The world’s biggest French festival returns to Sydney from July 16-19, bringing four days of food, wine and art to Circular Quay. It’s free to attend, and we have the full Bastille Festival 2026 program here to help you plan your visit.
Swap your winter blues for bleu, blanc et rouge this weekend, as Bastille Festival returns for its 13th year. Bringing a slice of France to Circular Quay, lovers of raclette, rosé, cinema and cabaret, this one’s for you. It’s now one of Sydney’s favourite winter festivals, drawing hundreds of thousands of Francophiles, foodies and fun-seekers every year.
Whether you’re here for the Champagne and crêpes, the open-air French cinema, or the late-night cabaret under the stars, Bastille Festival 2026 is your passport to all things French. No boarding pass required.
What is the Bastille Festival?
The world’s biggest French festival, that’s what! In France, Bastille Day (or le 14 Juillet or la fête nationale) marks the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on July 14, 1789, a major event of the French Revolution, and the unification of the French people on the same day the following year.
Celebrations take place across France, and Sydney joined in on the action in 2013. Back then, it was known as the Bleu Blanc Rouge Festival, but now it’s Bastille Festival.
For four days, Circular Quay is transformed with French food stalls, roving entertainers, live concerts, dance classes and much more. An estimated 600,000 people flock to the festival each year, cementing its reputation as one of the world’s biggest celebrations of French culture.
The program
Bastille Wine Walk
No celebration of France would be complete without wine. This year’s program is the most extensive yet, with eight iconic wine regions represented. Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Beaujolais, Provence, Languedoc, Loire Valley and Rhône Valley will each offer a curated selection of four wines, from boutique French wineries to prestigious châteaux.
The best way to experience it? Purchase a Bastille Wine Passport, which grants you fast-track queuing at stalls – as waiting is très unchic. Passports cost $39 for four stops, or $69 for eight stops. You can purchase yours here.
At each stop on your tasting journey, expert sommeliers and festival staff will guide you through the flavours, aromas and stories behind each wine. After they’ve stamped your passport, take your reusable tasting glass to the next location.
Beyond the usual pours of red, white and rosé, you can warm up with Bastille Festival’s signature mulled wine, mulled cider or even a boozy hot chocolate. If you’re after something a little more refined, the French Champagne Bar will be pouring perfectly chilled glasses of crisp French bubbles.
French feasting
More than 120 vendors will be serving over 80 dishes all weekend long. Tuck into timeless regional dishes, sweet treats and inventive fusions. There will be crowd-pleasers like raclette, escargots, crêpes and macarons, as well as exclusive chef collaborations and international flavours with a French twist.
We’d recommend stopping by the Orleans Moules-Frites for steamed mussels in a fragrant broth with crispy golden fries or a silky lobster roll from East Blue Seafood. You also can’t go wrong with a warm Belgian waffle drizzled in melted chocolate from My Belgian Waffles or a stacked Mitraillette from Bouillon l’Entrecote loaded with a spicy beef patty, crispy lettuce, Belgian fries, and a homemade Andalouse sauce.
Alongside the food stalls, you’ll also find live culinary experiences throughout the festival. One of the highlights is an exclusive collaboration between Melbourne spirits brand CASA Spirits and Four Frogs, who have reimagined the classic Crêpe Suzette. The dessert is flambéed live using CASA’s signature Salted Caramel Sour cocktail, adding a theatrical Australian twist to the beloved French favourite.
Live performances
Beyond the food and wine, Bastille Festival serves up an extensive lineup of free entertainment. Expect live bands, cabaret, dance performances and more throughout The Rocks.
There will be a main stage set up at First Fleet Park in Circular Quay, as well as the Parisian Stage at Customs House and the Museum Stage in Front of the Museum of Contemporary Art.
The festival’s open-air stages will host more than 110 free performances across four days. Highlights include high-energy sets from Otis Band and Sydney indie rock outfit The Avenue, while Aluminus Dance will bring the glamour of Parisian cabaret to Circular Quay with dazzling costumes, choreography and plenty of French flair.
You can also get involved, with Empire Dance Studio hosting free dance classes on Saturday and Sunday for anyone keen to learn a few French-inspired steps.
Join a masterclass
If you’re keen to take your love of French food and wine to the next level, Bastille Festival is also hosting a series of ticketed masterclasses in partnership with Vin De France, Taste France and Liquorland.
For $39 per person, you can learn how to identify the aromas and flavours of classic French wines, discover the secrets behind perfect wine and cheese pairings, or shake up French-inspired cocktails in interactive sessions running across all four days of the festival.
There are three different masterclasses to pick from:
- Aromas and Varietals: Explore the dazzling diversity of Vin De France: from crisp zesty whites to fruit-forward reds, and learn to identify the aromas and flavours that make each French variety unique.
- Wine and Cheese: Discover the art of matching Vin De France wines with iconic French cheeses.
- VDF Cocktail Creation: Meet your new favourite drinks: the Chardo Mule, the Sauvignon Special, and the Red and Roses, three bold, playful cocktails each inspired by an iconic French grape variety.
Pop in to the Christmas in July Festival
As if Bastille Festival wasn’t enough, it also overlaps with The Rocks’ beloved Christmas in July Festival, bringing even more melted cheese, mulled wine and European-inspired festivities to Sydney’s historic precinct.
While you’re in The Rocks, stop by the Firepit Cinema to roast marshmallows and settle in for a festive film from a lineup of Christmas classics, including Home Alone, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ratatouille, Die Hard and Elf.
You can also snap a selfie along Snow Lane, enjoy free live music and browse the charming European-inspired chalets lining the streets. With two winter festivals happening side by side, there’s every reason to make a day of it.
