What to do in Sydney this summer
Warm nights and huge events call for celebration – see our picks for summer in Sydney.
December
Santa’s sleigh makes its way through Pitt Street Mall
Christmas in Sydney
Make the most of our city at its festive best. Free concerts in your neighbourhood, an interactive Christmas tree and Christmas markets are just some of the highlights of Sydney Christmas.
New Year’s Eve Sydney
New Year’s Eve
How will you bring in the new year? Sydney is one of the first cities in the world to reach midnight, and obviously our parties are up there with the best. Start planning your celebration.
January
Sydney Festival Village 2017. Pic: Katherine Griffiths
Sydney Festival
What comes after New Year’s Eve? In Sydney, we always start the year by soaking up the best of Sydney Festival. In 2018, you can build your own sculpture from discarded toys, catch an underwater concert and help to symbolically return 4,000 fish to Sydney Harbour.
Australia Day Ferrython
Australia Day
Prepare for a sun-drenched celebration of our nation, starting with a smoking ceremony on Sydney Harbour. Full details to be announced closer to the date.
Yabun Festival 2017. Pic: Joseph Mayers
Yabun Festival
Reclaim 26 January with a celebration of First Nations cultures. Yabun Festival is the largest 1-day celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures in Australia. The first artists have been announced and include Troy Cassar Daley, Joe Geia, Kardajala Kirridarra and Electric Fields. Stay tuned for more details.
IceBar Sydney
Heat starting to get to you? Experience Arctic temperatures in the heart of the city at IceBar Sydney.
February
The Pig Lunar Lantern, 2017
Chinese New Year
Celebrate the Year of the Dog in Sydney. The Lunar Lanterns return to Circular Quay and there will be a few surprises in store too.
Pic: @samyeldham via Instagram
Valentine’s Day
Can you feel that? It’s love in the air. Check out our favourite romantic things to do in Sydney this Valentine’s Day.
All summer long
Prince Alfred Park Pool
Cool off in our city’s pools
Pack your swimsuit wherever you go and sneak in a quick dip at one of Sydney’s pools.
Observatory Hill Park has a spectacular view
Chill out in our city’s parks
Pack a picnic and dine alfresco in your local park. It’s hands down the best way to end a weekday.
Pic: @carriageworksfarmersmarket via Instagram
Shop local at our city’s markets
Stone fruits and melons are some of the best things about summer. Pick up the freshest of the bunch at your local market. Here are some of our favourite markets stocking food, fashion and other treasures.
A day at the cricket
What’s summer without a visit to the SCG? The Big Bash series returns this summer so grab your hat and your mates for a great Aussie tradition.
Moonlight Cinema
Catch a flick at an outdoor cinema
Balmy evenings call for outdoor fun. You’ve got your pick of outdoor cinemas this summer, including American Express Openair Cinemas at Sydney University, Sunset Cinema in North Sydney and Moonlight Cinema in Centennial Parklands.
Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age
See stunning paintings from the masters at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age is the first major exhibition in Sydney of the great Dutch painters of the 17th century. Buy a Sydney International Art Pass to save on your ticket price to Pippiloti Rist and Rembrandt and the Dutch Golden Age.
Pipilotti Rist, ‘Pixelwald Motherboard ‘, 2016, installation view, Pipilotti Rist: Your Saliva is my Diving Suit in the Ocean of Pain, Kunsthaus Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland, 2016, courtesy the artist, Hauser & Wirth and Luhring Augustine © the artist, photo: Lena Hubler
Pippiloti Rist: Sip my Ocean
Wander through a forest of lights, lay down to watch video projections and take a seat on Alice in Wonderland-style oversized furniture. This is the most comprehensive exhibition of Pippiloti Rist’s work in Australia to date.
