- Sydney Festival has officially revealed its 50th anniversary program.
- Led by new Director Kris Nelson, the 2026 program is a multi-generational celebration of how we gather, learn, play and pass stories on.
- The city-wide takeover will commence on January 8 and run until January 25.
Sydney Festival, the city’s ultimate cultural takeover, returns in just two months, running from January 8 to 25. Not only does this milestone edition mark 50 years of the Festival, it’s also the first one under new Director Kris Nelson, promising fresh ideas and bold new experiences throughout the program.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism, The Hon. Steve Kamper, said: “Sydney Festival is the nation’s largest international arts and cultural event and a highlight of the NSW major events calendar. Summer in Sydney just wouldn’t be the same without it, and next year will be particularly special as we celebrate its 50th anniversary.”
This year, Sydney Festival have broken down its jam-packed program into seven different categories:
- Blak Out
- Dance
- Cabaret and Theatre
- Live Music
- Opera, Immersive and Visual Arts
- Summer School
- Young Audiences
The extensive program includes performances across the city from a range of global stars, at venues including Riverside Theatre in Parramatta, Carriageworks in Eveleigh, Bondi Pavilion, Sydney Town Hall and the Roslyn Packer Theatre.
Keen to get involved? To coincide with the festival’s official 2026 program launch, audiences can secure their tickets with the limited $49 Early Bird offer across the entire program, available until November 29. This will allow Festival fans to book early, see more and enjoy the best of the fest without breaking the bank.
Top picks
1. Opening night Live at Hickson Road: Efectos Especiales
The festival’s first Saturday will see action cinema takeover the streets of Walsh Bay with Live at Hickson Road: Efectos Especiales. This free outdoor event, created by filmmaker Alejo Moguillansky, is part street performance and part live movie shoot, with spectators serving as both extras and eyewitnesses to the art. Moguillansky is part of the trailblazing Argentinian independent cinema collective El Pampero Cine, together with choreographer Luciana Acuña and theatre makers Grupo Krapp. The street takeover will then continue with live music, transforming Hickson Road into the perfect place for eating, drinking and dancing.
Minister for the Arts, Music and Night Economy, the Hon. John Graham, said, “I’m particularly excited about the big opening night event on Hickson Road. Part movie set, part Argentinian street party – I honestly don’t know how it will unfold, but I’ll definitely be there to find out!”
Where: Hickson Road, Walsh Bay.
2. Sydney Symphony Under the Stars
Sydney Symphony Under the Stars returns to the Sydney Festival; however, this year it will hit a spectacular new location: Tumbalong Park. Taking place over the festival’s middle weekend on Saturday 17, this special 50th anniversary edition promises an unforgettable evening of music and community, bringing together festivalgoers under the stars in one of Sydney’s most iconic waterfront precincts.
Where: Tumbalong Park, 11 Harbour St, Sydney NSW 2000.
3. Observer, Observed in Darling Harbour
Following a year-long installation in New York City’s High Line, internationally acclaimed sculptor Julia Philips presents her thought-provoking public artwork Observer, Observed. A pair of custom-made bronze binoculars invites passers-by to take in the view, but with a twist: a hidden camera broadcasts live footage of their eyes to a nearby screen.
Where: Darling Harbour.
4. Hot Chip at the Sydney Opera House
Hot Chip, London’s lovable party band, will return to the Sydney Opera House for two nights of euphoric indie-dance fun. They’ll be celebrating 25 years together, bringing their live show Joy in Repetition to the iconic venue. Expect classic house, shimmering synth-pop and Alexis Taylor’s unmistakable vocals leading the way in this high-voltage celebration of rhythm, resilience and connection.
Where: Sydney Opera House.
5. Mama Does Derby at Sydney Town Hall
This major new commission for Sydney Festival will convert Sydney Town Hall into a full-scale roller derby track for an action-packed World Premiere work by Virginia Gay (Calamity Jane) and Windmill’s Claire Watson. The show follows Billie and her mum as they navigate a new life in a regional town, and the sweaty, chaotic and rebellious world of roller derby. Blending theatre, sport, live music and immersive spectacle, this production is bound to warm your heart and make you laugh out loud.
Where: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George St, Sydney NSW 2000.
6. LACRIMA at the Roslyn Packer Theatre
The story of LACRIMA revolves around the world’s most celebrated gown and the stories that surround it. The three-hour story of beauty, labour and belonging sees designers and artisans from across the world race to create a dress destined for history, from Parisian ateliers and lacemakers of Normandy to embroiders in Mumbai. This production marks the Aussie premiere of LACRIMA, which will be performed in French, Tamil, English and sign language with subtitles.
Where: The Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay NSW 2000.
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7. Nowhere at the Roslyn Packer Theatre
Nowhere is a stunning solo show by notable actor and activist Khalid Abdalla (United 93, The Kite Runner, The Crown). The production (from UK company Fuel) takes the audience on a journey into Abdalla’s own history, set against a cartography of seismic world events. Intertwining personal and political histories, from colonialism to global uprisings, Abdalla explores how we arrived in our current state and how we find agency amidst the mazes of history.
Where: The Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay NSW 2000.
The Blak Out Program
The Sydney Festival 2026 Blak Out program will celebrate Indigenous resilience, culture and creativity through its dynamic itinerary of visual art, theatre, music and dance. With immersive works, world premieres and tributes that honour Country, community and legacy, here are the program highlights.
8. Redfern Renaissance
Redfern Renaissance celebrates the revolutionary art and activism of the 1970s National Black Theatre. Curated by Wiradjuri Yuin actor Angeline Penrith, the program features performance readings and conversations honouring trailblazers Bob Maza, Robert Merritt, Paul and Isabel Coe, Gary Foley, and Gary Williams. Born from street performances and protest, the original theatre became a powerful hub of Blak activism and a catalyst for First Nations rights, a legacy which Redfern Renaissance keeps alive for today’s audiences.
9. HELD Sculpture Series
HELD will see a series of commissioned sculptural works on Barangaroo’s Stargazer’s Lawn, by talented Yuwaalaraay Wirringgaa woman Lucy Simpson. Honouring the elements of earth, fire, sky, sea and Country, these unique vessels will welcome all who gather throughout the length of the festival.
Where: Barangaroo’s Stargazer’s Lawn, 27 Hickson Rd, Barangaroo NSW 2000.
10. Dear Son at the Belvoir Theatre
Thomas Mayo’s groundbreaking Dear Son brings intimate reflections from 12 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island men to the stage, celebrating diverse expressions of masculinity, challenging stereotypes and honouring tradition through music, dance and storytelling. Originally collected in Mayo’s eponymous book, the reflections are incredible insights into the legacy and power of the world’s oldest living culture.
Where: Belvoir Theatre, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills NSW 2010.
11. Emma Donovan’s Take Me to the River
The City Recital Hall will play host to Emma Donovan’s powerful voice and commanding stage presence with a tribute to the soul classics that shaped her music and the memories of a generation. Reimagining songs made famous by legends such as Al Green, Aretha Franklin and Ann Peebles, Donovan infuses each piece with her own spirit and story. From soaring anthems to tender ballads, this powerful evening is a tribute to the timeless soul music of years past.
Where: The City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Pl, Sydney NSW 2000.
Dance
12. Dan Daw’s EXXY
Dan Daw is back at the Sydney Festival for the first time since 2018 for the Australian exclusive staging of EXXY (slang for “expensive”). The show represents his journey from a working-class Aussie childhood to an internationally celebrated, proudly queer and disabled dance artist. He’ll perform with three other extraordinary performers who will echo, mirror and multiply his presence, exploring the possibility of blending in after a lifetime of standing out.
Save the Last Dance for Me
13. Alessandro Sciarroni revives the nearly lost Italian courtship dance Polka Chinata in Save the Last Dance for Me. Once performed only by men to dazzle potential partners, the steps were nearly forgotten until Sciarroni, along with dance master Giancarlo Stagni, revived and reimagined them. This stunning dance will be available to see across Sydney, including among the Italian community at Leichhardt Town Hall and within Sydney Town Hall.
14. Eun-Me Ahn’s Post-Orientalist Express
The enfant terrible of Seoul, Eun-Me Ahn, will bring her world-renowned vision to Sydney in a rare opportunity to witness one of Asia’s most influential avant-garde artists in Australia. The celebrated South Korean choreographer’s work will be performed by eight dynamic dancers and will feature more than 90 dazzling costumes, all designed by Ahn herself. Post-Orientalist Express transforms traditions from Okinawa, Bali and Manila into a vivid, audacious and satirical exploration of Asian cultures.
15. Sisa-Sisa by Alfira O’Sullivan and Murtala
Sisa-Sisa is a striking double bill of intimate dance solos by Alfira O’Sullivan and Murtala, rooted in Indonesian culture and accompanied by an original score from Gondrong Gunarto. One of the solos, entitled Gelumbang Raya reflects on Murtala’s experiences volunteering after the 2004 Aceh tsunami, transforming trauma and resilience into a shared act of remembrance. In another dance, Jejak & Bisik, O’Sullivan unpicks fertility, perimenopause and the shifting female body.
Cabaret and Theatre
16. enGORGEd by Reuben Kaye
In Reuben Kaye’s flashiest and funniest show to date, the cabaret superstar will be taking over the Sydney Opera House with an 18-piece ensemble. For one night only, the fiery, filthy and fabulous comedian will bare all, blending razor-sharp storytelling with stunning vocals and diva-worthy anthems. No topic is off-limits and no attendee will leave without a smile on their face.
Where: Sydney Opera House.
17. WAKE by THISISPOPBABY
Dublin trailblazers THISISPOPBABY have reimagined the traditional Irish wake with breakdancing, tap, aerial artistry, slam poetry and live music for a riotous celebration of endings, beginnings and community. They asserted their Aussie popularity with their 2018 Sydney Festival hit, RIOT, and are now back for more. In what The Guardian called “a raucous, pole-dancing rollercoaster”, WAKE fuses history and modernity, delivering a high-energy variety show that has wowed international audiences.
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18. Salty Brine’s Bigmouth Strikes Again (The Smiths Show)
New York cabaret trailblazer Salty Brine makes his Australian debut at Wharf 1 Theatre with Bigmouth Strikes Again (The Smiths Show), a bold cabaret blending The Smiths’ 1981 album, The Queen is Dead, Mary Shelley’s cult-novel Frankenstein and his own lived experience for a theatrical, rock-infused and campy spectacle.
Where: Wharf 1 Theatre, The Wharf, Wharf 4/5/15 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000.
19. BURGEZ by Travis Alabanza
BURGEZ has been a sell-out international sensation since 2018, even winning the Total Theatre Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Performance artist Travis Alabanza turns a transphobic attack into a hilarious, heartbreaking and unflinchingly powerful exploration of resilience that is part performance, part manifesto. Marking ten years since that unforgettable moment on London’s Waterloo Bridge, it reaffirms its place as a timely and globally acclaimed work this January at Sydney Festival.
Live Music
20. Sydney Festival’s return to ACO On The Pier
Sydney Festival will return to ACO On The Pier, the Australian Chamber Orchestra’s home at Pier 2/3 in the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct. Leading the return is visionary multi-disciplinary artist Lonnie Holley, with nightly evolving performances alongside winning musician, singer-songwriter and elder Kankawa Nagarra for one special night and for another with jazz and neo soul star Yasmina Sadiki. The diverse lineup also includes Mongolian jazz singer Enji and Mexican indigenous rapper Mare Advertencia, joined by Noongar sensation INKABEE. Persian-Aotearoan genre-defier CHAII will also perform at ACO On the Pier, as well as Australian R&B innovator, Milan Ring.
Where: ACO On The Pier, Suite 3/13A Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000.
21. Paris Paloma at City Recital Hall
UK singer-songwriter Paris Paloma is one of contemporary music’s most compelling feminist voices. Following the release of her debut album Cacophony and building on the cultural impact of her Gold-certified 2023 hit Labour, which garnered over 11 billion social media views, Paloma is celebrated for immersive, community-driven performances. Her concert will be a place of connection, defiance and joy, with The Guardian labelling her “a new-generation Kate Bush”.
Where: City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Pl, Sydney NSW 2000.
22. Nooriyah
DJ-producer Nooriyah, raised between Saudi Arabia, Japan and the UK, brings high-energy sets blending SWANA (South West Asian and North African) sounds with global genres, including Arabian pop, Jersey Club, Afrobeats, amapiano and trap. She’ll be joined by Palestinian-American curator, DJ Habibeats, for the TikTok sensation and founder of Habibi’s House’s first time on Australian shores.
23. Tenzin Choegyal at Bankstown Arts Centre
Grammy-nominated Tibetan artist Tenzin Choegyal, who has previously performed at New York’s Carnegie Hall, takes over Bankstown Arts Centre for two immersive shows this Sydney Festival. The first pairs him with multi-instrumentalist Tenzin Kunsang for an evening of meditative mantras, folk tunes, spoken word and flute solos steeped in Tibetan wisdom. The second sees Choegyal join rising Western Sydney star Wytchings, fusing the melodies of Whispering Sky with electronic synths in a transcendent, intergenerational exploration of impermanence, compassion and the cycle of life.
Where: Bankstown Arts Centre, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown NSW 2200.
Opera, Immersive and Visual Arts
24. Opera for the Dead 祭歌
Opera for the Dead 祭歌 created by guzheng virtuoso Mindy Meng Wang and experimental sound designer Monica Lim, fuses ancient ritual with cutting-edge technology to create a multi-sensory exploration of grief, remembrance and transformation. Inspired by Chinese mourning traditions, the performance immerses audiences in live music, electronic soundscapes, movement and light, inviting them to move freely through a shifting space that blends stage, cinema and dance floor into an ever-changing world of sound and shadow.
25. Garage Party at Bankstown Arts Centre
Garage Party throws open the doors to the Blacktown Arts Centre for a two-day backyard celebration of community, creativity and Pasifika pride. Artists Sione Monu and Salote Tawale transform the space into a vibrant garage installation, think corrugated iron, tarps, lavalava and fairy lights, inspired by the beloved social hubs of Pasifika homes. The weekend also features karaoke and live music from Western Sydney greats, Edith Amituanai’s dazzling Siren Boyz performed with local youth, hands-on art workshops and a family photo booth where visitors can pose in their White Sunday best.
Where: Bankstown Arts Centre, 5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown NSW 2200.
26. asses.masses
This theatrical experience is like no other. assess.masses from Canadian artists Patrick Blenkarn and Milton Lim is a seven-hour, multiplayer video game played live by the audience. Taking turns at controls, players lead a herd of rebellious digital donkeys on a mission to reclaim their job, all while navigating a wild mash-up of gaming genres. With intervals, snacks and plenty of crowd banter, the show is entirely shaped by the audience: they decide how the game plays out.
27. Turandot at the Sydney Opera House
Puccini’s final masterpiece Turandot, renowned for the iconic aria Nessun Dorma, is reimagined with bold flair by acclaimed director and choreographer Ann Yee. This striking new production by Opera Australia and Opera Consortium at the Sydney Opera House propels the classic work into the modern era with daring innovation and theatrical energy.
Where: Sydney Opera House.
Summer School
Sydney Festival’s Summer School lets curiosity take centre stage, with an energising program of talks, ideas and experiences curated by Sydney Festival Artistic Associate Nithya Nagarajan. Participants can get up close with local and international artists, explore the creative process through hands-on activities and interactive workshops.
28. Conflictorium
Part exhibition, part gathering space, and part creative experiment in connection, Conflictorium invites audiences to embrace, not avoid, their differences. Created by an Indian collective of artists, mediators, filmmakers and peacebuilders of the same name, this interactive “museum of conflict” transforms Carriageworks Bays 19 into a living, breathing archive of community experience. through immersive installations, creative prompts and hands-on activities, visitors are encouraged to share stories, ignite dialogue and reimagine conflict as a catalyst for empathy.
Where: Carriageworks Bay 19, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
29. Queer PowerPoint
Two of Sydney’s most fearless queer collectives, Life Rites and Queer PowerPoint, unite for a daring performance that reimagines a working funeral home as an unforgettable stage. Queer artists from all over the city will share their discoveries about life, death, and everything in between through Queer PowerPoint’s signature mix of insight, humour and heart. Using Microsoft’s iconic corporate tool to probe life’s greatest mystery, this immersive event allows audiences to sit with discomfort, celebrate curiosity and find light in one of life’s last great taboos.
30. WansolMoana Lunar Assembly at McIver’s Ladies Baths
The WansolMoana Lunar Assembly invites women and children to one of the world’s last remaining women-only ocean pools, McIver’s Ladies Baths, for a night of reflection, renewal and spiritual connection. Led by Tongan Australian performance artist Latai Taumoepeau, this durational ceremony blends meditation, music and water-based rituals to celebrate feminine sovereignty and collective power.
Where: McIver’s Ladies Baths, 145-149R Beach St, Coogee NSW 2034.
Young Audiences
31. WAVERIDER
Physical theatre legends Legs On The Wall will be bringing their breathtaking new outdoor performance of WAVERIDER to the iconic Bondi Pavilion. Staged on a giant inflatable wave, this family-friendly spectacle combines surf culture, acrobatics and marine adventure into a high-energy celebration of Australia’s love affair with the ocean. After the show, the wave transforms into a playful seaside installation for all to enjoy.
Where: Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Dr, Bondi Beach NSW 2026.
32. Garden of Sound by Voxstep
Combining live performance, music and cutting-edge technology, Garden of Sound by Voxstep invites children and families into a magical world where movement becomes music at Riverside Live at Phive in Parramatta. The story follows two gardeners, Dag and Dug, on a quest to restore their sonic garden to full symphonic bloom. Using motion capture and a game engine, every gesture transforms into sound, turning the stage into an interactive playground. Both performance and play, Garden of Sound is a joyful, hands-on celebration of creativity that invites young audiences to step up, move and make music together.
Where: Corner Market &, 353 Church St, Parramatta NSW 2150.
33. The Censor
Today’s kids are constantly told what they can and can’t read, watch or day. The Censor will flip this script with Australian Theatre For Young People at the Rebel Theatre. Created by award-winning theatre-makers Cassandra Fumi and Vidya Rajan with an ensemble of young collaborators, this bold new work hands over the power, and the microphone, to children. In their theatre, the kids make the rules.
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Sydney Festival 2026
Where: Venues across Sydney.
When: January 8-25, 2026.
For more information, head to sydneyfestival.com.au
