Year 12 graduates will need to pay $75 to enter the Schoolies Hub on Surfers Paradise beach on Sunday (22 November), the second official night of this year's celebrations, the ABC reported. It is the first time in more than 20 years that school-leavers will be required to pay for entry to the hub. The Queensland government has confirmed that, as part of a trial, it has allowed private operator Schoolies.com to host a ticketed music festival inside the hub that night.
The hub, a dedicated alcohol- and drug-free fenced entertainment precinct, was introduced in 2003 to give high school graduates a safe space to celebrate with their peers. Entry has traditionally been free for school-leavers wearing an official wristband. Schoolies week runs from Saturday (21 November) to Friday (27 November).
Ticketed Event Trial
A Department of Housing and Public Works spokesperson said the first-of-its-kind ticketed event would "diversify entertainment and inform planning for future years".
"This follows a roundtable discussion in June with the City of the Gold Coast, non-government-organisation partners and local businesses to continue and enhance the success of the Safer Schoolies Initiative," the spokesperson said.
"With more than 20 per cent of Queensland's year 12 cohort continuing to choose the Gold Coast as their destination to celebrate the end of school, it is important to take a continuous-improvement approach to meet the changing needs of school leavers," the spokesperson said.
School-leavers who do not want to pay will still be able to use free activities on the Esplanade, including a Ferris wheel, another first for the event, which is being funded by the state government.
How Entry Works
The official Safer Schoolies wristband registration page says wristbands are free and cannot be purchased, and lists Sunday 22 November with the note: "Access to the Schoolies Hub for this night is ticketed".
The Headline Night event website describes a school uniform-themed night with five zones, including a Main Stage, a Silent Disco, a Glam Station, Sports Day and a chillout space, with the line-up still to be announced. It says the event is only open to genuine year 12 school leavers, who must register for a Safer Schoolies wristband.
The Gold Coast Point schoolies guide says the hub operates from 7pm to midnight each night from 21 to 27 November, with six nights of free entertainment for eligible wristband holders. Entry on the Sunday requires the event ticket, the free Safer Schoolies wristband and an additional Schoolies.com event wristband, and a Schoolies.com accommodation booking is not needed to buy a ticket, the guide says.
Mayor Against Move
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate told the ABC he wasn't aware of the decision and did not support the move. "Schoolies provide a positive economic impact for Surfers Paradise accommodation, paying high prices already, so I don't agree with charging them," he said.
School-leavers can pay up to $1,000 for seven nights of accommodation and must abide by strict rules, including bans on visitors to their hotel rooms, the ABC reported. Cr Tate said charging school-leavers extra fees risked damaging "goodwill" among young visitors, who could return to the city throughout their lives.
"The visiting schoolies are future customers for Surfers Paradise, returning for 21st birthdays, honeymoons and bringing their own family for holidays in the future," he said. "This decision doesn't build goodwill."
Operator Response
A Schoolies.com spokesperson said the ticketed event did not signal a move towards charging access to the Schoolies Hub but was part of an effort to help improve the overall Gold Coast schoolies experience.
"School-leavers will continue to enjoy free entertainment at the hub throughout the other six nights of schoolies week," the spokesperson said. "We see this as an exciting opportunity to bring a major festival experience to the Surfers Paradise beachfront, creating something fresh and exciting that genuinely appeals to today's graduates, while retaining the safety and support that Gold Coast Schoolies is known for."
Attendance Decline
Attendance has declined in recent years as graduates shun binge-drinking culture and choose overseas destinations such as Bali and Fiji, according to the ABC. Organisers estimate about 12,000 year 12 graduates celebrated schoolies on the Gold Coast in 2025, continuing a downward trend from almost 20,000 in 2022.