Sydney New Years Eve, Sydney Harbour, New South Wales © City of Sydney
Australia's biggest parties and celebrations
Australians love a good party. Feel the Aussie spirit and hang out with the locals at one of these major celebrations.
Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks captivate visitors from across the globe, igniting Sydney Harbour’s night sky to farewell one year and welcome in the next. The family fireworks kick off at 9pm, followed by the mesmerising midnight show that launches from the Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and barges around the harbour. Between shows, you can count on a range of entertainment and festivities around the foreshore and Royal Botanic Gardens.
The Australian Open brings the world’s hottest players to Melbourne for two weeks of tennis thrills each January. With over 550,000 spectators, the vibes and events surrounding the tournament are almost as incredible as the matches themselves. Watch the tennis on the big screen in iconic spots like Federation Square and wander the al fresco bars and outdoor courts.
As part of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, Oxford Street transforms into a parade of pride, love and protest – and the spectacular affair gets bigger every year. LGBTQIA+ groups flaunt dazzling performances down one of Sydney's busiest streets with dance, music and wow-factor parade floats. Dress in your best glitzy attire, join the festival of love and continue the celebrations at incredible LGBTQIA+ bars and clubs.
Each year from February to March, South Australia’s biggest party – the Adelaide Fringe Festival – takes over the city with a slew of weird and wonderful events. Boasting shows across 500 venues throughout Adelaide and the wider state, there truly is something for everyone to adore. Whether you're a comedy addict, theatre buff or arts lover, you'll find something surprising around every corner during this open-access arts festival.
Along Brisbane’s popular Southbank precinct, the Sunsuper Riverfire takes to the night sky for a spectacular fireworks display to kick off the start of Brisbane Festival each September. The fireworks dazzle the night sky in explosive colours for more than 20 minutes, reflecting off the surface of the city’s snaking river. Throughout the broader festival, Brisbane comes to life with family-friendly performances, quirky cabarets and iconic musical lineups.
The Australian Football League (AFL) is huge in Australia, with the AFL Grand Final being one of the biggest events on the sports calendar. The state of Victoria even allocates AFL Grand Final Day as a public holiday, so people from across Australia flock to Melbourne to join the festivities. Once the final whistle has blown, the MCG welcomes the public to a free Premiership party inside the stadium with local and international musicians taking the stage.
On the first Tuesday of November, Australians across the nation stop to celebrate the Melbourne Cup – the nation’s biggest annual horse racing event. You've likely never experienced a horse race that virtually takes over a country, with each bar, restaurant and café hosting Cup-inspired events. Whether you’re cheering on horses at the track, sipping beers at an outback pub or indulging in a Melbourne Cup long lunch, you can dress up, place a bet and strap in for a nail biting finish.
Get ready for dragons, firecrackers, fantastic food and spectacular song and dance as Australians celebrate Lunar New Year. Spanning two magnificent weeks, the Lunar New Year celebrations in Sydney are usually centred around Chinatown, while in Brisbane you'll see Fortitude Valley come to life. In Melbourne and Perth, head to the hub of excitement in each city's respective Chinatown for street parades, dances and games.
