Horizon Festival, the Sunshine Coast’s premier arts festival, returns in 2023 with a vibrant and topical program that celebrates the here and now.

As Queensland’s winter draws to a close, the highly anticipated Festival will captivate locals and tourists alike with a diverse array of music, cabaret, theatre, comedy, family events and more.

First Nations-led programming once again beats at the heart of the Horizon Festival program, celebrating local Kabi Kabi and Jinibara artists and makers, who share their incredible cultural experiences throughout the Festival.

The festival’s opening weekend is jam-packed with programming in and around the popular Wonderland Spiegeltent and Festival Hub at Cotton Tree Park with an array of free events and experiences including the Opening Ceremony followed by NOISE by Dancenorth — a work of epic proportions featuring the newly formed Horizon drumming band — interactive installations from Kabi Kabi Connections and Concrete Collage as well as the free live music program, Live & Local.

You can also catch an impressive array of internationally recognised shows at the enchanting Spiegeltent: ROUGE, a decadent circus for grown-ups; the all-ages Circus Wonderland: A Neverland Adventure; Dirty Laundry, a fun and fabulous cabaret from Briefs Factory; Conversations with Men, moderated by Clementine Ford; Common People Dance Eisteddfod; and the Sunshine Coast Comedy Gala.

Accessible and inclusive experiences guide the program with a wealth of free programming and a rich roster of activities and productions for children and families including a free maker space, a rock concert just for kids and performances by the eye-popping Dr Hubble’s Bubbles and Bees by Polyglot Theatre.

The Festival continues to stage productions and events across stunning locations including an intimate sunset performance by Lior in the Glass House Mountains, From Rations to Wages to Treaty at Coolum and Blak Social Party at Solbar.

Visual art lovers can experience six diverse exhibitions including the leading Sunshine Coast Art Prize, You Are Neither Here Nor There by Queensland artist Sam Cranstoun, Your Local Photo Club collaborative photo exhibition, WARP by Jack MacRae, a group exhibition at the historic Old Ambulance Station Nambour and moving Jinibara exhibition Njumga Djum Yo:ran Ba Djuwan in Maleny.

The closing weekend of the Festival unfolds with the world premiere of Tallo-Billa (Humpback Whale), an on-water experience on Sunreef’s Whale One and internationally acclaimed theatre work Yes Yes Yes.

There’s also Living Waters: A Short Film Event in Maleny, workshops and performances by Let’s Organise Your Leisure, the all-ages and family-friendly Sunshine Sounds Festival in Eumundi and the Festival’s signature Dawn Awakening at Stumers Creek.

Horizon Festival is supported by the Queensland Government through Tourism and Events Queensland and features on the It’s Live! in Queensland events calendar.