Sydney Lunar Festival 2025

Sydney Lunar Festival is set to provide thousands of residents and visitors with 2 weeks of family-friendly music, feasts and performances to welcome the Year of the Snake.

Sydney Lunar Festival runs from 29 January to 16 February, with program highlights including:

  • Sydney Lunar Streets, 1 February 5pm-10pm
    The first major event of the festival. Expect mouthwatering food along with traditional and contemporary cultural performances featuring the always popular lion dancing. This event has become so popular, it has been expanded with road closures on Ultimo Road and Thomas, Sussex and Harbour streets to accommodate more Haymarket businesses and growing audiences.
  • Lunar Lanterns
    Illuminated zodiac artworks designed by Erika Zhu snake their way along George Street, Haymarket showcasing the story of how 12 animals competed to come first in the Great Race.
  • Lion dancing
    Vibrant and colourful performances come to the streets during the festival.
  • Street performances in Haymarket, Thaitown and Darling Quarter
    Free pop-up cultural entertainment every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6pm.
  • Lunar Spectacular, 8 February 2pm and 5pm
    Free event at Sydney Town Hall celebrating Chinese, Korean, Thai, Malaysian and Vietnamese cultures through music and dance.
  • Dragon Boat Festival, 7-9 February
    As many as 3,500 paddlers take over Cockle Bay with dragon boats churning through the water. Enjoy food, performances and family-friendly events on the shore, presented by Dragon Boats NSW.

Associated events include art exhibitions, performances, food and drink offerings, talks, seminars, tours and workshops put on by a variety of organisations and businesses. Visit sydneylunarfestival.com for more information.

Upcoming Events Submit an Event

January

Kita Food Festival was created to put Southeast Asia on the gastro-tourism map by spotlighting chefs, producers, flavours and food innovators. The festival returns in 2025 with a packed schedule.

March

MPEC25 brings together Australia’s meat processing and export industries, blending business-focused discussions with opportunities to tackle the big issues shaping the sector.

The Mercure Canberra will host the largest ever Canberra Craft Beer and Cider Festival on Saturday, March 15, 2025, with festival organisers promising “more of everything”.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival 2025, presented by La Trobe Financial and supported by Visit Victoria, has announced a 10-day program with special guest chefs and unique drinking and dining experiences all over Victoria.

April

With a line-up of leading global suppliers, industry professionals can anticipate a showcase of trending food & beverage products and solutions, cutting-edge technologies for manufacturing, and more.

May

Top industry leaders and pioneering innovators will come together at the 2025 Workplace Health & Safety Show, taking place in Melbourne.

June

FoodTech Queensland brings together the most innovative food manufacturing and technology solutions into one destination event on the beautiful Gold Coast.

September

The 13th ICSD 2025 will be an opportunity to share ideas and research findings relevant to the Sustainability Science, through the European network of academics.