May. A weekend booking that spans Friday to Sunday gives you the fullest run of the free program.
FAQs
When is Blues on Broadbeach 2026 and is it free?
Blues on Broadbeach 2026 runs Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 May, its 25th year. The four day program across the outdoor stages is free to attend. The only ticketed part is the Sunday event on 17 May headlined by The Teskey Brothers, Kitty Daisy and Lewis, and Ash Grunwald. Check the festival website for set times the week of the event.
Can you walk to Blues on Broadbeach from Koko Broadbeach?
Yes. The festival takes over the Broadbeach precinct where Koko sits, so the main stages around Broadbeach Town Square and Oracle Boulevard are within a five minute walk of our front door on Elizabeth Avenue. You will not need the car once you arrive, and you can walk home when the last set finishes.
Where should you park for Blues on Broadbeach?
The honest answer is do not drive in. Precinct parking fills early and some streets close for the festival. Staying at Koko means you walk to every stage, and the Broadbeach North light rail station is 500 metres away if friends want to reach the festival from further up the coast.
How far ahead should you book accommodation for Blues on Broadbeach?
Book as early as you can. Blues draws thousands of visitors to Broadbeach and the walkable apartments fill first. If you want to stay within a few minutes of the stages for the 2026 festival, reserve well before May rather than hoping for a last minute opening. A Friday to Sunday booking covers the busiest nights.
Blues weekend is Broadbeach at its liveliest, and there is no better base than an apartment you can walk back to when the music stops. To plan your festival stay, browse our Broadbeach accommodation and keep an eye on upcoming events in Broadbeach for everything else on around your dates.
Image credit: Experience Gold Coast