The past few years have been unprecedented and challenging. An opportunity to heal, listen and gather has never been more important. Sydney Festival has a rich history of championing artists for 46 years while supporting the unique voices and diverse stories of so many. Our role is to enable outstanding work by a broad range of compelling artists from Australia and across the globe.

This year’s highlights include all-female composed opera-performance Sun & Sea (Lithuania) at Sydney Town Hall, plus Australian composer Mary Finsterer’s Antarctica. There’s a stimulating interactive experience about iconic feminist Frida Kahlo, and a specially commissioned installation at South Eveleigh honouring local legend Jenny Kee.

In Parramatta, Sydney Symphony Under the Stars will perform a special Lunar New Year’s Eve celebration, while family-friendly blockbuster Afrique en Cirque (Canada/Guinea) will delight audiences at Riverside Theatres. Night revellers can enjoy Sydney Festival’s dedicated music club, The Weary Traveller, as we tip our whiskeys to Sydney’s most retro haunt.

I would like to acknowledge Jacob Nash, Sydney Festival’s creative artist in residence, for curating this year’s Blak Out program, which has four world premieres including Tracker by Australian Dance Theatre in association with ILBIJERRI Theatre Company and Vigil: Awaken, an epic collaboration of ceremony, light and song activating Me-Mel and Barangaroo on the 25th of January, with legendary director and choreographer Stephen Page.

My sincere thanks to Sydney Festival’s principal philanthropic supporter Peter Freedman AM and our principal government partners the State Government through Create NSW and Destination NSW and the City of Sydney. I would also like to thank our community of artists, audiences, staff and supporters who make the festival possible.

We look forward to welcoming you in January on what always was and always will be Aboriginal Land.

Olivia Ansell
Festival Director