Sydney Festival 2025: Everything to See, Do & Experience

Call us biased, but Sydney is one of the most amazing cities in the world – and it shines brightest in the summertime. Every year, like clockwork, Sydney Festival reminds us of just how culturally diverse and lively this city is – and 2025’s edition is set to take it up another notch, once again led by Festival Director Olivia Ansell for her fourth and final year at the helm.

The three-week festival begins on Friday 4th January, with a steady stream of 130+ ticketed and free events including music, theatre, dance, opera, visual arts, ideas and family fun. In true Sydney Festival style, the schedule features an exceptional line-up of talent, introducing new names, boasting some serious star power and launching world premieres.

To help curate your Sydney Festival 2025 itinerary, here is a round-up of the best events and things to do from shows at Sydney and Darlinghurst to Bondi and Parramatta.

A Model Murder

Step back 70 years with this funny and immersive courtroom drama by playwright Melanie Tait and co-writer Sheridan Harbridge, where scandal, glitz, and a murder trial take centre stage. On a glamorous Sydney night in 1954, model Shirley Beiger confronted her boyfriend Arthur Griffith outside a ritzy nightclub - he said he was at the dentist, but another woman told a different story. When the gun went off, headlines exploded... 

4th to 19th January 

Buy your tickets here.

Darlinghurst Courthouse, 138 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst

Dark Noon

The thought-provoking Dark Noon flips the Wild West on its head, reimagining American history as absurd, horrifying, and deeply moving.

Set on red prairie dirt, South African actors build a pioneer town in real time, shattering Hollywood tropes with biting satire and jaw-dropping stagecraft. Cowboys, natives, enslaved workers and missionaries collide in this fearless ride through history.

Get your tickets here.

9th to 23rd January 

Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney

BullyBully

A show the whole family will love, BullyBully is a hilarious musical told West-Side-Story-style. Follow two adults yet to grow up as they compete to prove their kingdom is best. Created by René Greelings, kids and adults will laugh through skits of hissy fits, childish squabbles and shouting competitions. 

7th to 12th January

Get your tickets here.

Riverside Theatres, Lennox Theatre Corner Church and Market Streets Parramatta

Siegfried & Roy: The Unauthorised Opera

The neon lights of Las Vegas are calling! Dive into the dazzling rise and dramatic fall of magic’s iconic duo, Siegfried and Roy. From war-torn Germany to the Vegas spotlight, their story is packed with wild twists, tigers, and tragedy. With powerhouse vocals, live magic, and playful humour, this glittering opera promises one unforgettable night.

8th January to 25th January

Buy your tickets here. 

Sydney Theatre Company, Wharf 1 Theatre (The Thirsty Mile) Wharf 4/5, 15 Hickson Road

Sydney Symphony Under the Stars

Nothing says summer quite like a concert in the park and this year's show promises to be impeccable. Pack a picnic and spread out your rug before enjoying Tchaikovksy's symphonies performed by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, with the show coming to a spectacular close with an epic fireworks display.

18th January 

Free event.

The Crescent, Paramatta Park 

Moonshine Bar

Proving you don't need to spend big to enjoy the fun and creativity of Sydney Fest, hang harbourside at Moonshine Bar, where 12 nights of free live music set the tone with resident DJs and musical acts.

Expect a diverse lineup covering everything from queer pop, oceanic sounds, Afro-beats and old-school hits bound to bring a hit of nostalgia to your evening.

Various nights from January 5th - 25th

The full lineup and dates are available here.

Moonshine Bar (The Thirsty Mile) Pier 2/3, 15 Hickson Road

KATMA

blending influences from Sudanese slang and Australia’s party culture with iconic scenes, KATMA dives into the high-octane energy of hard partying with an immersive dance experience that erases the boundaries between audience and performers, pulling you onto the metaphorical dancefloor with electrifying dancers.

Celebrating the rich traditions of African heritage and the Latino and LGBTQIOA+ communities, feel the rhythm and get lost in movement as you discover hip-hop, house and Afro-dancing styles.

15th to 19th January

Get your tickets here.

Bell Shakespeare, The Neilson Nutshell (The Thirsty Mile) Pier 2/3, 13A Hickson Road

The Chronicles

Created by one of Australia's most talented choreographers, Stephanie Lake, The Chronicles is a moment of catharsis, hope and transformation. Twelve talented dancers move to an electro-acoustic soundtrack, combining explosive movement with poetic reflection that explores life's cycles and inevitable changes. Prepare to be drawn in and moved by this beautifully crafted masterpiece. 

16th to 19th January 

Get your tickets here.

Roslyn Packer Theatre, 22 Hickson Road 

Stories From Here

Immerse yourself in the streets of Bankstown, plugging in your headphones and listening to personal stories to see the suburb through the eyes of the young adults who call it home. Scan QR codes to listen to Stories From Here on a self-guided tour or virtually. A brilliant way to gain a fresh perspective... and get your steps in!

18th - 19th January

5 Olympic Parade, Bankstown

The Whale

The whale has long been a special symbol for cultures, finding a place in stories and legends around the globe. Those who have seen the spectacle firsthand know nothing is more majestic than spotting a whale in the water.

At Bondi Pavilion Courtyard, The Whale is suspended and moving as if on migration, surrounded by marine creatures and an oceanic soundscape the whole family will love. As night falls, a light display transforms the space, immersing visitors in an underwater world. 

Free event.

4th to 12th January

Bondi Pavilion, Queen Elizabeth Drive, Bondi Beach

Telly Tuita: The Ta and Va of Tongpop

Tonga-born visual artist Telly Tuita was raised in Western Sydney, and this year, his vibrant 'Tongpop' artwork will be splashed throughout the festival, from iconic totems and digital screens inside the Moonshine Bar to an art wonderland at the Colour Maze in collaboration with Amigo & Amigo.

Perhaps the best work will be seen on the SS John Oxley, which will be transformed with Tuita's textiles and patterns in a striking display of colour that reflects his Pacific heritage and the bright lights of Sydney.

Saturday 4th January to Sunday 26th January

Free event.

The Thirsty Mile, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Dawes Point

Did you love this edit of events not to miss at Sydney Festival 2025? Keep up with what's happening in town with our monthly guide and new venue openings.