As New Year’s hangovers wear off, Sydney starts to slip into its prime months. Summer is kind of our thing, and you’ll see the city at its very best over the next few weeks. We know January can sometimes feel like the Monday of the year, but there’s plenty of action to help keep the city feeling alive and exciting over the next fee weeks.
Best things to do in Sydney this January
1. Culture: Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival this year offers more than 130 free and ticketed events across music, dance, performance and much more. There are plenty of family friendly events like Hive Festival and the Swing! Circus, as well the The Whale by Spare Parts Puppet Theatre. If you’re looking to treat your ears, you can catch Katie Noonan paying tribute to Jeff Buckley, local jazz by Ruby Jackson or a performance by Erratic Ecstatic. Theatre-wise some highlights include the true crime thriller of Model Murder and ‘Converted!’, a disco musical.
There’s so much to get across if you want to make the most of Sydney Festival. We’ve made it a bit easier for you when our top highlights of the program.
Where: Various
When: January 4 – 26, 2025
Price: Differs by event
2. Family Fun: Summer in The Rocks
There’s no better time to get out to The Rocks than when the sun is shining and the air is warm, making The Rocks series of free summer events perfect for a day out. There are all sorts of events, many centred around wellbeing and community for a happy and healthy summer.
For example, every Tuesday morning you can lace up your shoes and join the run club at First Fleet Park. For something more relaxing, but equally healthy, there’s free yoga classes every Sunday at Dawes Point Park. You’ll also find free community picnics here on Saturdays and Sundays. Between outdoor cinema, music workshops and open air markets, there’s plenty more to discover for a classic day by the harbour.
A full list of events can be found at the official The Rocks website.
Where: The Rocks NSW 2000
When: Various dates
Price: Free
3. Dance: Sunset Sessions at Cockatoo Island
Kicking off in January are Sunset Sessions at Cockatoo Island: live music in the heart of harbour. From January 11th, the relaxed outdoor dance series will be happening every Saturday. In addition to a rotating roster of live music and DJs, there’ll be food and drink stores lining the historic island. Across January you’ll be able to catch artists like Father’s Favourite, Surely Shirley, Saray Skyes, Azure Ryder and more.
Where: Cockatoo Island, Sydney Harbour
When: Saturdays from January 11th
Price: $35
4. Movies: Flickerfest
Sydney and our iconic Bondi Beach are home to the one of the worlds most famous short film festivals, and this year is the 34th edition of Flickerfest. On the shores of Bondi you can choose between 215 different short films, competing across 24 different categories. The films were picked from more than 3500 entries, so you know you’re seeing the best of the best.
Where: Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach, NSW, 2026
When: January 17 – 26, 2025
Price: Varies by ticket
5. Music: Yabun Festival + Black Powerhouse
On the 26th of January, Yabun Festival takes place to celebrate the culture and survival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures. There are plenty of live music acts such as Electric Fields, JK-47, Baarka and more, as well as food stalls, cultural activities. Plus there’s an official afterparty to extend the celebrations; you can continue the vibe at the powerhouse museum with Black Powerhouse. Here you’ll find more music and DJs into the night as well weaving workshops, film screenings and food trucks.
Where: Victoria Park + The Powerhouse Museum; 500 Harris St, Ultimo NSW 2007
When: January 26 from 10am
Price: Free
6. Exhibition: Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru
The big blockbuster exhibition at Australian Museum right is a lovingly rich, multi-sensory time capsule taking audiences to ancient Peru. The dramatic culture of Machu Picchu is picked apart and analysed throughout this beautifully conceived exhibition, which features hundreds of ancient treasures along with an incredible display of Peruvian gold. With the exhibition entering its final few weeks, January is the perfect time to head along and experience another world.
Where: 1 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
When: Until February 2025
Price: $43
8. Drink: Pier Bar
Throughout the whole of January you can head out to the beach club meets harbour views experience of Pool by Pier Bar. Essentially Pier Bar has added in a pop-up netted swimming pool, meaning guests of the bar can take a dip in the harbour, and decked out the pier with some extra furnishings for good measure. It’s the perfect environment for a summer day drink with a couple of friends, and there’s no entry price; just a minimum spend.
Where: 11 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000
When: Jan 1-31, 2025
Price: Minimum spend of $75 per person for groups of 10+
9. Movies: Westpac OpenAir Cinema
Sydney loves flexing its magnificent climate with outdoor cinema, and Westpac OpenAir might just have the best views of any on offer. From the January 9 until mid-February, Sydneysiders will be able to watch movies while the Harbour Bridge and Opera House stand strong in the backdrop. From newly released movies like A Real Pain to classics like Bridget Jones Diary, there’s a range of flicks planned for the big screen in addition to premium food and beverage pop-ups to complete the experience.
Where: Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney NSW 2000
When: January 9 – February 18, 2025
Price: $26
10. Music: Candlelight Concerts
Candlelight Concerts have been offering a new way to consume music across the world. These candlelit concerts create a uniquely intimate ambiance for tributes to artists, movies, cultures and more. Throughout January the Sydney Masonic Centre will be home to everything from from tributes of Taylor Swift to Hans Zimmer. With an extremely diverse selection of sounds, have a look through their page and you’ll surely find something that captures your heart.
Where: 66 Goulburn St, Sydney NSW 2000
When: January 1-31, 2025
Price: From $38
11. Musical: Titanique
Titanique has been the big sleeper hit of the 2024 when it comes to stage shows in Sydney. The complex, hilarious and inventive rework of Titanic spliced with the music of Celine Dion has been such a massive hit that it’s original limited season was blown out until March. That means you’ve got plenty of new chances to catch the musical that everyone is talking about, and one which we unashamedly gloated over in our official review.
Where: 199 Cleveland St, Surry Hills NSW 2016
When: Until March 30, 2025
Price: From $80
12. Exhibition: Magritte
Rene Margritte is one of the world’s most celebrated surrealist artists, and a large collection of the Belgian’s works are being shown in Australia for the first time at the Art Gallery of NSW. With pieces spanning almost 50 years of his works, guests are able to map his journey from his innovative work in the 20s, right up until final works that were finished shortly before his death in 1967. Expect to see everyday objects and settings reimagined in ways you’ve never thought to perceive them.
Where: Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
When: Until February 9
Price: $30
