Create NSW is proud to support major festivals. Through these festivals, homegrown musicians, artists, and performers from across NSW take centre stage. They connect with audiences in some of our favourite spaces.
Major festivals
Image
![Person in a dress in the foreground with two people in the background in the air](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2023-08/Holding%20Achilles%20LOTW%20SF23%20Robert%20Catto.jpg?h=3dbd9eac&itok=lKMb8yzl)
Sydney Festival
The Sydney Festival is Australia’s premier arts and cultural festival. It's a highlight of the city’s annual calendar, held at the start of each year. It features vibrant music, theatre, dance and other events across Sydney.
Image
![Audience entering the front door of the State Theatre in Sydney for the Sydney Film Festival](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2023-08/FILM_STATE_OpeningNight_044_05062019_66thSFF_.jpg?h=f1a8c4de&itok=-1gtAsHq)
Sydney Film Festival
The Sydney Film Festival features award-winning films from international film festivals, Australian premieres and world premieres. There are panel talks, debates, industry networking events and conferences tailored to Australian and global film industries.
Image
![Family looking at art at the 23rd Biennale of Sydney](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2024-02/Photo%20by_Cassandra%20Hannagan.jpg?h=b2d9f031&itok=V2W9glF_)
Biennale of Sydney
The Biennale of Sydney is a leading international contemporary art event. It plays a major role in Australia’s engagement with the world, and a meaningful role in the life of the nation.
Image
![Audience sitting in Sydney Fringe Spiegeltent watching two people with guitars on the stage.](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2023-08/BDCK_235%20Bellinda%20Rolanda%20.jpg?h=41f55a5b&itok=04PhEnzc)
Sydney Fringe Festival
The Sydney Fringe Festival is the largest independent arts festival in NSW. There's over 450 events presented in over 70 venues across Greater Sydney each year. Each September emerging artists and culture creators from all over the city join forces with us to share Sydney’s stories, presenting new work from all genres.
Image
![Birds eye view of books on tables in Carriageworks as part of Sydney Writers' Festival](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2023-08/SWF_260523_credit_JacquieManning--117.jpg?h=a1e1a043&itok=DtKZDVio)
Sydney Writers' Festival
The Sydney Writers’ Festival is Australia’s largest annual celebration of literature and ideas. Featuring international and Australian authors. Comes alive each May with new ideas, discussion and debate.
Image
![Installation view - Nicole Monks, Charles Madden, Kristine Townsend, Teresa Gay and nhurra ‘gawura guruwin / burna nhurra’ at Tamarama Beach at Sculpture by the Sea 2019](/sites/default/files/styles/card_s_x1/public/2023-08/NicoleMonks_gawuraguruwinWhaleShark_SxSBondi2018_Photo_JessicaWyld_web.jpg?h=790be497&itok=5EXWVfdy)
Sculpture by the Sea
Sculpture by the Sea takes place each year on the Bondi to Tamarama Beach coastal walk. It's the world's largest free to the public sculpture exhibition. The spectacular coastal walk is transformed into a 2km long sculpture park over three weeks featuring more than 100 sculptures by artists from Australia and across the world.
Regional events and festivals
A variety of artforms and communities are showcased in festivals across NSW. This includes contemporary arts festival Cementa, Byron Writers Festival, and Winter Blooming Festival.
Byron Writers Festival
The annual Byron Writers Festival is Australia’s largest and leading regional celebration of storytelling, literature and ideas. Each year we present more than 150 sessions during Festival Week. It attracts an audience of approximately 12,000 people (or 70,000 individual attendances) in the stunning surrounds of Byron Bay.
![Audience sitting on grass under blue sky at Byron Writers Festival](/sites/default/files/styles/_medium/public/2023-08/ByronWF2019_CapacityCrowds_highres_photocredit_jmillerphotography_17.jpg?itok=HoTkd7V4)
Capacity crowds at Byron Writers Festival, ACFP Key Festivals funding recipient. Image: J Miller.