Australia Events and Festivals

Australia Day: the nation’s biggest event celebrates the thing it loves most: Australia. Major events, concerts and firework displays are scheduled in every city and town from coast to coast.

Sydney Festival: for three weeks this amazing festival presents a rich and diverse schedule of performance art. Some 80 events feature dance, music, theatre, the visual arts and other outdoor events. This is Sydney’s main event, so don’t miss it if you’re visiting in January.

National Multicultural Festival: Canberra becomes a nexus of cultural events for two weeks as the best local, Australian and international food, music, dance and art comes to town. Among the highlights are the Food and Dance Spectacular and Carnivale. The Greek Glendi and Pacific Islander Showcase are other ethnic highlights well worth experiencing.

Perth International Arts Festival: Western Australia’s premier annual event is this showcase of the arts in the laid-back hip city of Perth. It’s the oldest multi-art festival in the southern hemisphere, and rarely fails to impress. Photography, aboriginal art, music, dance and anything else you can think of is exhibited during this world-class event.

Adelaide Festival of Arts: since 1960 this arts festival has been showcasing the diversity of art from across Australia and around the globe. The emphasis on innovative art ensures this event is really interesting. A wide range of venues, exhibitions and related programmes put Adelaide on the short list of many visitors during this city’s pleasant autumn season.

National Folk Festival: every Easter weekend sees Canberra turn into a showcase for folk arts from Australia and other regions of the world. More than 100 events are scheduled covering the traditional songs, dances, poems and stories which form the cultural backbone of Australia. Workshops and special kid’s events make this a great family event.

Melbourne International Jazz Festival: this city becomes the hottest spot in the southern hemisphere for music during its annual jazz festival. Many of the legendary names in jazz come here to jam with each other in rare concerts at venues all over Melbourne.

Dreaming Festival: indigenous arts and culture is the focus of this annual event in Woodford which attracts an audience looking for something unique and spiritual. For several days there are indigenous ceremonies, performances, and workshops to enlighten people about the deep spiritual nature of the aboriginals. This is perhaps the best venue to experience Australia’s amazing indigenous culture.

Brisbane Festival: Brisbane becomes the focus of fun and cultural exploration during the city’s premier annual event. An excellent programme of music, dance, theatre, opera and other multimedia performances guarantees a memorable time. This is the best time to visit Brisbane, as this festival has deep roots within the local community.

Darwin Festival: this remote city celebrates its unique style with an annual festival to promote the diversity and talents of its local community. The special emphasis on the aboriginal arts is a major highlight, complementing the full schedule of films, dance, music, comedy and visual arts displays.

Perth Wildflower Festival: spring bursts into life in Western Australia during October, and Perth celebrates with a wonderful wildflower festival. The Botanic Garden and Kings Park become colourful centres of attention as special events add some action to the good feelings created by the beauty of the wildflowers which appear all over the city and surrounding desert.

Melbourne International Arts Festival: this festival has a reputation for its innovative and unique Australian and international performances. For 17 days, the city presents dance, music, theatre, visual arts and other free and fun outdoor events.

Wangaratta Festival of Jazz: the town of Wangaratta in Victoria hosts what is widely considered the best jazz festival in Australia. Hot jazz musicians from around the world showcase their talents alongside Australia’s finest in this fun and festive annual event.

Woodford Folk Festival: this event has an international reputation for the quality and diversity of its programme. More than 2,000 performers descend on the town of Woodford each year to participate in the 400 concerts, dances, comedy sessions, writing workshops, and other fun and creative things scheduled. International guests add to the star Australian line up.