- City of Sydney has unveiled plans for its 2026 Christmas in Sydney celebrations.
- From Christmas lights and fairs to concerts and markets, there’s no shortage of things to do.
- This year’s program also includes plenty of free festivities for residents and visitors to enjoy.
Ho Ho Ho Sydney! It looks like Lord Mayor Clover Moore is donning a Santa hat this year, as the Government unveils plans for Sydney Christmas 2026 celebrations.
Sydney’s festive calendar is brimming with Christmas events, as the government aims to draw both locals and tourists to celebrate a classic sun-soaked Aussie Christmas. The festivities bring back the iconic Martin Place tree, one of the city’s Christmas centrepieces, plus a variety of fairs, concerts, choirs and markets to put you in a holly jolly mood.
“With festive street fairs and concerts, choirs and the epic tree in Martin Place, the elves at the City of Sydney are busy preparing a Christmas to remember,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“These free events are our gift to city residents and visitors, and I encourage everyone to come along, join the festivities and experience the magic of Christmas in Sydney.”
We’ve rounded up the highlights of Sydney’s 2026 Christmas celebrations, and with just two months to go, it’s time for you to get planning.
Christmas in Sydney guide 2026
Christmas street fairs
Glebe Christmas Fair
On November 28, Glebe Point Road will be closed to traffic between St Johns Road and Great Western Highway to make way for all the Chrissy fun you could dream of. There’ll be a strong live music program on the Jingle Jam Stage and the Tinsel Showtime Stage, as well as plenty of appearances from Santa himself.
See Father Christmas himself journey down the road on his sleigh before snapping a photo with him, with the $5 cost going straight to the City of Sydney’s charity partner, Variety.
Where: Glebe Point Road.
When: November 28, 12pm-8pm.
Price: Free.
Potts Point Fair
Potts Point Fair will bring festive cheer to Macleay Street on December 5, taking over the stretch between Greenknowe Avenue and Roslyn Street. Following a similar schedule to Glebe’s Christmas Fair, the traffic-free street will come alive with alfresco dining from some of the suburb’s best restaurants and local businesses.
There’ll also be live music, performances, market stalls, games and plenty of family-friendly activities.
Where: Macleay Street and Darlinghurst Road between Greenknowe Avenue and Roslyn Street.
When: December 5, 12pm-8pm.
Price: Free.
Surry Hills Fair
We’re big fans of bustling Crown Street, thanks to its saturation of excellent restaurants, bars and cafes. This Christmas, the iconic fair will return to Surry Hills’ main strip between Cleveland and Foveaux streets, bringing a festive lineup of fun for the whole family.
Highlights include the Santa Paws Dog Parade, hosted by drag sensation Hannah Conda, and an outdoor cinema screening of The Grinch. Of course, the Christmas fair will also include Santa’s sleigh ride and Santa photo opportunities, as he continues his very important tour around Sydney’s inner-city suburbs.
Where: Crown Street between Cleveland and Foveaux Streets
When: December 12, 12pm-10pm.
Price: Free.
Christmas Concerts
Rosebery Christmas Concert
Rosebery will host the first of three completely free Christmas concerts in the leafy Turruwul Park. Hosted by Jayden Rodrigues, local talents will take to the stage, including Team Dream, The Gagliardis, Oliva Coe Fox and Bermuda Social. The artists will perform a mix of Christmas songs and non-Christmas songs, so even the grumpiest of grinches can enjoy the free gigs.
There will also be a Circus Drop Zone, where you can put your own circus skills to the test, plus free craft activities, table tennis and giant Jenga.
Where: Turruwul Park, 115 Rothschild Ave, Rosebery NSW 2018.
When: November 29, 5:30pm-8:30pm.
Price: Free.
Pyrmont Christmas Concert
The next free concert in Sydney’s Christmas series will take place by the waterfront in Pyrmont’s Pirrama Park. Sheba Williams will host the evening with performances from The Quokkas, The Vegetable Plot, The Pretty Amazing Jono, Mitchell Dormer and Les Femmes.
Food trucks will be serving up a variety of snacks and sips throughout the evening. Remember to pack your picnic rug and get in early for the best spots.
Where: Pirrama Park, Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009.
When: December 6, 5:30pm-8:30pm.
Price: Free.
Alexandria Christmas Concert
Wrapping up the Christmas Concert festivities will be the Alexandria Christmas Concert on December 13. Taking place at Alexandria Park, this fun-filled event will also be hosted by Sheba Williams and will feature performances from Monski Mouse, Lucas Proudfoot, The Mik Maks, Sharnee Fenwick and Brown Sugar.
Where: Alexandria Park, Buckland Street, Alexandria NSW 2015.
When: December 13, 5:30pm-8:30pm.
Price: Free.
CBD Christmas celebrations
The return of the Martin Place Christmas Tree
The Martin Place Christmas Tree will return to the city on November 26, marked by an official lighting ceremony.
If you’re keen to really lean into the Chrissy festivities, you can follow Santa’s sleigh ride from Customs House to Martin Place ahead of the lighting, or you can opt to go to one of the sound and light shows, which take place every evening until January 5.
Where: Pedestrian plaza of Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Returns on November 26.
Price: Free.
Martin Place Christmas Markets
Martin Place will host Christmas markets, set beneath its iconic tree, from 11am to 9:15pm on November 29 and 30, and then every Wednesday to Saturday right up until Christmas Eve.
Featuring 55 stalls selling unique gifts, gourmet food and festive treats, there will also be live music, plenty of visits from Santa and the occasional carol soundtracking the city’s streets.
Where: Pedestrian plaza of Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Every Wednesday and Sunday from November 28-December 24.
Price: Free.
Choirs in the City
O Come, All Ye Faithful and gather under the Martin Place Christmas Tree with a group of enthusiastic carol singers. Every day, from December 1 to December 21, a choir of carol singers will converge for two hours of joyful tunes under the decorative lights of the city. Completely free to join, this is an easy way to get yourself excited for the holidays.
Where: Pedestrian plaza of Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: December 1-21, every day from 6pm-8pm.
Price: Free.
Choir performances
Choir performances will be abundant across Sydney on December 23 (or what I affectionately call Christmas Eve Eve) from 6pm-8pm.
You can find a performance close to you at one of the following places:
- Green Square Plaza (next to the Green Square Library), Green Square
- Ellen Lawman Rest Area, Erskineville
- Fitzroy Gardens, Potts Point
- Collin Street Reserve (next to Surry Hills Library), Surry Hills
- Minogue Reserve, Glebe
- Sydney Town Hall Steps, Sydney
- Taylor Square, Darlinghurst
- Martin Place, Sydney
- Union Square, Pyrmont
Santa photos
Snapping a photo with Santa is a lovely way to commemorate Christmas, and where better to do it than at David Jones? The department store transforms a room into a festive wonderland, decked out in red, green and gold, with beautifully wrapped presents and plenty of seasonal decorations setting the scene for that perfect holiday snap.
This is probably the most popular place for a Santa picture in Sydney, so to secure your spot, use the link here to pre-book. Multiple session options are available, including Santa Pawtraits, Sensitive Santa and standard sessions. Photo packages range from $30.85 to $99.96 and include your main photo in a custom David Jones sleeve.
If that’s a bit out of your budget, head to any one of the Christmas Fairs mentioned above, and you can snap a selfie with Santa for just $5.
