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.
More for little explorers (ages 3-6)
Attending this event
Practical information about this event, ticketing and visiting. If you have questions or need help, see our general terms and conditions for tickets and events or contact us.
Ticket information
If you have further questions or need help, please refer to our General Terms and Conditions for Tickets and Events or contact a member of our team on 1300 SOH TIX.
A resale restriction is in place, meaning it is unlawful for a person to resell their ticket for more than 110% of the face value. In all cases, it is advisable that tickets are only purchased from authorised channels, to protect your rights should the event be cancelled or postponed and to be sure you receive all necessary communications.
The authorised agency for this event is listed under ticket pricing. 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.
A booking fee of $8.95 applies per transaction. Prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
Children aged 15 years and under must be accompanied at all times. Babies aged 0-2 years old at the time of a performance may be seated on an adult’s lap. Children two years and older will need to hold a standard ticket.
Please contact Box Office on 1300 SOH TIX as soon as possible if you are unable to attend.
eTicket or postal delivery should be used wherever possible. Tickets will be emailed three days prior to the event. Download your e-Ticket and have it ready on your mobile device for scanning before you queue to enter the venue.
At the venue
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. All Sydney Opera House foyers are accessible, with lift access to the main and western foyers.
There will be food trucks and a fully licensed bar operating on site from when gates open until shortly before the end of the concert. Vegan and vegetarian options, as well as both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase.
No BYO alcohol, beverages, food or glass. Ticketholders are welcome to bring their own water bottle (as long as it isn’t made of glass). Refillable water stations will be available on site.
There is no cloaking facility on the forecourt. Please check conditions of entry for more information about what cannot be brought into the event and leave these items at home.
For the safety of everyone at the event, certain items not permitted. No strollers, chairs, laser pointers, sparklers, professional cameras or recording devices or selfie sticks, sharp knives or objects. No oversized items larger than an A4 piece of paper including extra-large backpacks, briefcases and suitcases. All bags will be checked on entry, your cooperation is appreciated. Please check conditions of entry for more information about what can and cannot be brought into the event.
There are no ATM facilities available on the Forecourt. Please bring a credit or debit card for any purchases to keep transactions quick and queues short.
Cashless payment methods are strongly recommended. Please bring a credit or debit card for any purchases to keep transactions quick and queues short.
Yes. The safety and security of our visitors, patrons and staff is our highest priority. Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags on entry. Please travel lightly and do not bring items that are not permitted as per our conditions of entry.
For safety and security reasons there will be no pass-outs at any of the forecourt events. You won’t be able to re-enter once you have left the venue.
There is high demand for tickets to the forecourt events and many are expected to sell out. To avoid disappointment, we highly recommend purchasing your tickets online before travelling to the Opera House. A temporary box office on the Eastern Side, near the ticket scanning point, will be open approximately 30 minutes prior to gates opening each day.
The Opera House is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children that visit or engage with us. Read our Child Safety Policy. The Opera House has also developed a Child-friendly Code of Conduct to engage with our youngest visitors.
The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Sydney Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House is a smoke-free site. Read our Smoke-free Environment Policy.
The safety and security of patrons, visitors and staff is our highest priority. Entry to venues inside the Opera House including theatres, the Utzon Room, the Centre for Creativity and Bennelong Restaurant is via a single entry point located under the Monumental Steps.
In line with our venue security procedures, all ticketholders must present their bags and personal belongings for visual inspection or x-ray screening prior to entering the building.
We hope all our audience members, including those children with us, have a wonderful time. Please keep disturbances to a minimum. Ticketholders who interfere unreasonably with another’s enjoyment may be asked to leave.
If your child becomes unsettled during the performance, we ask that you step outside with them until they settle. Note that you may not be readmitted until there is a suitable break in the performance.
Filming and photography is not permitted inside the venue, unless expressly authorised by us. You must switch your mobile phone off or to silent while in the venue.
Refreshments are available to purchase from our theatre bars, with foyers open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and two hours pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
The Opera House has a range of restaurants and bars on site. Explore our venues.
Cloaking facilities will be open 60 minutes pre-show. It is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly. Larger items – including handbags bigger than A4-size, backpacks, umbrellas, suitcases and prams – are not permitted inside the venues and must be cloaked.
Yes, pram parking is available outside our theatres. All Sydney Opera House foyers are pram accessible, with lifts to the main and western foyers.
Foyer doors are usually open 90 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 120 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
Theatre doors will open 30 minutes pre-show for Concert Hall and Joan Sutherland Theatre performances, and 15 minutes pre-show for Western Foyer venue performances.
If you’re collecting your tickets from the Box Office, we recommend doing this at least 60 minutes before the event starts.
We’ll aim to 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.
Where an event has a lock-out period, 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.
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.