The mainstay of Sydney’s high summer season, Sydney Festival, sails back this January with a first class line-up of World Premieres, extraordinary immersive experiences, cutting-edge public art, Australian exclusives, free events, trailblazing First Nations programming and an epic live music offering.
Once again, Sydneysiders and visitors are invited to rediscover their city differently – from parks to beaches, harbour inlets to retro fun parlours – proving there’s nowhere else but Sydney to experience an exhilarating summer of art.
From 5-28 January get ready for 24 days of music, performance, theatre, art, fashion, circus and dance right across Greater Sydney.
Te Wheke-a-Muturangi - Photo supplied
Featuring 26 World Premieres, 29 Australian exclusives, 15 co-commissioned works and 43 free events amidst an expansive program of local and international highlights, Sydney Festival will host more than 1,000 artists and over 150 events.
This year, Sydney’s iconic harbour will take centre stage, with works and events presented on – and in celebration of – water throughout January, including Puccini’s nautical one act opera, Il Tabarro, performed aboard the Carpentaria lightship, and live music from global roamers, Arka Kinari, whose bespoke sailing vessel serves as both their touring van and stage.
The 2024 event will kick off with a groundswell of luscious sound at Sydney Festival’s own mid-city music fest, Summerground in Tumbalong Park. International headliners, much-loved local acts and discoverable world music gems will turn up the heat as Summerground ushers in the festival’s opening weekend from 5-7 January across three big nights of deep soul, dirty funk, reggae, alt pop, indie rock, roots, R&B and plenty of beats, bleeps and horn sections to rattle the ice in your cup.
Seagulls - Photo supplied
Sydney Festival 2024 - Kid & family friendly FREE events include:
Te Wheke-a-Muturangi - Friday 5th January to Sunday 28th January 2024
Created by the multi-disciplinary Māori artist Lisa Reihana and made from more than 1000 pieces, the floating, majestic Te Wheke-a-Muturangi sculpture will take up residence in Watermans Cove, gently animated by harbour breezes and shifting currents, bathed in sunlight and moonglow.Sydney Symphony Under the Stars: Pictures in the Sky - Saturday 20th January 2024 at 8pm
The starlit summer concert you love is back with a soaring new program to lift this park picnic into the stratosphere. Enjoy original works featuring the didgeridoo magic of William Barton, joined by Aunty Delmae Barton, Véronique Serret and Iva Davies AM, and the transportive sitar playing of Anoushka Shankar. All in collaboration with Sydney Symphony Orchestra and guest conductor Benjamin Northey, who will bring it home with traditional classics and a big sparkly bang.Hive Festival: Art Gallery of NSW - Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th Jan 2024 from 10am to 5pm
This summer, explore a world of art, music, performance and play at Hive Festival, a free, fun-filled festival for children and families. At this buzzing, interactive event, come and get creative with hands-on workshops and immerse yourself in the magic of storytelling, with performances and talks for all ages.Hive Festival: Blacktown Arts - Friday 19th January 2024 from 10am to 5pm and Saturday 20th January from 10am to 8pm
Join the Sydney Festival at The Leo Kelly Blacktown Arts Centre for Hive Festival, two fun-filled days of hands-on art making, music, performance and play for children and families, Blacktown-style!Hive Festival: Trains by The Kids - Saturday 13th January to Saturday 20th January 2024
Attention to all passengers, welcome aboard Trains by The Kids, an all-stations audio adventure that will transport you on a journey from Sydney to Blacktown. Take a seat, lean back, tune in and relax. With each passing station a new chapter will unfold, revealing sounds and stories of big cities, neighbourhoods and dreams by The Kids. Embark at St James train station for this unmissable ride. We’re delighted to have you on board!Seagulls - Circular Quay – Friday 12th January at 11:30am / 1pm / 2:30pm
The Thirsty Mile – Saturday 13th January at 12:15pm / 2:15pm / 4pm
Bondi – Sunday 14th January at 9:45am / 11:45am / 1:15pm
Since 1992, Snuff Puppets have been unleashing their giant hand-made puppet spectacles on millions of people worldwide and the company has amassed a huge online following, racking up over 300 million views on its award-winning YouTube channel.Talking Posters: Garage Graphix 1981-1998 - 8th – 28th January: 10am – 9pm
Dive into a selection of screen-printed artworks, calendars and photographs alongside materials from the renowned ‘Garage’ in Mt Druitt in western Sydney.
Dinosaur World Live - Image Supplied
Sydney Festival 2024 - Family & Kid Friendly Fee Paying Events include:
A Bucket of Beetles - 9th to 13th January 2024 at Seymour Centre
Wehea is a little boy who lives in a big rainforest. Just like many other people who live there, he has a special connection with nature. Even the smallest beings in the forest are his friends. One day, Wehea meets a very special beetle – a rhinoceros beetle – and together they embark on an epic, life-changing adventure.Camp Culture - 12th to 14th Jan 2024 at Seymour Centre
Can the Kumbayas, throw on some Queen B and tip out the watered-down cordial and Milo – this is no gammin summer camp. Camp Culture is a join-in-the-fun circus show full of games and activities for any age.Dinosaur World Live - 18th to 20th Jan 2024 at Riverside Theatres
Dare to experience the dangers and delights of Dinosaur World Live in this roarsome interactive show for all the family.Octopus Garden - 22nd December to 5th Feb 2024 at Australian National Maritime Museum
Dive into the mesmerising world of one of the ocean’s most enigmatic creatures. Play, hunt and hide in the Octopus Garden at the Australian National Maritime Museum.Sugung-ga: The Other side of the World at ATYP, The Rebel Theatre (The Thirsty Mile)
Perfect for audiences five years and up, the charming Sugung-ga is mesmerising storytelling for all ages.The Listies: Make Some Noise - 3rd to 13th Jan 2024 at Bondi Pavilion
A hilarious mixtape of silly songs, zany sketches and classic clowning. For over a decade the award-winning Listies have toured the world doing shows for literally gazillions of kidults (that’s kids and their adults). Now it’s your turn.The King of Taking - 12th to 14th Jan 2024 at Bell Shakespeare, The Neilson Nutshell (The Thirsty Mile)
Devised and performed by Thom Monckton, whose The Artist was a highlight of Sydney Festival 2023, The King of Taking is another brilliantly funny and physical solo performance from New Zealand’s clown prince.
Free & paid events.
Hive Festival: Art Gallery of NSW - Image Supplied