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Celebrate the silly season with Christmas Carol Goes Wrong

Christmas Carol Goes Wrong, 17 – 29 December, CONCERT HALL

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Characters in the front hold on to performer dressed as a Nutcracker themed Christmas present box

Award-winning Aotearoa soul sensation returns to the Sydney Opera House for live debut of new music

Acclaimed Māori R&B singer-songwriter TEEKS returns to the Sydney Opera House to play the Concert Hall on Wednesday 18 November, celebrating the first live performance of his new music.

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A man wearing black trousers sitting on a pale floor. He is extending one arm to hold himself up and the other rests on his knee.

Curious

A culture-shaping intellect who makes us look anew at ourselves, one of Australia’s most-cherished comedic performers and an internationally celebrated chef lead the line-up of influential thinkers from across the country and the world at the Sydney Opera House’s ideas festival, Curious.

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Inverted pink cartoon cat with yellow background

Sydney Opera House launches Wild Things International Kids Festival

This spring school holidays, Sydney Opera House will transform into a creative wonderland for kids and their families with the inaugural Wild Things International Kids Festival. Across 16 days, leading companies from Europe, North America, the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia will illustrate the breadth and artistic ingenuity of performance-making for young people aged 0-14 – and the young at heart. 

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Illustration of kids playing at the Sydney Opera House

Sydney Opera House CEO Louise Herron to step down after 14 years

The Sydney Opera House today announced that CEO Louise Herron AM will step down in August after 14 years at the helm of Australia’s premier cultural institution, tourism destination and World Heritage masterpiece.One of Australia’s most respected cultural leaders, Ms Herron has delivered the largest program of capital works since the Opera House opened in 1973, including the acclaimed renewal of the Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre. She has also led the continued expansion of its programming and activities in order to engage and welcome more of the community.

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Hometown rock heroes to play Opera House debut in first Australian shows in four years

This August 8 and 10, multiple ARIA Award-winning rockers Gang of Youths will make their Sydney Opera House debut with two exhilarating nights in the Concert Hall, their first Australian shows in four years.

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Four men smile and point at something behind the camera.

Ichiko Aoba and Cat Power to play Concert Hall

Two towering enigmas return to the Sydney Opera House this year to perform in its largest venue, the Concert Hall. One of Japan’s most distinctive contemporary artists, Ichiko Aoba, will appear on 5 October, while acclaimed singer-songwriter Cat Power will return on 7 December for a landmark performance celebrating the 20th anniversary of her seminal 2006 album, The Greatest.

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One woman sitting on ground, looking out a window and one woman seen from the shoulders up standing in front of a field of white flowers.

Celebrated Contemporary Dance Works Return to Australia for Homecoming Seasons

Following critically acclaimed international seasons, celebrated First Nations choreographers Amrita Hepi and Lewis Major arrive home for strictly limited seasons of their contemporary dance works.

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A male dancer lifts a female dancer in a black leotard gracefully overhead against a dramatic orange-lit background.

2026 Sydney Opera House Play Award winner announced on International Day of Play

Sydney - Thursday 11 June, 2026. To mark the International Day of Play, the Sydney Opera House today announced this year’s recipient of its annual Play Award (2024–2027 inclusive) for an outstanding contribution to play-based learning. 

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Two students posing behind a paper frame that reads "BessFlix"

Lighting of the Sails: Opera Mundi by Yann Nguema

In one week, an exhilarating new digital artwork, Lighting of the Sails: Opera Mundi by French artist Yann Nguema, will turn the curves of the Sydney Opera House into a canvas for the natural world as part of this year’s Vivid LIVE.

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The Sydney Opera House sails are visible with the harbour in the foreground. The sails are illuminated with projected art featuring a variety of colourful elements.

Music on Tubowgule: Mungangga Garlagula by Mark Atkins and Erkki Veltheim

Music on Tubowgule returns to the Sydney Opera House in 2026, following its successful inaugural season last year, to showcase work that celebrates the vibrant evolution of First Nations expression.

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Mark Atkins is in a cowboy hat is lit with dramatic blue and orange lighting against a dark background. Erkki Veltheim stands blurred behind him, creating a mysterious tone.

Sydney Opera House Announces Kids Winter Program

This winter, kids and families are invited to experience an exhilarating range of unforgettable performances, hit shows and interactive workshops from leading local and international arts companies. 

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Production image from Bluey's Big Play, The Stage Show

Scary Piece of Work and Truck Driver

Two celebrated artists from Sydney’s thriving independent arts scene will premiere new solo works at the Sydney Opera House this June. Scary Piece of Work, a dance piece by Martin del Amo, and

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A man stands cross-armed in front of a truck. He has a handlebar moustache and is wearing a sleeveless shirt and cap with sunglasses sitting on top.

Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Courtney Barnett to celebrate bold new album this November

To celebrate the release of her highly anticipated new album, Creature of Habit, Courtney Barnett returns to the Sydney Opera House on Friday 6 November.

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A woman with long brown hair and a fringe sits slumped in a chair slightly side on to the right. They are wearing a buttoned white shirt and black jacket.

New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre Company make their Opera House debut

New Zealand’s Indian Ink Theatre Company make their Sydney Opera House debut with the Australian premiere of Balloon Dog from 24-28 June. Inspired by one of India’s most famous stories, this beautifully tender tale celebrates courage and shared humanity, told through theatrical magic and original music performed live. 

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A man stands in the foreground wearing a beanie, blue shirt with flowers on it and a red backpack. Behind him is a white picket fence. Behind the fence to the left is a man wearing a yellow vest and hat and holding a shovel. He looking curiously at the ma

DanceRites 2026 registrations open

Registrations have opened for DanceRites 2026, the ninth iteration of the national competition celebrating First Nations dance, music and culture. Taking place over the weekend of Saturday 24 and Sunday 25 October, dance groups will represent their country and community on the sand circle stage on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. 

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Line-up revealed for Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House 2026

More than 50 cutting-edge and legendary international and Australian artists will play Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House 2026. The bold contemporary music, art and cinema takeover of the World Heritage-listed landmark runs from Friday 22 May to Saturday 13 June during Vivid Sydney – an annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology.

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The Sydney Opera House sails are visible with the harbour in the foreground. The sails are illuminated with projected art featuring two fish and other colourful elements.

Sydney Opera House and Apple collaborate to celebrate Australian creativity

The Sydney Opera House and Apple have announced a yearlong collaboration to champion the next generation of creativity through initiatives that support Australian art, design, and culture, including programming for young people and activity within the Opera House’s Centre for Creativity.

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New iteration in fiery Velvet franchise to premiere in July

A hedonistic escape is set to heat up the Sydney Opera House Studio this winter when Velvet Inferno makes its premiere from 24 July - 13 September 2026.

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Gold and silver high heels stand on either side of a gold, sparkly disco ball as they are engulfed in hot flames, indicating disco inferno

Global classical music phenomena TwoSet Violin will perform with The Metropolitan Orchestra across two nights this June

Global classical music phenomena TwoSet Violin – aka Australian violinists Brett Yang and Eddy Chen – return to the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall for two performances on Tuesday 9 and Wednesday 10 June as part of their Sacrilegious Games World Tour.

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Two Asian men in their 30s face each other, both holding violins. One wears a black suit, the other a white suit.

Australian premiere of Gravity & Other Myths’ playful new work

Award-winning circus company Gravity & Other Myths will spring into the Joan Sutherland Theatre in June for the Australian premiere of their new production LOUDER.  An unexpected combination of modern acrobatics and orchestral composition, LOUDER melds the traditions of circus and orchestral music in a new work that unveils how both forms adapt, stretch and surprise when approached with humour and playfulness

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louder

Third Generations and Dynasties series welcomes legendary country music bands

Returning for the third year in 2026, Generations and Dynasties will welcome The Donovan Family (29 April) and The Knox Family (13 May) into the intimacy of the Utzon Room to share the storytelling and songs of these two legendary country music bands.

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Mitski announced as first act for Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House 2026

Critically acclaimed singer-songwriter Mitski will perform in an Australian exclusive at Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House this May as part of Vivid Sydney, Australia’s biggest event that fuses art and innovation with some of the most boundary-pushing artists, musicians, thinkers and culinary experts of our time.

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A woman in a red hat and plaid coat with bright blue eyeshadow drinks from a glass, surrounded by eclectic, vintage decor and a retro telephone.

Art on the Steps announced

The Sydney Opera House today announced Art on the Steps, two major new commissions by leading Australian artists Mel O'Callaghan and Frances Barrett. Their creations will be unveiled on Friday 10 and Saturday 11 April, when the Opera House’s Monumental Steps will be transformed offering audiences a rare opportunity to experience the power of the human voice.

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