From live music and local wine to surf culture and Sydney’s landmarks, festivals in Australia celebrate the best this vast and vibrant country has to offer. There’s a packed events calendar to pick from during a trip Down Under, including one-day parties and month-long festivities in locations across the country. So, whether you’re in Australia for the beaches, the backpacking or the beers around the barbecue, you’re sure to find a festival that’s your kind of fun. Here are some of our favourites.
- Adelaide Fringe
- Parrtjima – A Festival in Light
- Wine Machine
- The Byron Bay Surf Festival
- Vivid Sydney
- Hamilton Island Race Week
Adelaide Fringe
Adelaide, South Australia - February to March
Taking place over 31 summer days and nights, the annual Adelaide Fringe is the biggest arts festival in the Southern Hemisphere. Events are held at more than 300 venues around the city and across greater South Australia, with an eclectic calendar covering everything from cabaret and comedy to theatre, music and more. The Fringe is an open-access festival, which means anyone can apply to perform or put on a show, so the line-up is always diverse and dynamic. Also known as ‘The People’s Festival’, it attracts visitors of all ages and artists of every kind to one of Australia’s most underrated cities, which is also a great base for discovering some cracking coastlines and wonderful wineries.
Parrtjima – A Festival in Light
Alice Springs, Northern Territory - April
In Autumn, the outback town of Alice Springs is illuminated during Parrtjima – A Festival in Light. The only Aboriginal-dedicated festival in Australia, Parrtjima celebrates the world’s oldest continuous living culture. Over ten nights in April, a programme of free events bring the desert to life as darkness falls, including light installations, live music, interactive workshops and entertainment. The 300-million-year-old MacDonnell Ranges are the backdrop for the festivities; a magnificent mountain range in the region known as the Red Centre. Named for its distinctive red sand and location at the geographical heart of Australia, this area is also home to Uluru (also known as Ayers Rock); so why not check a big name off your travel wish list while you’re here?
Wine Machine
Various locations - March – April
Imagine a music festival where instead of queuing for a pint of lukewarm lager, you can sample fine wines. And imagine if that festival didn’t take place in a muddy field, but instead it was held among the vines of some of the world’s most beautiful wine regions. Only in Australia could that festival exist, and its name is Wine Machine; a one-day event held across multiple locations and dates in autumn. Wonderful winery venues; delicious, locally-sourced food; and performances from top bands and DJs make Wine Machine a dream if you’re looking for festivals in Australia where you can drink, dine and dance. The organisers describe it as a garden-party-meets-picnic by day and a fiesta by night. And just wait until you see the wine list.
The Byron Bay Surf Festival
Byron Bay, New South Wales - September
The beach town of Byron Bay might be busier and more mainstream than it was in the 1970s, when the surfers and hippies first moved in, but its bohemian spirit remains strong. This spirit is in full swing at the Byron Bay Surf Festival, where more than 150 surfers gather each September to compete on the famous waves of the bay. There’s plenty to enjoy on dry land too, with art exhibitions and film screenings celebrating surfing culture, plus live music to take the celebrations from day to night. The festival also has a big focus on sustainability, with a policy in place to reduce waste and minimise the environmental impact of the event; ensuring that surfers and the wider community can continue to enjoy the ocean for generations to come. Want to fully embrace the laid-back Byron Bay lifestyle? Stay at one of the town’s campsites, where you can fall asleep to a playlist of breaking waves.
Vivid Sydney
Sydney, New South Wales - May to June
To see Sydney in a new light, visit during the three-week spectacular that is Vivid Sydney. Over 23 days and nights, the city is transformed into what the organisers call a ‘kaleidoscopic wonderland’. Brightly-coloured and breathtaking 3D projections illuminate Sydney icons like the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, making these legendary landmarks look even more epic. Meanwhile, a free, five-mile light walk weaves from Circular Quay to Central Station, with more than 50 light installations lining the route. Frequently voted Australia’s Best Tourism Event, the festival also features food, music and innovative ideas, plus plenty of family-friendly events. Experience Vivid Sydney for yourself to instantly see why it’s one of the best-loved festivals in Australia.
Hamilton Island Race Week
Whitsunday Islands, Queensland - August
Champagne lunches, high-end fashion events and (of course) lots of yachts are all part of the programme during Hamilton Island Race Week. More than 250 boats from across the globe take part in Australia’s largest sailing regatta and the venue couldn’t be more beautiful. At the heart of the Great Barrier Reef (the world's largest coral reef system), Hamilton Island is one of the Whitsunday Islands; a divine destination for travellers seeking paradise Down Under. During race week, this paradise becomes a playground for the rich and nautical, with the action on the water balanced by sophisticated soirees on land, including cocktail parties under the stars and yoga on the beach. Luxury aside, it’s the setting that makes Hamilton Island Race Week extra-special. Warm, aquamarine waters; dazzling white sands; and some of Australia’s best beaches make for a truly tropical trip. The fizz that flows during the festival simply adds some extra sparkle to this idyllic island.