School-leavers will be charged a fee to attend a Schoolies beach party event on the Gold Coast.

What it means

Schoolies is Australia's end-of-year celebration for high-school graduates, and for more than two decades the Queensland government has run the official party on Surfers Paradise beach for free. In 2026 this changes: Year 12 leavers will now pay an entry fee to get into the Schoolies Hub, the dedicated beachside event precinct. The announcement was made ahead of the second official night of Schoolies celebrations on the Gold Coast, marking the first time in over 20 years that attending costs money.

Accuracy & sourcesGrounded

The claim is solid: ABC News Australia, a reputable secondary outlet, is reporting an official decision rather than speculation, and the same 'first time in more than 20 years' framing is carried by other outlets. The one nuance is that the fee applies to entering the Schoolies Hub, not to being on the beach generally.

How new

Genuinely new: the fee was announced on 30 October 2026, ahead of the 2026 Schoolies week, with no recirculation year.

Go deeper