Supercars launches free Gold Coast event
Free IGNITION event will give fans an early taste of October’s Gold Coast 500
Supercars will kick-start the build-up to the 2026 Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 with a free community event bringing drivers, entertainment and interactive experiences to The Star Gold Coast.
Dubbed IGNITION, the event will be held on Thursday, September 17, from 5pm to 7.30pm, providing fans with an early look at some of the new elements planned for this year’s Gold Coast 500.
Among the attractions will be appearances from Supercars stars including Cam Waters, Will Brown, Kai Allen and Thomas Randle, alongside live BMX and skateboarding demonstrations, dancers, breakdancers, racing simulators and Supercars displays.
Fans will also receive a preview of Sound Track, a new entertainment and live music precinct on Macintosh Island that forms part of an expanded effort to build the Gold Coast 500 into a broader festival experience.
Supercars acting CEO Barclay Nettlefold said the organisation had been working on significant changes designed to make the event a more extensive Gold Coast experience.
“IGNITION is our chance to finally give the Gold Coast public a sneak peek of what we’ve been putting together,” Nettlefold said.
“It’s going to be fun, it’s going to be loud and, most importantly, it’s free.”
The Gold Coast 500 attracted an event attendance of 197,427 in 2025, while the Queensland Government expects the 2026 event to generate around 154,000 visitor nights and contribute $64 million to the state economy.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the increased entertainment offering would complement the city’s lifestyle and provide attractions beyond the on-track action.
IGNITION will also reveal further entertainment announcements and provide teasers of activations planned for race weekend.
The launch begins the countdown to one of the most important rounds of the 2026 Supercars season, with the Boost Mobile Gold Coast 500 set to open the Supercars Finals.
The Gold Coast 500 will run on the Surfers Paradise street circuit from October 23-25, with the championship contenders beginning their Finals campaigns at one of the category’s biggest events of the year.
