Access programs
Sydney Opera House New Year’s Eve Accessible Viewing Area 2024
Reserved for people who are d/Deaf and disabled with their family and friends.
The Sydney Opera House is a popular vantage point for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks. As large crowds are expected, a dedicated accessible viewing area is available for registered guests.
The New Year's Eve accessible viewing area is at capacity for 2024. Registrations are now closed.
Site Description
Accessible toilets
Adult Change Facility (no hoist)
Access to electrical charging
Security and first aid on site
Food and drink available to purchase on site
No seating. Small fold-up chairs permitted if back support is required.
No shade. Wear a hat and protective clothing.
No sunshade. Personal umbrellas (no more than 125cm in diameter) permitted
No BYO alcohol
Moderate gradient to the site. Steep incline on Macquarie Street.
Site Entry
Entry for the Accessible Viewing Area is at the corner of Macquarie and Albert Streets from 4pm onwards. The area is located 600 metres downhill on Macquarie Street. For those who require mobility assistance, an accessible buggy transport service will be provided between the Sydney Opera House site and a vehicle pick-up and drop-off location at the intersection of Macquarie Street and Bent Street from 4pm and will be available post event.
Digital Resource
Dancing Connections
Join Dance for Parkinson’s Australia and Sydney Dance Company for a high-quality digital dance class for people living with Parkinson’s disease, their families, friends and care partners. Filmed in the beautiful surrounds of Bennelong Restaurant within the Sydney Opera House this class explores the works of Sydney Dance Company and takes inspiration from the sculptural elegance and stunning location of the Sydney Opera House itself.
Participants are empowered to explore movement and music in ways that are refreshing, enjoying, stimulating and creative. All levels of ability and mobility welcome; no prior dance experience is required.
Annually, a Dancing Connections class is offered at the Sydney Opera House. For more information, click here.
Dance Residency
Create Space
Create Space is an annual residency that recognises the lack of development opportunities for dance artists with disability. In collaboration with established dance agencies, FORM Dance Projects and Ausdance NSW, the SOH Access and Programming teams collaborated to develop a that residency offers a supportive space for these artists to research and develop their practice.
In September 2024, the Centre for Creativity hosted Marc Brew; one of the UK’s leading, multi-disciplinary and inclusive theatre makers, and Alex Craig, a queer blind dance artist and maker. Marc shared his experience and inclusive practice, providing guidance to local dancers with and without disability using taught movement sequences and creative tasks. Alex Craig explored belonging, connection, identity, and place using sound to establish an inclusive blind centred practice.
Create Space aligns with the Sydney Opera House Everyone’s House Strategy 2024-2026 ensuring we better understand and connect with the community.
Program for young adults
True Grit
For many years, the Sydney Opera House has been creating programs that bring the community together, regardless of background and ability levels. After community consultation, we partnered with The Australian Ballet and Lifestart to launch True Grit, our first-ever accessibility program targeted specifically to young adults. True Grit uses dance to grow employment skills, as well as to develop the participants' self-confidence and general well-being. Due to lockdown restrictions, the program went online while maintaining a high participant engagement and satisfaction.
