WHAT'S ON IN SYDNEY

2026

1 January - 26 January

Sydney Festival is the city’s Summer celebration of culture, bursting into January with world-class theatre, music, dance and art - transforming the city into a playground of bold ideas and unforgettable performances.

2026

12 February - 12 March

Celebrate the Year of the Horse

Sydney will light up the city celebrating the Year of the Horse with over 80 vibrant events. From dazzling lanterns and dragon boat races to street feasts and lion dances, it’s a joyful fusion of tradition and creativity that transforms Sydney into a multicultural celebration of Lunar New Year.

2026

13 February - 1 March

Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Grax is one of the world’s most iconic LGBTQIA+ celebrations - a bold, proud and vibrant festival that turns the city into a rainbow of unity, culture and joy. The festival runs annually and spans over 2 weeks of exciting events, performances, talks and parties, culminating in the world famous Mardi Gras Parade where Oxford Street erupts in colour, sequins, music and powerful messages of equality.

2026

2 April - 13 April

The Sydney Royal Easter Show is Australia’s biggest annual event, blending country tradition with city fun - livestock shows, carnival rides, showbags and epic entertainment all coming together for a vibrant celebration of agriculture and family.

2026

25 April

The Anzac Day Dawn Service at Martin Place is one of Sydney’s most solemn and significant annual ceremonies, held on 25th April, to honour the courage and sacrifice of Australian and New Zealand service members. Held at the Cenotaph in Martin Place, the service begins at 4.20am, marking the time the first ANZAC troops landed in Gallipoli in 1915.

2026

18 May - 24 May

The Sydney Writers’ Festival is Australia’s biggest celebration of literature, bringing together top authors, thinkers and storytellers for a week of bold conversations, inspiring talks, and powerful ideas, right in the heart of the city.

2026

22 May - 13 June

Light up your nights - Vivid Sydney is where art, music and ideas electrify the city! Vivid is Australia’s largest festival of light, music, ideas and food - transforming the city into a glowing, multi-sensory playground over 23 dazzling nights

2026

3 June - 14 June

The Sydney Film Festival is a premier celebration of cinema, showcasing bold new films, international hits and local gems - uniting film lovers for two weeks of unforgettable storytelling on the big screen.

2026

9 August

Sydney’s City2Surf is the world’s biggest fun run - a 14km coastal dash from Hyde Park to Bondi Beach, blending fitness, festival vibes, and iconic views in one epic event.

2026

30 August

The Sydney Marathon is a world-class race through one of the world’s most stunning cities, with runners crossing the Harbour Bridge and finishing at the Opera House - epic views, serious endurance and unforgettable energy.

2026

17 October - 3 November

Sculpture by the Sea is the world’s largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition, transforming Sydney’s iconic 2km Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk into a stunning open-air gallery each Spring. Featuring over 100 sculptures by artists from around the globe, it draws around 450,000 visitors over 18 days, blending art, nature and ocean views into an unforgettable cultural experience.

2026

31 December

Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks are a spectacular celebration, illuminating the city with vibrant displays and drawing over a million spectators along the harbour foreshore. The event features two major shows, the 9pm and the iconic midnight fireworks which light up the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House and surrounding areas.