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Great Barrier Reef Festival

Great Barrier Reef Festival

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Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Whitsunday Coast Airport Fireworks on the Foreshore
Fireworks on the Foreshore
Cruise Reverse Logo - Black & White
Fireworks on the Foreshore
Cruise Reverse Logo - Black & White
Fireworks on the Foreshore
Cruise Reverse Logo - Black & White
Fireworks on the Foreshore
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Immerse
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Family Fun Day
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Great Barrier Reef Festival 2026

Welcome to the Great Barrier Reef Festival – Where the Reef Meets the Shore

The Great Barrier Reef Festival, proudly presented by Cruise Whitsundays, lights up Airlie Beach with three unforgettable days of celebration. It’s where the reef meets the streets, showcasing the Whitsundays’ coastal culture through colour, creativity, and community spirit.

From the dazzling Friday Night Fireworks and live music to the buzz of Saturday’s Street Parade, the Revvin’ the Reef Car Show, and the much-loved Family Fun Day, the program is packed with experiences for every age and interest.

Stroll the foreshore and discover Immerse, a striking reef-themed art installation created entirely from recycled materials, bringing sustainability and marine life to the forefront in a vibrant, creative display.

Whether you’re drawn by the entertainment, the art, the family fun, or the reef itself, this is Airlie Beach’s premier festival. A celebration that belongs to locals, welcomes visitors, and captures the heart of the Whitsundays.

Be part of something great.

Download our 2025 Festival Program

Events

Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition

Great Barrier Reef Festival Art Exhibition

31/07/2026 - 02/08/2026
All Day
More Info
Immerse Art Installations

Immerse Art Installations

31/07/2026 - 02/08/2026
All Day
More Info
Fireworks on the Foreshore

Fireworks on the Foreshore

31/07/2026
5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
More Info
View all Events

See the latest on Instagram

reeffestival

🪸Airlie Beach from 31 Jul - 2 Aug 2026
🎶 Music • Culture • Family Fun
📍Main Street & Foreshore
🎟 Tickets & Program ↓
#ReefFest #ReefFestival2026

🐢🪸 WOW – check out this AMAZING project all the wa 🐢🪸 WOW – check out this AMAZING project all the way from WA!

This award-winning coral reef sculpture is part of the Ghost Net Project, an independent initiative transforming ocean waste into inspiring art. Made from recycled materials collected by @tangaroablue.

Conceived by Anita Staaden, this sculpture is the first part of a larger work titled “Ghosted”. After six months of dedication with fellow volunteers, it won the perpetual trophy for Best Exhibit in Handicrafts at the Canning Show.

✨ Initiatives like this keep us inspired as we continue expanding our own reef-themed art installation, Immerses, made from recycled materials here in the Whitsundays. 🍃🪸

#marinedebris #TangaroaBlue #oceanart #ghostnets #ghostgear #beachcombing #artforchange
🌊🎄 Make Your Own Christmas Ornament with Marine De 🌊🎄 Make Your Own Christmas Ornament with Marine Debris!
Support Eco Barge in keeping our seas clean and get creative this weekend at our Ornament Making Workshop! Learn how to transform marine debris into one-of-a-kind resin ornaments and take home your very own eco-friendly creation. 💚❤️

We’ll provide all materials, guidance, and snacks — just bring your friends, your creative spirit, and get ready for a fun, hands-on experience!

📅 When: Saturday, 6 December, 4pm
📍 Where: Eco Barge HQ, Boatyard Rd, Jubilee Pocket
💵 Price: $50 Adult | $30 Child
Spots are limited — book now at @ecobargecleanseas 

#AirlieBeachXmas #RecycledArt #Fundraiser #ZeroWaste #EcoBarge #GreatBarrierReefFestival
Remember the Nostalgia performance at the @reeffes Remember the Nostalgia performance at the @reeffestival!? THEY’RE BACK! 🤸‍♀️

Exclusively for 3 Nights only with their new show IMPULSE — a dazzling fusion of burlesque, circus artistry, and hypnotic choreography. Think velvet shadows, crimson light, and high-energy world-class performance 🖤💕

📅 Dec 30, Jan 1 & Jan 2
📍 Magnums Hotel, Airlie Beach
🎟  @sundown_productions_
A massive congratulations to @whitsundayescape fo A massive congratulations to @whitsundayescape  for taking home GOLD at the Queensland Tourism Awards: Unique Accommodation! 🏆
Such a well-deserved win for a business that showcases the Whitsundays at its very best. Their passion, their people, and their commitment to creating unforgettable on-water experiences truly set them apart.

A huge shoutout also to all the amazing nominees and sponsors in the region — it’s incredible to see our local tourism scene celebrated at this level. ⛵ 💛
🪸 Save the Date! The Great Barrier Reef Festival r 🪸 Save the Date! The Great Barrier Reef Festival returns in 2026, Friday July 31 – Sunday Aug 2✨
Three unforgettable days of live music, dazzling parades, reef-inspired art, family fun and fireworks over the Whitsundays. Don’t miss the weekend that celebrates the heart of the reef!💛💚 💙 

#GreatBarrierReefFestival #GBRF2026 #ReefFestival
What a sight! The Immerse Art Installation was spe What a sight! The Immerse Art Installation was spectacular, with coral bommies, marine animals, and scuba divers all celebrating the vibrant life of the Great Barrier Reef.

Crafted entirely from recyclable materials with sustainability at the heart, this installation showed how art can inspire wonder and care for our oceans. 💛♻️
A huge thank you to Tassal for sponsoring this masterpiece and helping bring the reef to the foreshore! 🐠🌿

@tassalseafood
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An art installation project will be a feature of this year’s Great Barrier Reef Festival to be held in August.

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