Heatwave Festival Port Douglas

Heatwave was a new LGBTQIA+ party weekend in Port Douglas, Far North Queensland. It was first held 13-15 February 2026. Its founders, Andrew Dalbertanson and Kent Fordham, pitched it as a way to fill one of the town's quietest tourist months.

The first edition ran over three nights at three venues: a sunset launch party at the Sugar Wharf, a glam party at The Central and a poolside session at Oaks. Before the event, organisers said about 80 per cent of ticket buyers were from interstate, mostly Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne.

Don't confuse it with Hot & Steamy, the older Port Douglas queer festival, which moves to the Gold Coast in 2027. When we checked, we found no announcement of a second Heatwave.