The coastal metropolis of Sydney is a melting pot of exciting and creative events combined with cultural heritage. The harbour city sparkles with electrifying events held all year round – from much-anticipated sports events and theatre acts, to vogue-ish art exhibitions and annual festivals galore.
When you pair these cultural and entertainment extravaganzas with Sydney’s nearly perfect weather, splendid outdoors and a hint of joviality for good measure, you get the ultimate recipe for a good time out.
If you’re planning a trip to Sydney in 2023, make sure to add these to your calendar.
Sail Grand Prix (Feb 18-19)
After a high-flying Season 2 of the adrenaline-fueled Australia Sail Grand Prix, the KPMG SailGP is making its much-awaited comeback to the iconic waters of Sydney Harbour. The heart-stopping race will see a total of nine international teams, in their fast F50 foiling catamarans, battling out for the ultimate honours!
Like the previous year, race enthusiasts will get their money’s worth with a number of fan experiences on offer. On-water spectator boats will get you closer to the action than ever before. Australian Cruise Group’s Magistic Two and Clearview glass boat are official spectator boats that offer unrivalled views of the racecourse from the public exclusion zone.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 (20 July - 20 Aug)
The biggest stage in football is coming to Sydney – the FIFA Women’s World Cup will bring to you the best players in the world for a tournament beyond greatness, as they battle it out for the most coveted prize in sports. The 2023 edition of the championship will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand and will feature an expanded format of 32 teams.
Over eleven matches are scheduled to be played at the newly renovated Sydney Football Stadium, with at least one game played in each stage of the tournament, including the final! So be there, as Sam Kerr leads the Matildas into the most exciting football tournament – see which teams find their way into the final!
Vivid Sydney (26 May - 17 June)
Renowned across the world as the biggest festival of lights in the Southern Hemisphere, Vivid Sydney is one of those events Sydneysiders look forward to. Every year, a number of innovative events and attractions hit Sydney’s iconic venues and stages across three weeks! The city transforms into a multi-sensory stage of uplifting concerts, breathtaking light installations and projections and thought-provoking stories from the world’s brightest minds.
Like every year, the major drawcard of the festival will be the 3-D mapped projections on the city’s most iconic landmark, the Opera House. The exquisite sails of The House become the perfect canvas for all kinds of art - from natural wonders to indigenous art forms. For the best views of this star attraction and more, book a popular Vivid cruise. These cruises offer prime views of the harbour attractions in a crowd-free setting, along with dining options.
Sydney’s nights during non-Vivid seasons are just as splendid, so if you're planning a visit during these times of the year, then the regular dinner cruises on Sydney Harbour would be the perfect choice.
SXSW Sydney (Oct 15 - 22)
A stellar week of unending music, screening, innovation, tech, exhibition, professional development and gaming convergence, leading to unpredictable discoveries! For the first time in history, the innovation hub of SXSW is heading out of the United States, and into Sydney for seven days and nights of inspiring creativity and culture. Expect revolutionary ideas, a thriving creative hub, music, brilliant speakers, and more!
While Sydney plays second fiddle to Melbourne when it comes to culture, the city’s recent progression in hosting large-scale festivals and ‘first-timer-ever’ events, kind of evens the scores.
When you pair these cultural and entertainment extravaganzas with Sydney’s nearly perfect weather, splendid outdoors and a hint of joviality for good measure, you get the ultimate recipe for a good time out.
If you’re planning a trip to Sydney in 2023, make sure to add these to your calendar.
Sail Grand Prix (Feb 18-19)
After a high-flying Season 2 of the adrenaline-fueled Australia Sail Grand Prix, the KPMG SailGP is making its much-awaited comeback to the iconic waters of Sydney Harbour. The heart-stopping race will see a total of nine international teams, in their fast F50 foiling catamarans, battling out for the ultimate honours!
Like the previous year, race enthusiasts will get their money’s worth with a number of fan experiences on offer. On-water spectator boats will get you closer to the action than ever before. Australian Cruise Group’s Magistic Two and Clearview glass boat are official spectator boats that offer unrivalled views of the racecourse from the public exclusion zone.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 (20 July - 20 Aug)
The biggest stage in football is coming to Sydney – the FIFA Women’s World Cup will bring to you the best players in the world for a tournament beyond greatness, as they battle it out for the most coveted prize in sports. The 2023 edition of the championship will be jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand and will feature an expanded format of 32 teams.
Over eleven matches are scheduled to be played at the newly renovated Sydney Football Stadium, with at least one game played in each stage of the tournament, including the final! So be there, as Sam Kerr leads the Matildas into the most exciting football tournament – see which teams find their way into the final!
Vivid Sydney (26 May - 17 June)
Renowned across the world as the biggest festival of lights in the Southern Hemisphere, Vivid Sydney is one of those events Sydneysiders look forward to. Every year, a number of innovative events and attractions hit Sydney’s iconic venues and stages across three weeks! The city transforms into a multi-sensory stage of uplifting concerts, breathtaking light installations and projections and thought-provoking stories from the world’s brightest minds.
Like every year, the major drawcard of the festival will be the 3-D mapped projections on the city’s most iconic landmark, the Opera House. The exquisite sails of The House become the perfect canvas for all kinds of art - from natural wonders to indigenous art forms. For the best views of this star attraction and more, book a popular Vivid cruise. These cruises offer prime views of the harbour attractions in a crowd-free setting, along with dining options.
Sydney’s nights during non-Vivid seasons are just as splendid, so if you're planning a visit during these times of the year, then the regular dinner cruises on Sydney Harbour would be the perfect choice.
SXSW Sydney (Oct 15 - 22)
A stellar week of unending music, screening, innovation, tech, exhibition, professional development and gaming convergence, leading to unpredictable discoveries! For the first time in history, the innovation hub of SXSW is heading out of the United States, and into Sydney for seven days and nights of inspiring creativity and culture. Expect revolutionary ideas, a thriving creative hub, music, brilliant speakers, and more!
While Sydney plays second fiddle to Melbourne when it comes to culture, the city’s recent progression in hosting large-scale festivals and ‘first-timer-ever’ events, kind of evens the scores.
