PRESS RELEASE: The Festival of Golf – Day One Highlights Kicking off four days of fun, entertainment and world-class golf at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast

MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 19 March, 2026
For immediate release

The Festival of Golf – Day One Highlights Kicking off four days of fun, entertainment and world-class golf at Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast

Day one of Festival of Golf is underway, and already we have seen some brilliant highlights from the first-time event!

The four day festival – from Thursday 19 March – Sunday 22 March, 2026 – has seen Sanctuary Cove come alive with interactive experiences, live entertainment, pop-up bars, food, kids’ zones, lifestyle displays, and the very best shopping Sanctuary Cove has to offer.

Day one highlights include kicking off the Golf Discovery Hub in style, with exhibitors showcasing innovations in golf gear, and more, in the undercover Hub precinct.

The Festival vibe was amplified at the main stage, with music from Izaeah Marsh and DJ Artomik.

The Australian WPGA Championship is taking place across the weekend: a world-class tournament where the best women golfers on the planet compete for the Karrie Webb Cup, and $600k in prize money. Golf highlights can be followed along here: https://golf.com.au/wpga-tour-aus/#https://wpga-tour-aus.ocs-software.com/tournament?id=2025&code=3336&tour=wpg

Here is a LINK with raw footage from day one of Festival of Golf: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jokl4g4KaTDXY0fkPK-S5fzoGJqk-yFI

Tonight, a very special evening will be underway, designed for those who value heritage and fine food, with the exclusive opportunity to taste and collect wines rarely seen beyond the Henschke family cellar. Presented in collaboration with Chef Darren Robertson and Henschke Family Wines, the evening will feature a menu curated by Darren – Three Blue Ducks co-owner, paired with some of Henschke’s best wines. The evening will also feature broadcaster and food personality Magdalena Roze as MC, and senior wine writer for The Australian, Nick Ryan. Together they will guide guests through the menu, and the vintages selected to complement each course.

The Players Party will take place tomorrow, Friday March 20, where the Lagoon Beach Club at Sanctuary Cove will come alive in ultimate style. Enjoy an exclusive ‘Beach BBQ’ with interactive cooking stations and a gourmet menu curated by Chef Darren Robertson, live entertainment from the Jess Stokes Trio (having worked with Kylie Minogue, Jessica Mauboy, and Pink, they’ll be bringing a high-energy fusion of retro disco vibes and modern electronic sound), and premium drinks from Bimbadgen, Mr Consistent, Chocolate in a Bottle, Burleigh Brewing, and Perentie Brewery. Plus, mingle with the stars of the 2026 Australian WPGA Championship. Tickets are still available HERE.
There are also daily prizes up for grabs for attending the free festival, including a trip to Vietnam thanks to Luxury Escapes. By subscribing to the Festival of Golf at www.festivalofgolf.com.au, a Scan-to-Win link is sent to download the free pass. Everyone who scans onsite goes into the daily draws.

The festival is open to everyone of all ages and it’s free to attend, and is for golfers, golf enthusiasts, or anyone keen for a day out in the glorious setting of Sanctuary Cove.

Event Basics:
Dates: 19-22 March, 2026
Venue: Sanctuary Cove, Gold Coast

Times:
Thursday 19 March to Saturday 21 March: 11:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday 22 March: 11:00am – 5:00pm

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

Ticket Link: https://www.festivalofgolf.com.au/tickets-2/

Social Handles
Facebook: @goldcoastfestivalofgolf
Instagram: @goldcoastfestivalofgolf
Hashtags:
#FestivalOfGolf #WPGA2026 #GolfReimagined #SanctuaryCove #GoldCoastEvents
Media Assets:
Link to authorised images for media use HERE
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