The Pan Pacific Masters Games 2026 run from 6 to 15 November, and the Games Village sits at GCCEC in Broadbeach, about 4 minutes walk from Oceana on Broadbeach. Competing or cheering, staying here covers five things: dates, getting there, the highlights, where to eat, and when to book. Here is the from-the-front-door version.
More than 16,000 athletes from over 30 countries descend on the Gold Coast for ten days, and Broadbeach is the beating heart of it. When your accommodation is a short walk from the Village, the whole event gets easier.
When are the dates and how do tickets work?
The 14th Pan Pacific Masters Games run 6 to 15 November 2026, with more than 40 sports across two weekends and the days between. Competitors register and pay an entry per sport through the official site, with padel tennis new for 2026 and badminton returning to the program. Entries usually open well ahead of the Games, so lock in your sport early.
For everyone else, the good news is that spectating is free at most venues. You can turn up and watch, with the main exceptions being swimming and diving, where an admission or supporter fee applies, and calisthenics. For a sense of scale, the previous 13th edition ran 1 to 10 November 2024 and drew the same 16,000-strong field, so expect a busy, buzzing city across the ten days.
How do you get to the venues from Oceana?
The Games Village at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre is about 4 minutes walk from our front door, so the social hub of the Games is effectively next door. That is the logistics win the event site can’t tell you: you can walk to the Village for the evening entertainment and stroll home whenever you like.
Competition is spread across venues citywide, from Carrara to Coomera and the northern suburbs. The G:link tram from Broadbeach North handles a lot of it car-free, and a rideshare covers the rest. Parking at individual venues can be tight during the Games, so most guests leave the car with us and use the tram and their legs. Keep a printed or saved schedule handy, as your sport may move between venues day to day.
What are the highlights worth catching?
The Games Village at GCCEC is the one thing not to miss, competing or not. Each evening it turns on live entertainment, food stalls and a bar, and it is open to athletes and supporters alike, all a short walk from Oceana. It is the best place to soak up the atmosphere and swap stories from the day.
On the sporting side, the two weekends are the busiest, with team finals and the biggest fields. If you like a spectacle, the athletics, swimming and the new padel tennis draw good crowds, while the touch, netball and basketball run high-energy sessions across the week. Guests keep mentioning the friendly, social feel of the whole thing: it is serious sport played in a holiday mood.
Where should you eat around the Games?
You are well placed for it. Within a short walk of Oceana you have The Star Gold Coast with its 11 restaurants, the Surf Parade dining strip, and the Broadbeach Bowls Club Matador Bistro for a relaxed post-match feed. All are a few minutes on foot, so you can refuel without driving.
Book dinner ahead on the two weekends, as 16,000 athletes plus supporters fill Broadbeach tables fast. For an easy night, grab a casual bite near the Games Village, then wander back for a swim. If you want to celebrate a medal, a table at The Star or on Surf Parade is the walkable choice.
FAQs about the Pan Pacific Masters Games 2026
When are the Pan Pacific Masters Games 2026?
The 14th Pan Pacific Masters Games run from 6 to 15 November 2026 on the Gold Coast, with the Games Village based at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach. Competition spreads across venues citywide over the ten days, with more than 40 sports on the program.
Where is the Games Village and how far is it from Oceana?
The Games Village is at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre in Broadbeach, about 4 minutes walk from Oceana on Broadbeach. It is the social hub of the Games, with entertainment, food and drinks each evening. Staying here means you can walk to the Village and back without touching the car.
Do spectators have to pay to watch the Masters Games?
Mostly no. Spectating is free at most Games venues, so you can turn up and watch. The main exceptions are swimming and diving, where an admission or supporter fee applies, and calisthenics. Check the official site for each sport, but for most events you can simply arrive and cheer on your team.
Where should I stay for the Pan Pacific Masters Games?
Broadbeach is the ideal base, because the Games Village at GCCEC is a short walk away and the tram links you to other venues. Oceana on Broadbeach puts you within walking distance of the Village, the beach and dinner. With 16,000 athletes in town over ten days, book your apartment early.
Competing or spectating, the Masters Games are simply better when the Village is a four minute walk away and your own beach is out the front. Book one of our beachfront apartments close to GCCEC before the field fills the suburb, then browse things to do in Broadbeach for your downtime between events.
Image credit: Destination Gold Coast