Why BLEACH* is Australia’s most exciting arts festival right now

A new wave of culture hits the coast

This article is sponsored by Experience Gold Coast 

Art doesn't just belong in galleries – sometimes the most unforgettable artistic experiences are found in the open air. BLEACH* Festival captures that spirit in full flight, transforming the Gold Coast into a living, breathing canvas. Running from July 31 to August 10 2025, this artistic event returns to the Gold Coast with a renewed curatorial energy and a dynamic lineup set to intrigue and engage audiences across the spectrum.

A bold new vision

Under the creative direction of renowned visual artist Michael Zavros, BLEACH* 2025 sets out to reframe how Australians experience art. Drawing from Zavros’ own practice – one known for elegance, illusion and fine detail – this year’s festival marries classical discipline with fearless imagination. Expect arresting visual works, genre-defying performances and site-responsive installations that elevate both the work and the setting.

“We’ve dreamed big this year, pushing for bold, ambitious moments—and it’s exciting to see those ideas realised in such powerful ways,” said Michael Zavros, BLEACH* 2025 Artistic Director. “ BLEACH* continues to play a vital role in the Gold Coast’s arts and culture scene, and this year’s program is a true reflection of the city’s creative spirit and growing artistic ambition,” Mr Zavros said.

From spectacle to storytelling: 2025 highlights

This year’s program weaves together visual spectacle, musical innovation and powerful storytelling. 

“Boasting an impressive program with five World Premieres… the festival showcases our state’s vibrant arts and cultural scene,” said Minister for the Arts, John Paul Langbroek

One of the most talked-about highlights is Patricia Piccinini’s Skywhales – monumental hot air balloon sculptures that will soar above the Gold Coast skyline on opening morning, marking the start of the festival with a surreal and nurturing vision of flight and community.

For those drawn to spectacle, Cavalcade offers a jaw-dropping beachfront performance blending opera, classical music and equestrian artistry.

A celebration of place and people

BLEACH* has always been a festival with its finger firmly on the pulse of modern Australia. Now in its 14th iteration, it has evolved into one of the country’s most ambitious and progressive multi-arts festivals. Its programming reflects the cultural depth of its host city – a place defined by multiculturalism, coastal dynamism and a sense of artistic experimentation.

This year, BLEACH* is making that ethos more tangible than ever. The 2025 lineup is a carefully curated blend of international prestige and homegrown excellence. Opera performances sit alongside cutting-edge electronic music. Family-friendly storytelling shares the stage with high-concept visual installations. Pop-up feasts and roving theatre pieces unfold across beaches, parks and street corners, creating an art trail that is as immersive as it is expansive.

Art beyond the gallery walls

That sense of scale is part of what sets BLEACH* apart. It doesn’t just offer art within gallery walls – it transforms the Gold Coast into an evolving stage. Artworks appear in unexpected places. It is a festival designed not just to be seen, but to be felt.

And in 2025, the feeling BLEACH* evokes is one of bold curiosity. According to its organisers, this year’s program is designed to challenge, captivate and connect. Whether you're a seasoned arts-goer or a curious newcomer, there’s something to discover at every turn. Performances spill into public spaces, and audiences become part of the work itself – an approach that invites not only observation, but participation.

For families, foodies and first-timers

Importantly, the festival remains deeply grounded in place. The Gold Coast’s natural beauty and urban edge are not just backdrops, but essential parts of the experience. BLEACH* draws from the landscape – its light, its sounds, its stories – to create a program that feels authentic and resonant. This hyper-local lens is balanced by a global perspective, thanks to collaborations with international artists and touring works that bring global conversations into local view.

The program is also intentionally family-friendly, with a generous offering of daytime events, open-air concerts and all-ages workshops. It speaks to a generation of parents who want their children to grow up with creative confidence and cultural curiosity – and to experience the arts as something joyful and accessible.

A cultural moment worth sharing

As the cultural landscape continues to shift, BLEACH* proves that relevance isn’t just about scale – it’s about storytelling. Every event in the 2025 program contributes to a wider narrative about identity, connection and artistic expression. Whether you come for a single headline performance or immerse yourself in the full 11 days, you’ll leave with more than a program stub. You’ll carry with you the memory of what art can do: inspire, disarm, unite.

​​“Bleach has been an integral part in our city's arts and cultural storybook for 14 years and I know the 2025 festival will not disappoint,” said Acting Gold Coast Mayor, Mark Hammel. “Prepare for 11 days of ‘wow’ moments and memories to last a lifetime.” 

BLEACH* 2025 is more than an arts festival – it’s a love letter to contemporary creativity, staged in one of Australia’s most dazzling locations. And whether you’re snapping shots of Skywhales at dawn or being moved to silence by a soaring operatic note under the stars, you’ll understand why it’s quickly become a fixture on the national cultural calendar.

Tickets and full program details are available here