SWING
A big, beautiful and joyous, giant SWING
Event details
| Date | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, 26 September 2026 | 11:00am |
until 6:00pm |
| Sunday, 27 September 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
| Monday, 28 September 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
| Tuesday, 29 September 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
| Wednesday, 30 September 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
| Thursday, 1 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
| Friday, 2 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 6:00pm |
| Saturday, 3 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 6:00pm |
| Sunday, 4 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 6:00pm |
| Monday, 5 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 6:00pm |
| Tuesday, 6 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
| Wednesday, 7 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
| Thursday, 8 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
| Friday, 9 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 6:00pm |
| Saturday, 10 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 6:00pm |
| Sunday, 11 October 2026 | 11:00am |
until 4:00pm |
This event is one of many free experiences offered as part of Wild Things. Explore the full free program and see what else is available.
SWING is accessible for wheelchairs. The platform is rated to hold up to 400kg. We can make the switch to the wheelchair platform anytime, so please see SWING staff on arrival.
The Forecourt is wheelchair accessible. For further information on accessibility, please contact our Accessibility team.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times.
Age restrictions
SWING draws families together, giving children the opportunity to watch their adults swinging on a seat that makes them look small. For safety reasons the SWING is not suitable for anyone under the age of 9 but younger children are also drawn into the event in other ways. SWING comes with its tiny baby sibling - a swing for the little ones where very young children can match the energy of the adults.
Weight restrictions
SWING seat is rated to hold up to 140kg.The wheelchair platform is rated to hold up to 400kg.
Because of the large SWING seat dimensions, riders should be at least 120cm or over 9 years old
For health and safety, riders should not:
- Have a history of heart conditions or abnormal blood pressure.
- Have injury to their back, neck or other area that might be aggravated.
- Have a healing broken bone, or be wearing a cast or sling.
- Had recent surgery or other conditions that may be aggravated.
- Suffer from vertigo, motion sickness or dizziness.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy.
Daniel Herborn, The Saturday PaperA bright yellow, eight-metre tall swing sits in the forecourt celebrating ‘play’ – with absolute clarity
Gallery
of
Why the Wild Things Festival Curator loves this showWith SWING the children are in charge – directing their adults to a giant SWING, or if tall enough, enjoying it themselves! It’s a giant spectacular to both watch and do!
About the artist
Ian Pidd
Ian Pidd is a Melbourne-based theatre and festival director renowned for creating ambitious participatory works that bring professional artists and communities together. His career spans theatre, festivals, public art and large-scale community projects across Australia and internationally.
Ian was Artistic Director of Back to Back Theatre and spent a decade directing major works with Snuff Puppets, touring extensively worldwide. He has led festivals including The Lost Lands, Moomba, The Works (Tasmania), Junction Arts Festival and The Village, and has curated participatory arts programs for Falls Festival for more than eight years.
His practice is defined by collaboration, with projects spanning Indonesia, Europe, the United States and regional Australia. Notable works include First On The Ladder, Passenger, We Are Lightning and the acclaimed social dance projects of Every Body Now. Ian is also a respected arts leader, having served on numerous arts boards, advisory panels and funding bodies across Australia.
Credits
Concept and direction Ian Pidd
Design Studio Periscope
Build Third Angle
Engineering Tensys Engineering
Co-direction Susan Giles
We acknowledge that SWING is on Aboriginal land, wherever it goes. We acknowledge that the lands we visit were never ceded and pay our respects to Elders past and present, and to all First Nations people for upholding culture, connection and community. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land.
SWING was created as a commission by Melbourne Fringe, funded by City of Melbourne and the Naomi Milgrom Foundation.
Attending this event
Venue information
Our foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers. The public lift to all foyers is accessible from the corridor near the escalators on the Lower Concourse and also in the Western Foyer via the corridor on the Ground Level (at the top of the escalators). Pram parking will be available outside the theatres in the Western Foyer.
Getting here
The Sydney Opera House Car Park, operated by Wilson Parking, is open and available to use. Wilson Parking offer discounted parking if you book ahead. Please see the Wilson Parking website for details.
Please check the Transport NSW website for the latest advice and information on travel. You can catch public transport (bus, train, ferry) to Circular Quay and enjoy a 7-10 minute walk to the Opera House.
Frequently asked questions
Ticket purchases and collection at our Box Office is discouraged and eTicket or postal delivery methods should be used, wherever possible. However, if you are collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts. If you have already received your tickets, the venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Please take your seats as soon as you arrive.
If you are late, we will seat you as soon as we can and, where possible, in your allocated seat. However, to reduce movement in the venue as well as minimise disruption to the performance and other patrons, ticketholders may be seated in an allocated latecomer’s seat. Please be aware that some events have lock-out periods. In these cases, latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance. On occasions, this may not be until the interval, or at all where there is no interval.
Details of our right to refuse admission can be found in our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events.
In accordance with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags under the Monumental Stairs, prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine, and staff will wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) when handling your belongings, such as gloves. Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 60 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. However it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly to minimise contact and queuing. Any bags larger than an A4 piece of paper will need to be checked into the Cloak Room.
The authorised agency for this event is the Sydney Opera House.
Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered reliable. If you purchase tickets from a non-authorised agency such as Ticketmaster Resale, Viagogo, Ticketbis, eBay, Gumtree, Tickets Australia or any other unauthorised seller, you risk that these tickets are fake, void or have previously been cancelled. Resale restriction applies. For more details, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Attendance at Events.
Please contact Box Office on +61 2 9250 7777 as soon as possible to advise if you can no longer attend.
Foyers will be open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances. Refreshments will be available for purchase from our theatre bars.
The venue doors will be open 45 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 30 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Please bring a credit or debit card for any on site purchases to enable contactless payment. You’re welcome to bring your own water bottle but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House became a smoke-free site in January 2022. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
More for little explorers (ages 3-6)
Location and access
Forecourt
Set below the famous white sails the Forecourt is located at the base of the Monumental Steps, between the Opera House and the Royal Botanic Gardens.