Top things to see and do in February including WorldPride, Laneway Festival and Ed Sheeran

Summer festivals continue into February, with Sydney offering a long list of festivals, theater and live music for everyone to enjoy.

International headliners descend under on world tours, while local artists sell out venues and make their mark. From the Belvoir St Theater to the Sydney Opera House, new performances are taking the stage and some old favorites are returning too.

There’s something for everyone in Sydney this summer, but here are some of our highlights.

St Jerome’s Laneway Festival

February 5 / Sydney Showground / General Admission $209

The six city trans-Tasmanian concert returns to Sydney for the first time since 2020 with a spectacular line-up that includes Haim, The Jungle Giants and Mallrat, among many others. The 16+ festival offers both general admission and VIP tickets, but if the price is a bit steep there’s also a long list of sideshows from the likes of Girl in Red and Finneas.

Live and Proud: Sydney WorldPride Inaugural Concert

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February 24 / The Domain / Resale tickets $249.02

While not technically a festival, the opening concert for Sydney WorldPride is essentially a music festival, featuring a range of acts to celebrate the start of the mammoth cultural event. You can expect Australian icons like Kylie Minogue and Jessica Mauboy, as well as international star Charli XCX.

for love

26 February / Thomas Dalton Park (Wollongong) / Third release tickets $136.90

Nestled in the middle of the Sydney WorldPride celebrations, this fun and lively music festival is taking place across the Gold Coast, Wollongong, Melbourne and Perth, with headlining Charli XCX and dance icon Duke Dumont. Located just an hour and a half south of Sydney, the festival is easily accessible by car or train. Other crowd favorites include Snakehips, Cosmo’s Midnight and Sonny Fodera.

one woman show

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February 1-19 / Sydney Opera House / Tickets from $55

Straight from London’s West End, Liz Kingsman, an ex-Sydney expat, brings her hit one woman show to the opera house for the international premiere. The highly-anticipated show follows the struggles of a chaotic twenty-something in London and has been covered by major British publications such as B. awarded five stars The guard and The Telegraph. You should not miss this!

Night Time News Network National Nightly News, with Osher Gunsberg

3rd, 10th, 17th February / Factory Theaters / Tickets $20

Bachelor presenter and Australian darling Osher Gunsberg comes to the Factory Theater with his satirical news show where the stories are true and the news are made up. The 24-hour news cycle means no two nights are the same, but it promises one thing will always remain true: sometimes laughing while the world is on fire is an appropriate response.

Bangarra Dance Theater: Dance Clan

February 7-18 / Studio Theater in Bangarra / Tickets from $35

First Nations dance company Bangarra performed Dance Clan for 25 years and nurturing a new generation of storytellers, designers, dancers and choreographers from Bangarra. This year three artists, Glory Tuohy-Daniel, Ryan Pearson and Sani Townson will tell their stories in three original works that are a beautiful display of self-expression and storytelling.

hairspray

Coming February 5th / Sydney Lyric / Tickets from $65

The popular Broadway hit hairspray returns to Sydney with well-known Australians taking on the iconic roles. You’ll see Shane Jacobson as Edna Turnblad (the role played by John Travolta in the 2007 film) and Todd McKenney as Wilbur Turnblad, while Carmel Rodrigues takes on the role of the musical’s lead actress, Tracy Turnblad, who dreams of dancing on The Corny -Collins show.

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Beginning February 11 / Capitol Theater / Tickets from $79

With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat becomes an unforgettable experience. Australian singer-songwriter Paulini plays the role of the narrator, Euan Fistrovic Doidge is Joseph and Trevor Ashley is Pharaoh.

The Rocky Horror Show

From February 14th / Theater Royal Sydney / Tickets from $69.90

Let’s do this Timeskipand visit the Theater Royal for the new Australian production of the legendary rock ‘n’ roll musical, The Rocky Horror Show. A must for music enthusiasts and beginners alike, it has a number of local stars on the show including Jason Donovan as Frank N. Furter and Myf Warhurst as narrator.

art express

February 2 – May 7 / Art Gallery of New South Wales / Free

Art Express is celebrating its 40th anniversary at the Art Gallery of New South Wales with a selection of artworks by HSC 2022 Fine Art students. Covering a range of approaches and forms including ceramics, collection of works, drawing, graphic design and painting, the exhibition is an exhibition where you can pull back the curtain and peek into the creativity of students’ individual projects.

Van Gogh lives

The Grand Pavilion, Entertainment Quarter / Through February 26 / Tickets from $39

After a successful season in Sydney and across Australia, the Van Gogh Alive exhibition is finally coming to an end, so it’s your last chance to get a ticket and go to this incredible visual experience. Immersive installations bring the world of Van Gogh to life with some of the artist’s most famous artworks.

Yirrkala prints

Until April 2023 / Museum of Contemporary Art / Free

An exhibition bringing together a selection of collagraphs from six experienced Yulnu artists, Nongirrna Marawili, Dhuwarrwarr Marika, Barayuwa Munungurr, Mr. W. Wanambi, Ms. M. Wirrpanda and Ms. N. Yunupinu. The artworks show the individual languages ​​of each artist and have expressions of clan and country. The prints were produced in conjunction with printer Richard Smith at Yirrkala Print Space at Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre, the oldest Aboriginal-run print studio in Australia, established in north-east Arnhem Land in 1995.

Hubris & Humiliation

Through March 4th/ Sydney Theater Company/ Tickets from $54

A hilarious comedy about a hapless mother who sends her son to Sydney to find a rich husband. Hubris & Humiliation is a satire on life and love. Described by the STC as ‘Muriel’s wedding-meets-Kath & Kim with all the strange fabulousness of Priscilla Queen of the Deserttopped with a dash of 19th-century charm’, this piece will likely have you on the floor before it even ends.

Blessed Union

February 11 – March 11 / Belvoir St Theater / Tickets from $47

From the mind of Maeve Marsden, Blessed Union is a lesbian divorce comedy for anyone who has looked at their life and wondered if there is a better way to live it. Ruth and Judith have been together a long time and have a home in the inner west and two kids to prove it, but sometimes life’s ideals can be shattered. As part of the Sydney WorldPride events, this is a must-see for theater lovers and newcomers alike.

sex magic

February 17 – March 25 / Griffin Theater Company / Tickets from $38

An exploration of queerness, masculinity and South Asian-Australian identity, sex magic is by playwright Nicholas Brown and stars Raj Labade. After a workplace leak shattered Ard’s dreams of an elite podiatry career, he finds himself selling green juices to tasty mummies in Bondi. A hilarious concept that comes to life on stage, you won’t regret buying a ticket for this roller coaster ride.

red hot chili peppers

February 2 & 4 / Accor Stadium / Tickets from $79

The Chili Peppers return to Australia as part of their global stadium tour following the release of their 12th and 13th studio albums. Boundless love and Return of the dream canteen, marking (once again) the return of guitarist John Frusciante. Alongside the new material, the band will play songs from popular albums, including calibration (1999) and by the way (2002). Six-time Grammy-nominated rapper and singer Post Malone opens for her on all Australian shows.

spike

15-16 February / Aware Super Theater / Tickets from $167.95

Seventeen-time Grammy winner Sting returns to Australia’s shores for his work after nearly seven years My songs Tour that includes hits from the singer’s career both as a solo artist and with The Police. With a repertoire incl Roxanne, with every breath and message in a bottlethe 71-year-old English musician and actor is likely to wow Australian audiences with an accompanying rock ensemble.

Ed Sheeran

24-25 February / Accor Stadium / Tickets from $109.90

The busker-turned-international superstar Ed Sheeran is bringing his mathematics Tour to Australia for a huge series of stadium shows, his first Down Under since 2018. The English singer-songwriter, who found international success in 2011, is releasing hits from his latest album (entitled =following albums +, × and ÷​) and he is expected to play songs like The A Team and Lego housewho initially catapulted his career.

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