PRESS RELEASE: Festival of Golf – 2026 Wrap Up Four days of fun, entertainment and world-class golf complete at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast

MEDIA RELEASE
Friday 27 March, 2026
For immediate release

Festival of Golf – 2026 Wrap Up Four days of fun, entertainment and world-class golf complete at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast

The first ever Festival of Golf at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast has wrapped, delivering four days of world-class sport, innovation and style/lifestyle(?), cementing its place as a bold new addition to the Gold Coast calendar of events.

Held from Thursday 19 March – Sunday 22 March, 2026, Sanctuary Cove came alive with elite golf and a fun, festival atmosphere. Visitors enjoyed live entertainment from local artists, food trucks, wine, spirits and craft beers from pop-up bars, kids’ zones, lifestyle displays, plus food and shopping from the beautiful Sanctuary Cove village.

The Festival of Golf was delivered by Mulpha Events, and the Australian WPGA Championship, delivered by PGA of Australia with support from Experience Gold Coast, Tourism & Events Queensland, and Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club. The event was proudly supported by event sponsors Genesis, Luxury Escapes and Wine Selectors.

At the heart of the Festival of Golf was the Australian WPGA Championship, a marquee Ladies Tournament, where the world’s best women golfers competed for the Karrie Webb Cup, and a $600k prize pool. Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club partnered with the PGA of Australia and Mulpha to host the inaugural Australian WPGA Championship, with this event part of the Ladies’ European Tour.

Australian star Hannah Green claimed victory at 16-under par, finishing four strokes ahead of Casandra Alexander and Alexandra Försterling to secure her third consecutive victory – a standout moment of the festival.

Beyond the fairways, the Festival of Golf showcased the future of the game through the Golf Discovery Hub,with leading brands unveiling cutting-edge equipment, apparel and wellness innovations. Highlights included the Garmin golfing simulator and Garmin GPS and wearable technology; the Australian designed PainPod advanced recovery TENS/EMS device; Cabretta leather golf gloves available through subscription; Australian-designed spill-proof sand bottle made for golf walkers called Gopher Caddy; the GripNRip Glove Club; sustainable apparel from Inu8 Welleisure™; premium Palm Beach style fashion from Soneven; and UK and US golf and activewear brand FAMARA, now available in Australia.

The Wine and Dine precinct was a welcome addition, with crowds enjoying a variety of craft beers, boutique wines and artisanal spirits alongside a curated lineup of local food trucks. A rotating roster of local musicians including Izaeah Marsh, Jack Casey, Rhea Robertson, Brittany Grey and DJ Artomik, added to the festival atmosphere.

● LINK with photos from Festival of Golf 2026: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1z4Xfm4vwoDWruyX2PWIZCMZpZz3RkwPz?usp=sharing
● LINK with raw footage from day one of Festival of Golf: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jokl4g4KaTDXY0fkPK-S5fzoGJqk-yFI

Premium experiences also elevated the program including An Evening of Champions, in collaboration with Chef Darren Robertson and Henschke Family Wines, delivered a sold-out culinary experience pairing elevated, seasonal dishes curated by Darren, of Three Blue Ducks, paired with iconic Australian vintages from Henschke Wines, with senior wine writer for The Australian, Nick Ryan adding education and theatre to the stage, plus engaging interviews with Karen Lunn, CEO of the WPGA Tour of Australasia, with Hannah Green and Steph Kyriacou.

The Players Party transformed the Lagoon Beach Club at Sanctuary Cove into a beachfront celebration, with an exclusive ‘Beach BBQ’, and interactive cooking station curated by Chef Darren Robertson, and the opportunity to mingle with the stars of the 2026 Australian WPGA Championship, plus a complimentary piece of women’s golf apparel provided by Soneven, and an entry into the draw to win the ultimate Luxury Escapes golf getaway to King Island.
Adding to the excitement, all festival-goers had the opportunity to win daily prizes, including a trip to Vietnam thanks to Luxury Escapes.

The inaugural Festival of Golf attracted a diverse audience of golfers, fans and lifestyle seekers, all drawn to a fresh, inclusive take on the sport – blending competition, innovation and community in a uniquely premium setting.

Website: https://www.festivalofgolf.com.au/

Social Handles
Facebook: @goldcoastfestivalofgolf
Instagram: @goldcoastfestivalofgolf

Hashtags: #FestivalOfGolf #WPGA2026 #GolfReimagined #SanctuaryCove #GoldCoastEvents

Media Contact
Josie Gagliano
[email protected]
0411 234 022

ABOUT FESTIVAL OF GOLF:
The 2026 Festival of Golf runs 19-22 March at Sanctuary Cove. The Festival features the Australian WPGA Championship, where leading Australian and international women golfers compete for the Karrie Webb Cup and $600,000 in prize money, alongside live music, pop-up bars, food and beverage options, family-friendly activities, and golf and lifestyle displays.
The 2026 Championship marks the fi rst occasion that the event will be played as a standalone tournament, with the 2025 event unfortunately cancelled due to Cyclone Alfred; the 2026 Festival of Golf also promises a high-energy, feel-good, inclusive celebration, where golf meets food, fun, fashion, and community spirit.

ABOUT MULPHA EVENTS
With a focus on engagement and quality, Mulpha Events has a reputation for producing and delivering some of Australia’s most loved events. From Australia’s largest boating showcase – the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show – to the Festival of Golf, Australian Adventure Expo, food and wine festivals, live music festivals, outdoor, lifestyle exhibitions, product launches and corporate conferences, the Mulpha Events team provides experience and creativity in bringing to life the commercial and strategic event objectives of the events it owns and manages. mulphaevents.com.au
Mulpha Events is part of the Mulpha Group (‘Mulpha’) which off ers over 30 years of investment experience in Australia. The Group has an extensive portfolio of real estate, property development, hospitality, retirement, private equity and debt assets, and invests in some of the fastest growing and most vibrant economies in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and the UK. In Australia, Mulpha’s investment portfolio includes Sanctuary Cove, Norwest Business and Residential Park in Sydney; fl agship InterContinental Hotels in Sydney, Sanctuary Cove and Hayman Island; Swing City, and Bimbadgen, The Lane Retreat & Emma’s Cottage in the Hunter Valley. mulpha.com.au