Schoolies-goers will pay to party on the beach for the first time

For more than two decades, school-leavers celebrating on the Gold Coast have enjoyed a week's free access to their own dedicated safe space on the city's most iconic beach.

But this year, one night of celebrations will come with a $75 price tag.

On the second official night of schoolies celebrations this year, year 12 graduates will need to pay to enter the Schoolies Hub — a dedicated alcohol- and drug-free fenced entertainment precinct on Surfers Paradise beach.

The hub 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.

However, 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 on November 22.

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.

School-leavers not wishing to pay the entry fee will still be able to access free activities on the Esplanade, including a Ferris wheel — another first for the event — which is being funded by the state government.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate told the ABC he wasn't aware of the decision and did not support the move.

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.

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.

School-leavers have been gathering on the Gold Coast to mark the end of their high school exams since the late-1970s.

However, attendance has declined in recent years, as graduates shun binge-drinking culture and choose overseas destinations such as Bali and Fiji.

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.

A Schoolies.com spokesperson said the ticketed event did not signal a move towards charging access to the Schoolies Hub but was instead part of an effort to help improve the overall Gold Coast schoolies experience.

"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."

Schoolies week will run from November 21 to 27.