Pacific Airshow Gold Coast forced to cancel 2025 event

The Pacific Airshow Gold Coast has been forced to cancel their August event. READ WHY

Gold Coast Airshow forced to cancel 2025 event.

The Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2025 has been sensationally called off - with organisers citing impacted beaches - and promising refunds for ticketholders.

Experience Gold Coast and Code Four CEO and airshow director Kevin Elliott revealed the decision on Friday morning due to ongoing beach erosion.

An airshow statement said since ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred removed four million cubic metres of sand from Gold Coast beaches, the City of Gold Coast and Pacific Airshow team had been in regular communication about beach rectification efforts.

But recurring king tides and large swells had crippled repair efforts, particularly along the Surfers Paradise foreshore where the event is held, the statement said.

Mr Elliott said the team was devastated, but the cancellation was the right thing for the long-term restoration of the beach.

“The Pacific Airshow team are Gold Coast based and are committed to delivering an

extraordinary experience. People come to be entertained, have the ultimate party on the beach,

see amazing aircraft and spend time with family and friends, all with their feet in the sand,” he said.

“Big surf, high tides and unusually persistent rainfall since the cyclone have created a perfect

storm of events that has been detrimental to recovery efforts.”

He added on pre-purchased tickets: “For all patrons who purchased a ticket to the 2025 Pacific Airshow Gold Coast, thank you for your support; you will receive an email today with options regarding your ticket purchase including the option for a full refund.”

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Pacific Airshow CEO Kevin Elliot back in Surfers Paradise ready for the 2025 major event ahead of ticket sales opening to the public on Wednesday. Picture Glenn Hampson

Mr Elliott said it had been “one step forward, two steps back” with beach sand replenishment, despite the City putting every effort into returning the beach to pre-Alfred condition.

“Our extensive modelling shows in light of the recent erosion caused by the king tides and massive swell, the sand just won’t be there for a safe spectator experience at the scale Pacific Airshow requires,” Mr Elliott said.

Mr Elliott said “every option” including different dates and locations on the Gold Coast had been considered:

“We couldn’t find a way to keep our community safe without compromising the show either in the air or on the ground, and neither of those were acceptable outcomes for us.”

The number of tickets sold during this year’s pre-sale had more than doubled last year’s sales but Mr Elliott revealed the event would return for next year August 14 to 16.

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Mayor Tom Tate said while the decision to cancel this year’s event was tough, it was the “right decision”.

 “Beach recovery works continue but we cannot guarantee this section of coastline will be ready to welcome 200,000-plus people in August,” the Mayor said.

 “Through our partnership with Code Four and the State Government, we have created one of the biggest family-oriented events in Australia. The Airshow will be back in 2026 and I have no doubt the program will be worth the wait.”

Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn said: “While we share the Pacific Airshow team’s disappointment that the event won’t be able to go ahead in 2025, we are so excited the Airshow will return bigger and better in August 2026 and for many years to come.”

Originally published as Pacific Airshow Gold Coast forced to cancel 2025 event