July 6, 2026

Reef Festival Shines For Silver 25-Year Anniversary

Saturday’s Main Street takeover is a community favourite. Photo supplied

Silver will shine across Airlie Beach this year as the Great Barrier Reef Festival unveils a special birthday theme to celebrate its 25-year anniversary.

Proudly presented by Cruise Whitsundays, the festival returns from July 31st to August 2nd, with three days of reef-inspired festivities, entertainment and community celebrations marking the milestone occasion.

"Celebrating 25 years is not only a chance to reflect on how far the festival has come, it's also a vote of confidence in where we're headed," said Festival Chair Heather Batrick.  

"We're incredibly grateful for the support we've received from both our returning and new sponsors this year.

"Their investment is a testament to the strength of the festival, our incredible volunteers and the community that has championed this event for a quarter of a century.

"Their continued support allows us to keep growing the festival, attract outstanding entertainment, and continue offering so many of our signature events free for everyone to enjoy."

This year will see the return of the community’s favourite events, such as Saturday’s Main Street takeover with the Club Whitsundays Street parade and Revvin’ Reef Car Show, the Tasman Holiday Parks Family Fun Day and of course the spectacular firework presentation that will kick of the whole thing, now sponsored by AirBnB.  

Festival-goers can expect an immersive experience across the foreshore, with a large-scale reef art installation made from recycled materials on display in Fairy Tree Park, capturing the essence of the reef’s natural wonder.

WHAT: Great Barrier Reef Festival

WHERE: Airlie Beach

WHEN: 31st July-2nd August