Searching for the best music festivals in Sydney in 2024!? Well, look no further, because it’s one of my favorite cities in the world, and a few of these Sydney festivals have provided some of the best weekends of my life – truly!
When it comes to festivals in Sydney (and the surrounding area), there really are so many incredible options! I lived in Sydney for a year, and made it my mission to attend as many music festivals in Australia as I possibly could. While I haven’t been to ALL of these festivals that made this list, I’ve actually been to my fair share of them. The Australian festival culture is alive and vibrant, and I can guarantee you’ll love all the music and atmosphere at all these spectacular events!
Keep reading and check out my list for what I think are the 15 Best Music Festivals in Sydney!
Top 15 Sydney Music Festivals!
1) Lost Paradise Festival 2024
Lost Paradise – Music Festivals in Sydney, NSW, Australia
When: December-January 2024 (New Years Eve music festival)
Where: Glenworth Valley, NSW
ONE PART BOUTIQUE FESTIVAL | ONE PART DOOF | ONE HUGE PARTY.
Located just 80 minutes from Sydney, this 3-day camping festival is hands down one of the best New Years Eve Festivals in Australia. Three incredible stages are spread out in the Glenworth Valley, all with a diverse line-up of live-music and proper underground house and techno.
I’ve personally attended this one, and it’s definitely one of my favorite music festivals in Australia! They just finished their 4th edition, but you honestly would think it was their 10th. It’s a perfectly executed music festival with comfortable camping, incredible stage production, and delicious food and beverage. Skip the Sydney fireworks – head to Lost Paradise!
Read my Lost Paradise festival reviews:
Lost Paradise: Truly a Hidden Wonderland
Lost Paradise 2018 | Boutique Festival, Bush Doof & One Epic Party
2) Return To Rio 2024
When: November, 2024
Where: Wiseman’s Ferry, NSW
https://www.facebook.com/ReturnToRio/
I’ve now attended two different Return To Rio’s, and I would 100% recommend it to everyone looking for an epic weekend of camping, dancing, drinking, and frolicking with some of the best festival crowds in the world!
There are typically two editions held every year marking the “beginning and ending of summer” parties, and I promise it will be 3-days you will never forget. Located about an hour north of Sydney in Wiseman’s Ferry, Return to Rio provides a much needed escape for fans of incredible underground house music to come together, dress up in crazy costumes, and forget about the stress of everyday life.
Read my full Return to Rio festival review – Return To Rio; The Ultimate Weekend Away
3) Festival X Sydney 2024
Photo via Nathan Doran
When: TBC, 2024 (on hiatus in 2023)
Where: Olympic Park, Sydney
https://www.facebook.com/festivalxworld/
While Festival X only made its debut to Australia (and New Zealand) in 2019, it’s already become one of the largest and most talked-about festivals in the country. Judging by last year’s line-up and production, this is simply a MUST-ATTEND event! It’s a collaboration between Hardware & Live Nation, so expect a professionally organized event with a stellar line-up, top-notch production, and overall unforgettable festival experience.
4) Touch Bass 2024
Credit: Touch Bass Festival
When: April, 2024 (Easter festival)
Where: Hordern Pavillion, Sydney
“With the loudest rigs, biggest production, best venues and every show sold out since inception, do not sleep on this.”
After a successful inaugural festival in 2019 in multiple cities across Australia and subsequent success in the following years, Touch Bass is returning to throw another Sydney Festival in 2024 dedicated to the bass heads out there!
5) SXSW Sydney 2024
When: October, 2024
Where: Sydney, NSW
6) St. Jerome’s Laneway Festival Sydney 2024
Photo via Facebook
When: February 4, 2024
Where: Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney, NSW
https://www.lanewayfestival.com
Every line-up I’ve seen from Laneway Festival has been so diverse and unique, and could only imagine the soundtrack of the day is nothing but perfection. It’s a one-day festival right in the city, and definitely shouldn’t be missed. Laneway Sydney happens every year in early February. Ticket prices tend to be a bit more on the expensive side, but I got used to that in Australia.
7) Field Day 2024
Photo via Field Day Facebook
When: January 1, 2024 (New Years Day festival)
Where: The Domain, Sydney, NSW
What are your plans for January 1st…? Well, if you’re smart, you’ve booked your tickets to Field Day well in advance, because this one-day Sydney party is the absolute best way to start off the year. This one-day mega festival is spread out over 4-5 stages at the beautiful venue, The Domain. Every year the line-up will impress you with top-notch international artists, as well as plenty of domestic talent. I went to Field Day in 2016, and it was definitely a good time. It was a bit overcrowded at times, but the production was fantastic, and it’s proper Aussie festival vibes.
“Set on the first day of the year at its beautiful iconic Sydney venue, The Domain, Field Day is the smart way to celebrate New Years and is also our city’s most popular boutique music festival. It’s known for a super-friendly atmosphere and quality line-ups mixing hip-hop, house, indie and electronic artists from around the world.”
8) Harbourlife Festival 2024
Photo via Harbourlife Festival Facebook
When: November, 2024
Where: Sydney Botanical Gardens, Sydney, NSW
https://www.facebook.com/Harbourlife/
“Since 2003 Harbourlife has become Sydney’s premiere dance music event. This spectacular Sydney party will return to its waterside venue at Mrs Macquarie’s Point in Sydney. You can celebrate the start of summer in beautiful green surroundings, the perfect view of the Sydney harbour / skyline and party with a carefully hand-picked selection of quality house acts providing the perfect soundtrack.” Tickets sell out for this event fast, but if you don’t manage to snag some, you can still make your way over to the Royal Botanical Gardens and listen to the music from the top of the festival. That’s what I did one year, and there were plenty of people enjoying a free-party with top-notch music. This one-day festival occurs in Mid-November every year.
9) Listen Out Festival 2024
When: September, 2024
Where: Centennial Park, Sydney
https://www.listenout.com.au/home/
Listen Out is Australia’s primary national dance music festival and has sold out in all cities since 2016.
One of Australia’s best touring festivals in four different cities definitely should not be missed! Listen Out always has an insanely stacked line-up, massive stages, and an incredible vibe. Typically happens in Sydney around the beginning of October! Grab your tickets fast, because this event sells out rather quickly.
10) PURE Festival Sydney 2024
Credit: Facebook
When: April, 2024
Where: Sydney, NSW
Ever techno fan in the world knows about the legendary Carl Cox, but what a lot of people don’t know is that he lives in Australia! For the past two years, he’s begun this new one-day techno festival called PURE across four major cities in the country, and has delighted techno and electronic music fans with pounding basslines and 4×4 beats. I’ve had several friends attend PURE, and everyone has told me it’s a non-stop ride with nothing but top-notch techno!
11) Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras 2024
When: March 2, 2024
Where: Sydney, NSW
www.mardigras.org.au/2024-festival
“Every year since, we have gathered in a colourful explosion of self-expression, celebration and protest. Our glittering Parade and Festival are a demonstration of the amazing power of passion, creativity and community. They are a reminder, as we reflect on all that we have achieved over the years, that every small step forward is a move in the right direction. But while discrimination, prejudice and stigma still exist, our work is not done.”
12) The Sydney Folk Festival 2024
When: August, 2024
Where: Surry Hills, Sydney, NSW
https://www.sydneyfolkfestival.com.au/
“Showcasing the diversity of folk with bespoke concerts, workshops, interactive sessions, dance and spoken word programs.”
“This is an urban festival but it is also one that celebrates the creativity, diversity and talent of folk arts and artists from right across our State of NSW and, from the city to the bush there’s a lot to experience. Whether you like your folk big and rowdy or simple and spare, a solo singer expressing big ideas or a dancey outfit playing up a storm, tunes from the Balkans or songs with “bite” you’ll be spoilt for choice. Sydney Folk Festival is more than just a series of concerts. For those who like to get “hands on” there will be workshops to learn new skills, dance events where you can kick up your heels, sessions to join, poetry to spruik and more.”
13) Subsonic Music Festival 2024
When: December, 2024
Where: Monkerai, Australia
https://www.subsonicmusic.com.au/
https://www.facebook.com/subsonicmusic
If you’re looking for a unique experience unlike any other in Sydney than Subsonic is the festival for you! This is a pure Australian “bush doof”, and all my festival friends say it’s their favorite event in the entire country! The venue, Riverwood Downs Mountain Valley Resort, is absolutely gorgeous, and perfect for an event of this size. The music DOES NOT STOP, so you better be ready for a proper bender #TeamNoSleep. Everyone is also all about the community, and it’ll be hard to find people at Subsonic that will not greet you with a smile and a hug.
Further Reading: Subsonic Music Festival 2017 | Festival Review
14) The Yacht Social Club 2024
When: Every weekend during summer, 2024.
Where: Sydney Harbour, Sydney
https://www.facebook.com/theyachtsocialclub/
“Sydney Harbour is our playground so choose your crew, book your yacht and prepare yourself for an unforgettable experience.”
Last, but certainly not least, is arguably one of the best weekly parties in Sydney over summer! Imagine yourself on a yacht with 15+ of your closest friends, lined up in a circle with other yachts with music blasting, and people swimming in the middle. It’s absolutely amazing! Australia’s only weekly floating music event, The Yacht Social Club, returns for another season on Sydney Harbour. Expect gorgeous yachts, a beautiful crowd and Sydney’s finest local DJs pumping out the best summer tunes to the backdrop of the iconic Sydney Harbour.”
Read all about it: Yacht Social Club: Sydney Harbour is our Playground
15) Good Things Festival Sydney 2024
Image: Beat Magazine
When: December, 2024
Where: Centennial Park, Sydney
https://www.goodthingsfestival.com.au
“Australia’s largest and favourite traveling music festival, aka 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥, is officially returning to ignite mosh pits and more along the east coast in December – and we can’t wait to celebrate with you! With so few things to celebrate over the past few years and a severe lack of live music and festivals, it’s about time we all had something to look forward to; and 𝐆𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 is bringing the good times and then some, offering a world-class line up entirely worth the wait.”
16) Electric Gardens Festival 2024
When: March 31, 2024
Where: Royal Randwick, Sydney
Electric Gardens is excited to announce that it is back in 2024!
“Electric Gardens is excited to announce that it is back in 2024! After a four-year hiatus, the Electric Gardens franchise returns to the festival landscape with a one-stage, open-air experience, across the Easter Long Weekend: March 30 (Melbourne), March 31 (Sydney) and April 7 (Perth). Priding itself on booking the very best in the electronic music scene, Artists who break boundaries and DJs who read crowds, the next edition features a line-up that boasts some of the greatest house and progressive electronic DJs / producers of our time.”
Organizing events around the country, Electric Gardens has provided it’s a staple in the Australian festival scene. The organizers do regularly promote events around the country – like their Electric Island series. While Electric Gardens does throw editions in Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane as well, Sydney will always be its home base. I personally attended the inaugural 2016 edition, and had an absolutely incredible time. It’s well organized, excellent production, and it attracts the perfect Sydney party crowd.
Read more: Electric Gardens Festival Review
17) Light It Up Festival
When: September, 2024 (TBC)
Where: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
https://mjrpresents.com/light-it-up/
“In 2023, Wiz Khalifa headed up Australia’s brand new all-ages touring hip hop festival. Hip-hop fans, gird your loins. Some of the most sought after names in the genre are descending on Australia’s biggest arenas for the inaugural run of touring festival Light It Up. Light It Up is gearing up to mark the next major step for hip hop-focused festivals in Australia.”
18) By The C
When: October, 2024
Where: Cronulla, Sydney
“By The C is a beachside festival featuring legends of the music world with pop-up bars and food stalls. It’s about the music. It’s about the festival experience. It’s about relaxing in the sun and doing it all against a beautiful backdrop that makes you glad and proud to be an Aussie. This celebration of live music, food, and community on scenic beachside locations around Australia is the perfect way to meet and be merry for an unforgettable day and night out with your mates.”
Did I miss any epic Sydney music festivals?
It’s been a few years since I’ve lived in Sydney, so I’m sure there are a few events that I haven’t heard about, and would love to keep this article as up to date as possible. If you think I need to add any specific music festivals in Sydney or the New South Wales area, please do let me know!
Sydney is honestly one of my favorite cities in the world, and I’ve had some of the best weekends of my life at a couple of these music festivals! If you’ve ever got any questions about these Sydney events, please don’t hesitate to reach out!
Looking for more festivals in Australia and around the world?
I’ve written quite a lot about upcoming music festivals in Sydney, Melbourne, and all over Australia. Browse through a few of my favorite articles below, and start planning your next big trip Down Under!
Check out a few of these articles to help you figure out your next big festival adventure…
- Top 30 Music Festivals in BRISBANE To Keep You Dancing All Year Long
- Top 10 Music Festivals in MELBOURNE To Experience Before You Die
- Top 20 Byron Bay Music Festivals To Experience Before You DIe
- 30 Music Festivals in AUSTRALIA to Experience Before You Die
- The 20 Best Music Festivals in Adelaide to Experience Before You Die
- The 25 Best Music Festivals in Asia To Experience Before You Die
- 44 Festival Accessories, Festival Gear & Must Haves | The Best Festival Packing List
- The Ultimate Music Festival Camping Packing List
Planning a trip to Australia…?
Not a day goes by where I don’t think about moving back to Australia! I really do miss it so much, and am always telling people that they need to visit someday. There’s just so much to explore, the people are incredible, and the food is delicious. I’ve written many blogs about the country, and love helping people plan their big Aussie travel adventure. Take a read through some of my top Australia blog articles below…
- THE ULTIMATE SYDNEY ITINERARY | How to Spend 4-7 Days Exploring Sydney
- The Best Australian Outback Northern Territory Itinerary
- The Best Melbourne Itinerary | How to Spend 4-7 Days Exploring Melbourne
- The Best PERTH Itinerary | How to spend 4-7 Days Exploring PERTH
- Sydney to Cairns | The Ultimate East Coast Greyhound Bus Pass Travel Itinerary
- The 12 Best Backpacker Hostels in Sydney, Australia
- Australia Travel Tips for the East Coast of Oz
- How to Spend Two Days Exploring Manly Beach in Sydney
- The Ultimate Guide for Moving to Sydney on a Working Holiday Visa
- 14 Words You’ll Start Saying When You Move to Australia
Wow your blog is really amazing.Last i participate in lost paradise music festivals and i think it’s one of the best music festival i have ever seen.I really liked.And i hope i will go other music festivals also very soon.
Thanks so much! I was at LP too and it was sooo incredible! Hopefully we can meet up at the next one, or a different festival around the world!
All of these festivals are for people over 18 years Old ? Because I’m 17 so I would like to know
Are there any under 18 music festivals coming up soon or any for the future?
I would like to see more info regarding for food stalls details please
I like you article. i read almost all article of your site and each article give me new information about the places in the wold. Thanks
I am absolutely stoked to attend some of these festivals next year! Thanks for including videos, this was a very informative read!
Wow I really think you accomplished your mission of seeing as many music festivals in Australia as possible – what a list! It is true, Australia has some pretty rad festivals!
Brilliant round up Dave! Exactly what I was looking for.
I especially loved how you highlighted the unique experiences offered by each festival. From the vibrant atmosphere and iconic Bondi Beach backdrop at FOMO Festival to the magical waterfront setting and diverse lineup of Lost Paradise, you’ve given us a taste of the incredible diversity that Sydney’s music festival scene has to offer. It’s refreshing to see that there’s something for everyone, whether you’re into electronic beats, indie vibes, or rock anthems.
As the CEO of ‘On Screen Solution’, I can attest to Sydney’s vibrant music scene and the unforgettable experiences these festivals offer. It’s no surprise that Sydney’s music festivals rank among the best globally, making them a must-visit for any music enthusiast.
Embark on an unforgettable musical journey through Sydney’s vibrant festival scene – a testament to the city’s electrifying energy and diverse cultural offerings.