- Sydney Festival has revealed its 2027 program, running from January 7 to 25.
- Highlights include Hannah Gadsby’s new comedy show and a free late-night dance party at The Cutaway.
- More than 10,000 tickets will be available for $49 or less across the ticketed program, with tickets on sale from Thursday, October 22.
Sydney Festival will return to the city in 2027, bringing with it a fresh new program spanning theatre, dance, comedy, installations and more.
Now in its 51st year, the Festival has grown into one of Australia’s largest annual cultural celebrations. Running from January 7–25, it promises a strong variety of performances, exhibitions and events, showcasing both established and up-and-coming talents in Sydney’s arts scene.
“We’ve set out to make a Festival that feels unmistakably of Sydney and open to the world,” says Sydney Festival Director, Kris Nelson.
“We have major new First Nations shows, collaborations born in Western Sydney, and an international dance and theatre program on a scale the city deserves. It means turning The Cutaway into a house of dance and bringing an outdoor Festival hub back to Barangaroo. With programming from Penrith to Bondi and a beating heart at Barangaroo, it’s a festival to cross town for.”
The festival’s popular $49 ticket program will also return, with more than 10,000 tickets priced at $49 or less available across every ticketed event in the 2027 program.
“We want everyone to feel that this Festival belongs to them, and that means making great seats part of the offer,” added Nelson.
We’ve sifted through the program to bring you the Sydney Festival 2027 highlights worth booking, from must-see performances to weird and wacky experiences you won’t want to miss.
Sydney Festival 2027 program highlights
The Party
To celebrate the Festival’s opening weekend, The Party will take over Barangaroo’s newest cultural space, The Cutaway, on January 8. Expect a massive free dance party extravaganza, featuring DJs, surprise performances and spontaneous encounters into the night.
Starting at 10pm, the party is set to run late into the night, with Sydney Festival even teasing the possibility of a sunrise swim to welcome the next day.
Where: The Cutaway, Nawi Cove, Hickson Road near Metro, Barangaroo NSW 2000.
When: January 8, 10pm-late.
Price: Free.
Hannah Gadsby
Australian comedian, writer and actor Hannah Gadsby returns to Sydney with a new show at Roslyn Packer Theatre.
The multi-talented Gadsby, who catapulted to international fame following the release of their 2018 Netflix special Nanette, has since written a New York Times bestselling memoir (Ten Steps to Nanette), curated an exhibition with Brooklyn Museum, and featured on Netflix’s smash hit, Sex Education. Safe to say, they’ve been busy.
In this new show, the Emmy, Peabody and three-time AACTA Award winner will explore how the defining moments in our lives often only make sense when we look back on them.
Expect Gadsby’s trademark wit, self-deprecating commentary and fresh perspective as they find humour in the gap between experiencing life and understanding it.
Where: Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Dawes Point NSW 2000.
When: January 7-10.
Price: Tickets range from $49 to $99 plus a booking fee.
Dance Reflections by Van Cleef and Arpels
From the Sydney Opera House to Carriageworks and the newly opened Powerhouse Parramatta, some of Sydney’s most iconic cultural venues will host Dance Reflections by Van Cleef & Arpels, bringing 12 of the world’s leading choreographers and dance companies to the city.
The international lineup brings together some of contemporary dance’s most influential names, including artists who have collaborated with global stars like Madonna and Rosalía. Highlights include Leïla Ka, who choreographed for Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Tour and presents Maldonne, an exploration of womanhood featuring five dancers and 40 dresses.
The Trisha Brown Dance Company will also reimagine its pioneering 1971 work Roof Piece across the indoor and outdoor spaces of the Art Gallery of NSW, while Outsider will feature ballet dancers on tightropes at The Cutaway. Dance Reflections is more than just a handful of shows – it’s a festival within itself.
Where: Shows will take place at venues across Sydney.
When: January 8-23.
Price: Some events are free, others start at $49.
Waynapuni Pools
Sydney Festival is known for its unique events, and Waynapuni Pools is no exception. Artist and industrial designer Benjamin Paul has teamed up with a group of local First Nations teenagers to transform wrecked metal into vehicles of community. The result? A cluster of old cars, from Old Falcons to Commodores, transformed into wood-burning saunas, hot pools and cold plunges.
Yes, you heard us. Bring your swimmers and your towel along, and you can take a dip in a literal junk car that’s been welded into a bathhouse. However, if swimming isn’t your thing, you can still explore the fascinating installation for free as an open-air art park.
Where: Barangaroo Reserve, Hickson Road, Barangaroo NSW 2000.
When: January 12-24.
Price: Take a dip for $49.
Budjerah sings Donny Hathaway
Platinum-selling, ARIA Award-winning singer Budjerah will channel the iconic American soul singer Donny Hathaway this Sydney Festival, as part of “Blak & Blues”. Transforming the Metro Theatre into Sydney’s hottest new blues club, this program will bring a series of intimate gigs to the city, combining the talent of First Nations artists with influential Black American songbooks.
We love Budjerah’s soulful vocals and catchy tunes, so we’re looking forward to seeing him perform at the Metro (and hoping he sings “Ready for the Sky”). He’s set to play a mix of his own music and songs from Donny Hathaway’s catalogue.
Where: The Metro Theatre, 624 George St, NSW 2000.
When: January 16 and 17.
Price: Tickets range from $49 to $79 plus a booking fee.
The Yard
Sydney Festival is bringing backyard BBQ vibes to Barangaroo Reserve this summer, with a feast of street food, pop-up restaurants and bars taking over the hilltop and turning the waterfront lawn into a harbourside playground.
Just a short stroll from some of the Festival’s biggest installations and theatre performances, it’s the perfect spot to grab a bite, enjoy a drink and soak up that unbeatable Sydney summer atmosphere between shows,
Where: Barangaroo Reserve, Hickson Road, Barangaroo NSW 2000.
When: January 8-24.
Price: Free entry.
Haribo Kimchi by Jaha Koo
Korean theatremaker Jaha Koo brings the sights, sounds and flavours of a late-night Korean street food stall to the stage in Haribo Kimchi, presented with newly-opened Powerhouse Parramatta.
As Koo cooks traditional dishes for two audience members, he weaves together funny, moving and sometimes absurd stories about migration, identity, racism and homesickness, which all link back to how food can connect us to home. Koo made history in 2026 as the youngest-ever and first Asian recipient of the prestigious International Ibsen Award, often regarded as theatre’s equivalent of the Nobel Prize, so his show is bound to be a hit.
Where: Powerhouse Parramatta, 34/47 Phillip St, Parramatta NSW 2150.
When: January 8-11.
Price: Tickets range from $49-$65 plus booking fee.
Tickets for Sydney Festival 2027 will officially go on sale on Thursday, October 22. You can secure yours by visiting the official Sydney Festival website here.
