All summer long
Get back into the city
With heaps happening in the city this summer, it’s the perfect time to fall back in love with the heart of Sydney.
From outdoor concerts, to street music, alfresco dining and hidden art, find everything that's happening as part of the rediscover the city centre program.
More cafes, bars, theatres and restaurants now have space to dine outdoors. Make the most of it and find a place where you can eat alfresco in our beautiful city this summer.
Temporary art installations are breathing new life into the city's laneways. Don't miss Katy B Plummer's interactive fortune-telling installation, a micro-forest from the Dirt Witches, or Adam Norton's spectacular Giant Badges.
There’ll also be performers roaming around the city this summer and more free spaces to sit in our public spaces.
This is an initiative from the NSW Government in association with the City of Sydney. We're working together to revitalise the city centre.
If you’re a hospitality venue or theatre, find out more about our new opportunities for trading outdoors.
Sunset Piazza
Summer in Sydney comes alive with the outdoor pop-up concert series, Sunset Piazza. For 32 nights throughout summer, Cathedral Square opposite Hyde Park becomes home to the Italo-themed, Covid-safe summer stage.
Ruby Fields, Ziggy Ramo and Winston Surfshirt are just a few of the stars on the lineup.
With a line-up that features something for everyone and tickets at $25 a night, Sunset Piazza is the perfect reason to revisit the city centre.
Culture Up Late
Get your culture fix after dark this summer. Major arts and cultural institutions will keep their doors open later, so there’s no excuse to miss the incredible exhibitions on offer. Plus, there’ll be a selection of events in the program, including Sundown Sketch Club at MCA, Nights at the Museum, and Art After Hours at Art Gallery NSW.
Make a splash at the new Gunyama pool
Dive into the biggest pool complex in Sydney since the 2000 Olympic Games. Green Square’s new state-of-the-art aquatic centre is inspired by Sydney’s ocean pools and is now open.
Mov'In Boat Cinema
The spectacular floating cinema begins this December in Cockle Bay. Hire a rowboat or board your very own floating pontoon for the ultimate cinema experience.
Check out an exhibition
If the online exhibitions haven’t quite satisfied you, head into the city to soak up some culture in real life.
Lose yourself in the work of influential Australian Chinese artist Lindy Lee at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Or head to the Australian Museum to see the Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year 2020 exhibition, a stunning collection of more than 100 images of animals and landscapes around the globe..
February
Sydney Lunar Festival
Celebrate the Year of the Ox in Sydney at the Sydney Lunar Festival.
The Lunar Lanterns are a creative, contemporary interpretation of a centuries old tradition. Take a stroll from Circular Quay to Haymarket and discover 12 larger-than-life animal signs of the lunar zodiac.
Don't miss the Lunar Spectacular Shows. Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Mongolian and Indonesian performers share their culture with traditional and contemporary dance and music. Expect to see Japanese hip hop, Korean drumming, Mongolian throat singing, fashion shows and more.
The Rocks Lunar Markets will be surrounded by live music, bright red lanterns and a stunning Ox in a china shop display in Kendall Lane.
Or head to the Chinese Garden of Friendship. You can visit a Chinese astrologer for a personal reading for the year ahead or enjoy interactive workshops, including tea tastings and crafts for the little ones.
Friday 12 February to Sunday 21 February
Published 25 October 2016, updated 17 October 2023
