Sydney Festival 2026
A city-wide celebration of art, music and ideas, unfolding across Sydney each summer
Each January, Sydney Festival invites the city to look at itself a little differently. Across parks, theatres, streets and public spaces, the festival brings together Australian and international artists for weeks of performance, music and visual art that feel distinctly of the season.
From free outdoor events to ticketed theatre, orchestral performances to immersive installations, Sydney Festival is designed to be dipped into as much as it is planned around. Some experiences stop you mid-walk, others reward a booked seat and a full evening out.
In 2026, the festival marks 50 years of creativity, celebrating the curiosity, experimentation and storytelling that have shaped its legacy. Staying at Hotel Woolstore 1888 places you close to Darling Harbour and well connected to many of the festival’s key precincts, while offering a relaxed place to return between events.
Music under summer skies and late into the night
Music plays a central role in the festival program, from large-scale outdoor concerts to late-night dance floors.
One of the most loved moments returns with Sydney Symphony Under the Stars, a free outdoor concert at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour. Set beneath the summer sky, the evening combines powerful First Nations orchestral work with a journey through 50 years of Sydney Festival history.
For something more contemporary, Disco Never Dies brings disco classics to life with full orchestral backing at the Hordern Pavilion, while music events like Nooriyah & DJ Habibeats transform festival nights into high-energy celebrations that blur the line between concert and party.
Theatre, stories and unexpected stages
Sydney Festival is known for turning unexpected spaces into stages, and 2026 continues that tradition with bold, story-driven performances.
Mama Does Derby, a world premiere at Sydney Town Hall, transforms the iconic space into a full-scale roller derby track for a heartfelt and hilarious mother-daughter story that blends theatre, sport and live music. Elsewhere, talks, workshops and masterclasses like Cabaret is Crafting invite audiences behind the scenes, offering insight into the creative process itself.
These are performances that move easily between intimacy and spectacle, often in spaces you wouldn’t expect.
Blak Out: stories of gathering, strength and culture
A defining part of Sydney Festival is Blak Out, a program dedicated to First Nations voices, stories and ways of gathering. Blak Out reminds us that we gather because we must. It’s who we are. When we gather, we remember our strength.
Events across the program include The Bogong’s Song: A Call to Country at PHIVE, Redfern Renaissance, and Ursula Yovich Sings Nina Simone, each offering powerful expressions of culture, history and contemporary storytelling. These works sit at the heart of the festival, inviting reflection, connection and shared experience.
Free events, ticketed highlights and everything in between
A defining feature of Sydney Festival is its balance. Alongside headline performances, the program includes public art installations, talks, film screenings, family-friendly events and free experiences designed to be discovered as you move through the city.
Whether you build a full itinerary or follow your curiosity on the day, there’s always something happening nearby.
For full program details, dates and ticket information, we recommend visiting the official Sydney Festival website to explore what’s on and plan your visit.
Your Woolstore base
After a day or night at Sydney Festival, Hotel Woolstore 1888 offers a calmer counterpoint. Return to heritage spaces, generous rooms and the familiar warmth of Percy downstairs. It’s an easy place to pause, recharge and head back out when the city calls again.
Sydney Festival is expansive, creative and ever-changing. Staying somewhere grounded, character-filled and well connected lets you experience it at your own pace.