March 2010

The Greek Festival of Sydney will be on from 20 March through to mid May, with a series of cultural events and activities such as handicrafts, cooking, sweets, coffee, music and dance.


Swimming: 2010 Australian Swimming Championship, Sydney Olympic Park Aquatic Centre, 16-21 March.

April/May 2010

The Archibald Prize is one of Australia’s oldest and most prestigious art awards and always attracts controversy. Until May at the Art Gallery of NSW. Those works that do not make the final exhibition are shown at the Salon des Refusés, S H Ervin Gallery.

The Easter long weekend will see amazing acrobatics, stunt and circus performances at the Darling Harbour Hoopla.

Sydney Royal Easter Show: One of the oldest and largest events in Australia, the Sydney Royal Easter Show features 14 days packed with entertainment and attractions. There are arts, cake and craft competitions, cattle, sheep and other livestock shows, dog and cat shows, and the famous wood-chop competitions and the Showbag pavillion for the kids. Carnival rides for all. Sydney Olympic Park, 1-14 April.

Have a laugh, forget all your troubles at the Sydney Comedy Festival, 19 April - 9 May.

Biennale of Sydney is on from 12 May - 1 August.

Sydney Writers’ Festival: Australia’s boldest literature festival, offering intellectual and cultural forums, readings and panel discussions. Last year more than 76,000 people attended over 350 events. 17-23 May.

Sydney’s mid-year festival of music, light and ideas, Vivid Sydney, will transform areas in the CBD into a spectacular living canvas.

June 2010

Sydney is the host city of the 2010 Lions Clubs International Convention. It is estimated that up to 25,000 Lions members will participate. 28 June - 2 July.

Sydney Film Festival: Showing the best new films from over 40 countries, there are forums and talks for movie-goers and film-makers, with a wide range of short films and documentaries on screen.

December 2009

Dobell Prize for Drawing Exhibition:
Since its inception in 1993, the Dobell Prize is Australia’s most prestigious drawing prize.
Art Gallery of NSW, 5 November - 31 January 2010.

Presented by the Australian Ballet, Sleeping Beauty will be on at the Opera House from 4-23 December.

The world famous Sydney Hobart Yacht Race starts on Boxing Day at the Harbour mouth. Head to the Heads to watch the tussle for the line.

Don’t miss the New Year’s Eve Fireworks in the Harbour. Stay up late and enjoy this spectacular event.

January 2010

Cricket: Test Match, Australia v Pakistan at the SCG, 3-7 January, One Day International, 24 January.

Sydney Festival: This is Australia’s largest and most-attended annual cultural event, over 80 events, more than 500 artists, dance, theatre, music, visual arts and multimedia. 9-30 January.

Australian Open Tennis Tournament: Expect the best tennis players in the world to attend. Sydney Olympic Park, 10-16 January.


February 2010

Celebrating 60 years of Valour, Mateship and Glory, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo is in town. More than 1,500 performers, the world’s best massed pipes and drums, Highland dancers and a replica of Edinburgh Castle. Sydney Football Stadium, 4-6 February.

Cricket: One Day International, Australia v West Indies, 12 February. Twenty20 International, Australia v West Indies, 23 February.

Chinese New Year Festival: from 12-28 February. Sydney will be overtaken by noise, colour, and parades as the Chinese community celebrate Lunar New Year. Programmes include the CNY Dragon Boat Race, and Sydney Chinese Film Festival. 14 February is the first day of the year of the Tiger, so ‘Kung Hey Fat Choy’ (Cantonese) or ‘Kung Xi Fa Tsai’ (Mandarin) to everyone.

Mardi Gras: Sydney’s famous, glamorous and colourful parade. 27 February.

Tropfest 2010: ”The world’s largest short film festival”. Over 150,000 people will watch the 16 finalist films, all less than 7 minutes long, screened live via satellite to Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Adelaide, Perth and Hobart.

Twilight at Taronga Summer Concert Series: Buy a picnic or pack your own. Modern, classical, jazz and operetta in the open air. Taronga Zoo, every weekend during February and March.

July & August 2010

The Good Food & Wine Show will be on at the Darling Harbour Exhibition Centre from 16-18 July.


Sydney International Boat Show: Over 300 exhibitors, 300 boats, and all the best the leisure marine industry has to offer.

Sydney Design 2010: Celebrating the best of Australian and international design, showing you how and where design is making a difference in our lives and environment. Powerhouse Museum.

September/October 2010

Festival of the Winds: An exciting kite flying festival at Bondi Beach. The sky will come alive with different shapes and sizes of kites made by international and local kite makers and fliers.

NSW Rifle Association 2010 Queen’s Prize Meeting attracts marksmen from NSW and across Australia.

Australian International Motor Show will be held in Sydney.

18th Air New Zealand Golden Oldies World Rugby Festival - A celebration of fun and friendship (no scores are kept so no winners or losers). Players must be over 35 years old, a biennial festival with a traditional parade of participants and floats from Town Hall to the Entertainment Centre. Over 100 teams from around the globe are expected to participate. 26 September - 3 October.

Sculpture by the Sea: This annual exhibition features over 100 sculptures and is Australia’s largest exhibition of contemporary sculpture. End October. Bondi to Tamarama Coastal Walk.

AJC Spring Carnival: Spring time is for princesses to show off their new spring fashions. Join the Australian Jockey Club’s Spring Carnival and the excitement of racing at Royal Randwick.

November/December 2010

The annual Japanese Film Festival will hit the screens in Sydney.

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race will start on Boxing Day.

Fireworks in Sydney Harbour is something not to be missed on New Year’s Eve.