The Pacific Airshow will return to the Gold Coast this weekend, with organisers and the Queensland Government expecting the three-day event to attract thousands of visitors and provide a boost for the local tourism economy.
Scheduled for 14 to 16 August, the airshow will take place above Surfers Paradise and feature military aircraft, aerobatic displays, skydiving performances, live entertainment and family activities.
The event was cancelled in 2025 due to the impacts of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, and its return has been welcomed by tourism operators and event organisers.
The Queensland Government says the airshow is expected to attract about 17,000 interstate and international visitors and contribute an estimated $26 million to the state economy. Those figures are government projections and will depend on attendance and visitor spending during the event.
Tourism Minister Andrew Powell said the government was supporting major events that attract visitors and generate economic activity.
He said the Pacific Airshow was the type of event that helps fill accommodation, supports local businesses and creates employment opportunities across the tourism and hospitality sectors.
The government also used the announcement to criticise the previous Labor government’s tourism funding approach, arguing that major events play an important role in the state’s visitor economy. That political claim was included in the government’s announcement and reflects the current administration’s position.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the airshow had become an established part of the city’s events calendar and continued to attract local and visiting audiences.
He said the event showcased the Gold Coast’s beaches and skyline to a broad audience while offering entertainment for families and aviation enthusiasts.
Pacific Airshow chief executive Kevin Elliott said the 2026 edition was expected to be the largest held on the Gold Coast, with aircraft and performers travelling from Australia and overseas.
The airshow is promoted as Australia’s only oceanfront airshow of its kind, with aerial displays taking place directly above the beachfront at Surfers Paradise.
The event is expected to draw strong crowds across the weekend, providing a test of the Gold Coast’s winter tourism and accommodation market after last year’s cancellation.
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