What’s on: Sydney Opera House spring 2026 guide
The sun is shining, days are longer and the best plans are often led by feeling. Come over this spring and see what’s going on at our House.
Between a performance rich in feeling, free outdoor experiences, activities for curious kids to run wild, harbour-side lunches, an afternoon of spellbinding folk-jazz-chamber music, and a few things you won’t quite know how to describe until you’ve seen them, we’ve got a few perfect spring moments to pencil in…
Add a little more soul
There are nights for staying in, and then there are nights for letting yourself be carried away by Aotearoa’s soul sensation, TEEKS.
As Rolling Stone put it “his voice could lift just about anything”. And we’re inclined to agree. The critically acclaimed Māori artist has captivated audiences across the world with a sound that’s soulful, soaring and deeply connected to culture.
Expect emotional release, extraordinary musicianship and the kind of live performance that stays with you long after the lights come up.
Something to shift your perspective
It’s Sunday afternoon, the harbour is glowing and inside the Utzon Room, something unexpected is unfolding within arm’s reach.
London-based trio Za Górami fuse folk, jazz and ancient melodic tradition to create mesmerising performances that are intricate, expressive and deeply alive. Their debut album Za Górami received 4.5 stars from Downbeat and was named The Guardian’s jazz album of the month, acclaimed for its, “delicate and deeply expressive sound”. Expect richly textured sound, breathtaking sensitivity and moments of dynamic beauty that transport you somewhere new.
With the chance to discover music you’ve never heard before, we can’t think of a better way to spend golden hour.
Za Górami | The Utzon Room | 4 Oct
If you need some new conversation starters...
Later in the season, Curious talks festival – back for its second year – lands on 4 October and 4 November, with deep dives on consciousness, politics, culture, power, creativity and the future. You’ll hear Michael Pollan examine the mysteries of the mind, and the beloved Magda Szubanski open up about love, loss and resilience. Plus, a few sharp questions on democracy, AI and who gets to shape what comes next.
Let the kids run wild
This is one to clear the school holiday calendar for. Wild Things is our first international kids festival. 16 days of circus, puppetry, dance and immersive theatre from Taiwan, Korea, France, Australia and beyond, with free Forecourt experiences and ticketed shows.
Inside the house
ZOOOM swaps the crayons for light. From Australia’s Patch Theatre, this immersive, dreamlike performance for ages 4+ follows a child’s journey to understand their world through art and their imagination. Children are invited to bring a ‘piece of dark’ from home and trade it for a little spark of light to carry through the show.
The Longest Nights is a bilingual Korean and English pansori adventure for ages 7+ about an unlikely friendship between the last white rhinoceros and a young, orphaned penguin on way to the sea. Commissioned by the House, with English subtitles helping bring every moment to life, expect a playful, funny, tender and deeply moving experience.
ZOOOM | Playhouse | 26 – 29 Sep | Ages 4+
The Longest Nights | Studio | 30 Sep – 2 Oct | Ages 7+
On the Forecourt and free
Looking for free things to do with the kids? Good news – the Forecourt is transforming into a giant outdoor playground. And yes, you can play too.
Taiwan’s FOCASA Circus takes over with Puzzle – five performers tumbling, balancing, hand-standing and building human pyramids while stacking five hollow cubes into ever changing shapes.
Then look up as SWING towers over it all. Nine metres of bright-yellow joy built for big kids and brave adults. One push and you’re flying. This one’s fully wheelchair accessible too, so no one misses out. And little ones get a baby swing of their own.
Iwagumi Air Scape is a larger-than-life inflatable rock formation you can wander through by day. After dark, it glows with colour and a soundscape of native birds and mountain streams. If you think that sounds cool, just wait until you see it.
Puzzle | Forecourt | 26 Sep –1 Oct | Free | All ages
SWING | Forecourt | 26 Sep – 11 Oct | Free | Ages 9+ to ride
Iwagumi Air Scape | Forecourt | 26 Sep –11 Oct | Free | All ages
Find your way to the sand circle
For millennia, Tubowgule, the land the Opera House stands on, has been a place of gathering, ceremony and celebration. Later this season, that tradition continues as the Forecourt fills with the movement, music and stories of Australia’s national First Nations dance competition, DanceRites.
Across two days, hundreds of performers from dozens of diverse Nations and Clans will come together on a 12-metre sand circle stage to compete for the 2026 title. They’ll represent their communities through dance, local storytelling and language in a powerful celebration of the world’s oldest living cultures.
Come early, find a spot on the steps and watch the sand circle come alive.
DanceRites | Forecourt | 24 – 25 Oct | Free | All ages
An unforgettable taste of Australia
Save this for your next spring dining spot... From wattle seed rubbed kangaroo fillet and lemon myrtle chicken to Mark Olive’s signature bush pavlova, Midden is a remarkable dining experience tucked beneath the sails.
Led by renowned Bundjalung chef, Mark Olive, Midden places connection to country, culture and storytelling at the heart of every dish. Native Australian ingredients are woven through a menu that celebrates First Nations traditions, while harbour views give you a dining backdrop like no other.
Whether you’re planning a long lunch in the spring sunshine, a memorable dinner or a spontaneous meal with friends, Midden offers a true taste of Australia.
Midden by Mark Olive | Western Broadwalk | Book a table
For a night better shared with the family
Fancy dinner and a show? A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen is a charming, funny and moving night of storytelling, music and live cooking. Theatre-maker and singer-songwriter Joshua Hinton cooks his grandmother’s chicken curry live on stage, weaving a sweeping family tale of migration, identity and food. Part theatre, part live cooking, part trip down memory lane, this is a night that engages all the senses – especially the tastes that can take us home.
A Place in the Sultan’s Kitchen | Studio | 14 – 17 Oct
Come over
A morning coffee. A long lunch. A night of dancing. Something to make the kids laugh. A show you’ve been waiting for. Or simply a reason to sit beneath the sails and watch the harbour go by.
Every day at the House is different. Whatever you’re in the mood for, find your way here this spring.