HOTA’S ANNUAL KIDS TAKE OVER FESTIVAL SET TO RETURN WITH LARGER -THAN-LIFE ADVENTURES
HOTA Home of the Arts will once again become the ultimate destination for family fun these September school holidays as the annual kids’ festival returns with an exciting program of theatre, circus, music and free interactive experiences designed to ignite young imaginations.
Transforming every corner of the HOTA precinct, the annual festival invites children and their families to explore a world of storytelling, discovery and play, with a packed line-up of performances, hands-on experiences and free adventures.
Leading this year’s program is the internationally acclaimed Erth’s Dinosaurs, where life-like prehistoric creatures stomp, roar and delight audiences in an unforgettable theatrical experience. Families can also enjoy a free live music concert by Hot Potato Band to kick off the holidays.
Sustainability and environmental awareness are woven throughout this year’s festival, with a vibrant program of experiences designed to inspire young minds. The Lawn Bar will be powered by a striking giant solar sunflower, demonstrating renewable energy in action, while environmental champions Dirtgirl, Scrapboy and Costa the Garden
Gnome will lead engaging, hands-on activities that encourage children and families to recycle, create and connect with the natural world through play. Circus meets environmental storytelling in A Bee Story by Arc Circus, a visually spectacular production celebrating the vital role of bees through breathtaking acrobatics. Promising plenty of laughs Finnegan the Fart Detective by Arena
Theatre Company and Lachlan Woods will see audiences join the world’s most unusual detective on a hilarious mystery-solving adventure. Beyond the theatre, HOTA will come alive with a range of free family-friendly experiences encouraging children to explore, create and play. As night falls, Night Walkers will transform the lakeside into an enchanting world of giant
illuminated inflatable frogs inspired by shamanic traditions, creating a magical after-dark adventure through the HOTA parklands on the edge of the Nerang River. In a first for the program, the Evandale Lake will come alive with a free Lake Party.
Families can spend the morning watching bubbles float across the Gold Coast skyline by The Bubble Canteen, jump into a Hip Hop Jam, learn to paddle board, discover the rich Indigenous history of Evandale Park, try Taiko drumming, ride skate ramps, meet friendly animals in the Karmably Goat Zone and get crafty with pop-up craft workshops. Experience Gold Coast Senior Producer, Rachael Edwards said Kids Take Over continues to inspire curiosity while making world-class arts experiences accessible for children and families.
“Kids Take Over is where imaginations run wild. It’s a place for children and families to leave the everyday behind and dive into a world of imagination, adventure and play. Whether they’re building, making, performing or exploring, every experience is designed to spark curiosity, encourage big ideas and inspire the next generation of creators, dreamers and entrepreneurs.”
Returning in the final week of Term 3, Seasons will welcome hundreds of Gold Coast students back for an immersive curriculum-linked arts experience inspired by this year’s theme, What Lies Beneath.
Young adventurers will journey down the rabbit hole in a part quest, part performance of a hidden world beneath the forest floor, where they’ll meet curious characters, uncover unseen ecosystems and discover the remarkable rhythms of life below the surface.
Throughout the festival, Seasons will continue to evolve as families contribute to the ever-growing underground installation, leaving their own creative mark on this living artwork.
With performances, interactive installations and activities spread right across the HOTA precinct, families are invited to come and spend the day.
Running from the last week of Term 3 into the first week of the September school holidays, Kids Take Over continues
HOTA’s commitment to inspiring the next generation of arts lovers by nurturing creativity in young audiences, inspiring future artists, storytellers and curious minds through unforgettable shared experiences.
Kids Take Over runs throughout the September–October school holidays at HOTA Home of the Arts.
Kids Take Over Festival
HOTA Home of the Arts – 135 Bundall Road, Surfers Paradise
14 – 26 September 2026
Tickets for performances and the full program of free activities are available now, visit: https://hota.com.au/events/kids-take-over-2026
