One of the best things about Sydney is how much there is to do throughout the year. Sydney’s calendar of major events means there is always something to look forward to.
From the nightly spectacle of Vivid Sydney as autumn becomes winter, to whale watching throughout winter and spring, to the party to end all parties that is a harbourside summer New Year’s Eve: Sydney knows how entertain.
These major Sydney events provide the perfect opportunity to enjoy a staycation, or show off the best of the city to visiting guests.
Calendar at the ready—here’s what’s happening in Sydney in 2026.
Sydney in January
Outdoor Cinema
Summer in Sydney is outdoor cinema season. And you have plenty of options to choose from. The iconic outdoor cinema experience in Sydney is undoubtedly Westpac OpenAir thanks to its location overlooking the city skyline, Sydney Opera House, and Sydney Harbour Bridge at Mrs Macquaries Point. There are also outdoor cinemas located in various locations across Sydney including Barangaroo, The Rocks, Centennial Park, Darling Quarter, and North Sydney.
Sydney Festival
Since 1977 Sydney Festival has been entertaining Sydneysiders with a packed program of events all over Sydney, from Walsh Bay to Manly, Parramatta, and Bankstown. Theatre, music, dance, visual art, and all sorts of live performance find a home at Sydney Festival.
Yabun Festival
Yabun Festival takes places each year on the January long weekend at Victoria Park on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people. It’s a one-day community-led festival of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and features a program of live music, dance, talks and panel discussions, cultural workshops, and more.
Harbourfest
A popular event over the January long weekend is Harbourfest. People gather all around the foreshore to watch the boats take to Sydney Harbour for a full day of festivities including the crowd-favourite: Ferrython, when four of Sydney’s iconic ferries get all decked out and engage in a fun face across the harbour. Find out what’s happening throughout the day at Harbourfest here.
Sydney in February
Lunar New Year
There’s plenty of ways to celebrate Lunar New Year in Sydney, and one of the most popular is at the Sydney Lunar Festival. The festival has a program offering up more than 2 weeks of celebrations as the streets of the city come alive with performances including lion dances, people take to the water in dragon boats, and there’s plenty of art, music, and food too.
Mardi Gras Fair Day
The Mardi Gras festival kicks off in February with Fair Day at Victoria Park. There’s something for the entire community at Fair Day with the First Nations Circle opening festivities with a smoking ceremony, followed by a day of live music and dancing, talks, family fun, and the crowd-favourite Doggywood Pageant.
Twilight at Taronga
The Twilight at Taronga open-air concert series sees musical artists take to the stage with a backdrop of Sydney Harbour and the city skyline. Concert venue views don’t get much better than that. In 2026 the Twilight at Taronga line-up includes Emma Memma to keep the little ones happy, as well as Sons of the East, Xavier Rudd, and the enduringly popular Bjorn Again.
Mardi Gras Parade
Born out of a courageous show of pride and solidarity in 1978, the Sydney Mardi Gras Parade has grown into is celebration that attracts thousands of spectators. Oxford St is filled with hundreds of floats and thousands of marchers in costumes showcasing every colour of the rainbow. Leading the march are the First Nations communities, the Dykes on Bikes, and of course, those who started it all, the 78ers. The 2026 theme in Ecstatica.
Sydney in March
Lakemba Nights during Ramadan
Every year during Ramadan, Lakemba plays host to a popular month long celebration organisers describe as a global food bazaar with over 60 food stalls. Ramadan is a special time of year for Muslim.
During Ramadan, many Muslims will fast from dawn until dusk. Come evening, they will break their fast with an evening meal, known as iftar. Lakemba Nights during Ramadan provides a community-wide opportunity to eat and gather. And whether you’re breaking your Ramadan fast or simply curious and keen to enjoy the incredible food on offer, you’re welcome at Lakemba Nights during Ramadan.
Footy Season Kicks Off
Whether you’re an NRL or AFL fan, March means the start of footy season. The season runs right through winter with finals happening in September. Rug up in your favourite team’s colours and head to a stadium to all the action live. See Manly Sea Eagles at 4 Pines Park, West Tigers at Leichhardt, the Roosters at Allianz, the Dragons at Jubilee, Parramatta Eels and Penrith Panthers at CommBank, Souths at Accor, the Bulldogs at Belmore, and for the AFL fans, the Swans at the SCG.
Holi Festival
Holi is a Hindu festival often referred to as the festival of colours. Typically celebrated in India, Holi marks the end of winter and beginning of spring, and while the timing’s not quite right from a seasonal respect, the Sydney celebrations still capture an atmosphere of fun and community. The Sydney Holi Festival is a two-day celebration featuring live music, dancing, performances, food stalls, and of course, plenty of colour.
St Patrick’s Day Festival & Parade
Ready for a long weekend of letting the Irish show you how to have a good time? Head to The Rocks for Sydney St Patrick’s Day celebrations. Don’t miss the annual Sydney St. Patrick’s Day Parade as it makes its way from Martin Place to Circular Quay, followed by live music, Irish dancing, children’s entertainment, plus market and food stalls. The festivities continue in The Rocks on Monday and Tuesday with Irish brekky and live music at The Orient.
Sydney in April
Sydney Royal Easter Show
The Sydney Royal Easter Show is when the country comes to the city. Established in 1823, this long-running annual event features attractions and entertainment including woodchopping, carnival rides, showbags, animals in the pet pavilion and farmyard nursery, and of course, scones with jam and cream at the Country Women’s Association Tea Room.
Anzac Day
Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance and commemoration. It is marked by dawn services at locations across the country. In Sydney, thousands of people come together at the Cenotaph in Martin Place.
Sydney in May
Sydney Writers’ Festival
Sydney Writers’ Festival brings together readers and writers for a celebration of ideas. The program includes workshops, talks by authors, panel discussions, and the. The NSW Literary Awards, held at the State Library of NSW, also forms part of the Sydney Writers’ Festival program.
While we await the release of the 2026 program, some highlights of the Sydney Writers’ Festival program in 2025 included Jeanette Winterson on her writing life, Jess Hill on stopping family violence, Näku Dhäruk The Bark Petitions with Clare Wright, a panel on Stories of Palestine, and Why We Sleep featuring Professor Matthew Walker (hosted in partnership with Vivid Sydney).
Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney is back in 2026 with plenty to look forward to for the millions who’ll descend on the city during the festival’s three week run. The Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge will be light up each night from 6pm, but there’s plenty more to see.
While we await the release of the 2026 program, in 2025 we enjoyed Firetalk at Barangaroo to Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line, Flower Power in Martin Place, and Tumbalong Nights at Darling Harbour. There’s talks, dining experiences, live entertainment, and of course the dazzling spectacle of lights illuminating buildings throughout central Sydney.
Sydney in June
Vivid Sydney
Vivid continues to light up Sydney for the first two weeks of June. With lights on from 6pm, Vivid Sydney is the ideal way to shake off the work day and slip into a world of spectacle and dreams.
Winter Solstice
Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year. In Sydney (and right across the Southern Hemisphere) it takes place on 21 June, when our side of the Earth is tilted furthest from the sun, resulting in less daylight hours. Each year, various events are hosted in Sydney to mark winter solstice.
Details of 2026 events will be released closer to the date. In 2025, one such event was Winter Solstice at Elizabeth Bay House, hosted at sunrise by Museums of History NSW. On the other side of the harbour, Q Station in Manly organised a full day of Winter Solstice activities including sauna, yoga, sound healing, ice baths, DJ sessions, and a Scandinavian buffet.
Sydney in July
NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC Week recognises the contribution, history, and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. NAIDOC, which stands for National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee, is marked by the NAIDOC Week Awards Ceremony as well as many local events.
Bondi Festival
Bondi comes alive this winter with a packed program of events for Bondi Festival. The 2026 program hasn’t yet been released, but in 2025 we heard music from Meg Washington, were entertained by Betty Grumble, skated at the Bondi Festival ice rink, rode the Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel, and so much more. It’s all happening again in and around Bondi Pavilion down at Bondi Beach from Friday 3 July until Sunday 19 July.
Whale Watching
Each year during winter and spring, tens of thousands of whales migrate along the coast off Sydney. Come July, with winter well and truly underway in Sydney, if you’re looking for an excuse to rug up and head outdoors, whale watching is for you. Whether you pack the binoculars and head to Sydney Heads or take to the ocean on a whale watching boat tour, you’ll be delighted when you spot the whales making their annual journey along the east coast of Australia.
Bankstown Bites
Bankstown Bites Food Festival is a delicious day-long celebration. Head to Bankstown to enjoy food stalls, cooking demonstrations, and walking tours for foodies.
Sydney in August
Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival
Every August the Auburn Botanic Gardens play host to the cherry blossom bloom that draws visitors from all over the city. As you admire the pink blooms, you can also enjoy Japanese cuisine from the food stalls, and be entertained by the live music performances. This family-friendly event is always very busy so be sure to book your ticket early and be patient during your visit to the gardens.
City 2 Surf
This iconic Sydney run sees tens of thousands of people rise early to make the annual journey from Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach. It’s the world’s largest fun run and whether you’re a runner or spectator you’ll enjoy the variety of fancy dress and costumes that fill the City 2 Surf field.
Ferragosto Festival
Ferragosto Festival is an annual celebration of Italian food and culture that sees Five Dock filled with market stalls, live entertainment, and lots and lots of people. When you head to Ferragosto Festival you can be sure you’ll find something delicious to eat and you’ll have a fun day out.
Sydney in September
Festival of the Winds
The Festival of the Winds is a kite flying festival that started back in 1978. It’s now Australia’s largest kite flying festival and the annual event sees people descend on Bondi Beach to fly kites together—from excited kids to professionals with some of the most impressive kites you’ll ever see. This is the only time of year kites are permitted to fly on Bondi Beach, so don’t miss your chance to get in on the action.
Night at the Barracks
The Night at the Barracks concert series is hosted on North Head in Manly. The outdoor concerts draws tens of thousands of attendees and in past years the line up has included Pete Murray, Jon Stevens, Xavier Rudd, and Missy Higgins.
Cabramatta Moon Festival
Moon festivals are traditionally a harvest festival that aligns with the full moon. In Sydney, the popular Cabramatta Moon Festival is a celebration of Southeast Asian culture that features live performances, food stalls, and family friendly activities.
Sydney in October
Jacarada Season
For a few glorious spring months Sydney turns purple as the Jacaranda trees bloom in locations right across the city. From the insta-famous McDougall St in Kirribilli to the framed-by-icons view from Cahill Walk above Circular Quay, plus Town Hall, Oxford St in Paddington near Victoria Barracks (not far from the wonderful Paddington Reservoir Gardens), and Parramatta Park.
NRL Grand Final
Footy season reaches fever pitch as the best of the best go head-to-head in the NRL and NRLW Grand Final at Accor Stadium at Sydney Olympic Stadium.
Transport Heritage Expo
A celebration of heritage trains, buses, and boats, the Transport Heritage Expo is your opportunity to get a glimpse into what travel used to be like.
See the steam engines fire up, browse exhibits and watch live performances at Central Station, and climb aboard the heritage buses and ferries for a memorable journey around Sydney.
SXSW Sydney
South by South West (SXSW) Sydney is a week-long conference and festival of creativity and innovation in the form of talks, workshops, live performances, film screenings, and events. SXSW is ticketed but there’s also a free program of daily events centred around Tumbalong Park.
Sculpture by the Sea
Every spring the Bondi to Coogee walk is transformed into the world’s largest free public sculpture exhibition. Sculpture by the Sea at Bondi sees the coastal walk between Bondi beach and Tamarama beach lined with sculptures created by local and international artists.
Parramatta Lanes
For four nights Parramatta plays host to Sydney’ biggest free street festival where you can enjoy live music across 10 stages featuring 200 artists, food from over 80 stalls, art installations, and an unbeatable atmosphere. Don’t miss Parramatta Lanes this October.
Norton Street Italian Festa
Sydney’s own Little Italy plays host to the Norton Street Italian Festa each year. The event has been running since 1986 and in recent years has seen almost 200,000 people pack Norton St for a day of live performances, family friendly entertainment, and stalls offering up a mouthwatering range of food and drink.
Ghost in The Rocks
Get spooky this Halloween with Ghost in The Rocks. This Halloween street festival takes place in Sydney’s oldest colonial neighbourhood and includes a four-stop ‘haunted crawl’ on the Halloween cocktail trail, Ghost Cinema, Giant Trick or Treat Lolly Hunt, Halloween Market, and a Halloween Street Parade.
Sydney in November
Sydney Open
Each year Sydney Open provides an opportunity to peek inside architecturally interesting buildings across Sydney. Many of the spaces made available during Sydney Open are not ordinarily open to the public.
Buildings included in the Sydney Open program in previous years include the Sirius Building in The Rocks, 50 Martin Place, White Bay Power Station, and Mortuary Station near Central. Sydney Open is hosted by Museums of History NSW.
Laneway Cinema in The Rocks
The bean bags and deck chairs are set in the historic cobblestone laneway as outdoor cinema season kicks off in the heart of The Rocks. While we await the details of the 2026 season, in 2025 we saw Wednesday nights from November through February become movie night at Laneway Cinema in The Rocks.
During the 2025 season, entry was free with walk-ins welcome, but to secure a spot you could register weekly from the Monday for that Wednesday night’s movie. And yes, you could purchase popcorn and drinks (or BYO food and non-alc drinks from nearby venues in The Rocks).
Martin Place Christmas Tree
An icon of Christmas in Sydney, the Martin Place Christmas Tree is a mainstay of the festive season. It’s the largest Christmas Tree in NSW and you can see it lit up in all its festive glory every evening between 8pm and 11:55pm from Thursday 27 November.
Sydney in December
Carols by the Sea at Bondi
The festive season is in full swing with Carols by the Sea at Bondi. Embrace summer and the countdown to Christmas with an evening of carol singing, kids activities, and a whole lot of community spirit.
Jolly Sydney’s Christmas Night Markets
If you didn’t knock out your Christmas shopping during the Black Friday sales, your next best bet is to get into the festive spirit and pick up something special at Sydney’s Christmas Night Markets. You’ll find all sorts of goodies created by Australian makers, as well as gourmet good, and some of the best wine from the state’s top wine regions. While we await details of the 2026 markets, in 2025 the Christmas markets were open weekdays from 4pm until 10:30pm and weekends from 11am until 10:30pm.
Darling Harbour Christmas Festival
Family friendly Christmas entertainment comes to Tumbalong Park for the Darling Harbour Christmas Festival. Enjoy live entertainment, roving performers, sing-a-longs, and a visit from Santa.
Christmas Concert at Taronga
Get amongst the festive cheer at Taronga Zoo’s family friendly Christmas Concert. Enjoy an evening of carol singing and entertainment from the zoo’s scenic vantage point overlooking Sydney Harbour. Funds raised from ticket sales support the zoo’s work protecting wildlife.
Carols in the Domain
Singalong this festive season at Sydney’s biggest annual carols celebration hosted in The Domain. Enjoy carols led by star-studded cast.
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
With Christmas done and dusted, Boxing Day is all about eating leftovers and watching the start of the Sydney to Hobart. And whether you’re packing a picnic to pitch up on South Head and see the yachts sail by, or simply finding yourself a spot in front of the tellie at home or your local, the spectacle of Sydney to Hobart is not to be missed.
New Year’s Eve
New Year’s Eve is Sydney’s night of night. While NYE is celebrated all over the world, no one does New Years quite like Sydney. Among the world’s first cities to ring in the new year, Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations centre around the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. People line up for hours to score harbour front vantage points to witness the world’s greatest annual fireworks display as they farewell the year that was and welcome the year to come.
