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The new year brings a wealth of new opportunities, with travellers across the world making resolutions to travel more and embrace fresh experiences. The 2025 Australian events calendar offers ample opportunity for all three, with electrifying art installations, sports tournaments and festivals ready to dazzle locals and visitors.
Tasting Australia, Adelaide
Book a trip to South Australia’s capital in early May and watch as Adelaide turns on the charm for Tasting Australia, the nation’s longest-running food and drink festival. Dining galleries that serve as a conjuncture between restaurants and art showcases will form part of the 150-event line-up, as will immersive cooking classes and intimate tastings. A taste of the sessions on offer: elemental-inspired dining led by chefs Chiara Pavan, Lennox Hastie and Nicola Parmer; an eclectic collaboration of real-life partners O Tama Carey and Mat Lindsay with a five-course menu; and learn the fundaments of cooking with Indigenous ingredients with Ngemba Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor. Check out the Matchmaker Series (like speed-dating, but with winemakers) for a different spin on wine tasting.
Tasting Australia runs from 2 May to 11 May.
VIVID Sydney, Sydney
“We want you to dream […] without boundaries,” writes Gill Minervini, the director of VIVID Sydney, the world’s largest annual festival of light, music, technology and ideas. With this year’s theme dedicated to dreams and how they inspire, motivate, and spark excitement and connection, attendees can expect 23 days and nights of mind-opening art installations, preconception-shifting talks and concerts from boundary-pushing artists. A sizable part of the event is free, including the 8.5-kilometre Vivid Sydney Light Walk, which in years past has seen guests weave from Circular Quay to Central Station, stopping to marvel at 3D-mapped projections on landmark buildings, including the Sydney Opera House and ASN Clock Tower.
VIVID Sydney runs from 23 May to 14 June.
Formula One Australian Grand Prix, Melbourne
Rev your engines and get ready because Melbourne takes centre stage with the Australian Grand Prix set to return to Albert Park. After a highly successful 2024 edition which saw record-breaking attendance levels, there’s plenty of high-octane action to look forward to on the track. All eyes will be on local hero Oscar Piastri who secured two coveted pole positions in 2024 (Hungary and Azerbaijan), plus Formula One superstar Lewis Hamilton’s debut race with team Ferrari. Expect world-class hospitality, live music performances, vintage cars, fan zones and innovation hubs for all your off-track entertainment needs.
The 2025 Australian Grand Prix runs from 14 March to 16 March.
Concerts by the World’s Biggest Musicians, Australia-wide
The geographical distance between Australia and destinations like Europe and the United States has long been a handicap for internationally touring artists. That’s why it’s always a good day when the world’s biggest musicians announce a tour down under. Australians in the Northern Territory, Canberra and Tasmania – as well as those living in rural areas – should plan city escapes if seeing homegrown pop sensation Kylie Minogue on her Tension tour or hit American singer-songwriter Billie Eilish is on their bucket list. For something of a different flavour, five-time Grammy and two-time Academy Award-winning German composer Hans Zimmer will also be touring in Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.
Kylie Minogue is performing across Australia between 18 February and 3 March. Billie Eilish is performing across Australia between 18 February and 8 March. Hans Zimmer is performing across Australia between 24 April and 30 April.
Winter Art Festivals, Australia-wide
While VIVID Sydney is the undeniable heavyweight of Australian winter festivities, the country is plush with smaller-scale, eclectic celebrations that pay homage to dark, cold nights. RISING: Melbourne offers live music and public light displays almost on the scale of VIVID Sydney, Tasmania’s Dark Mofo festival will make a comeback with its hedonistic-themed celebrations fusing art, ritual and revelry while Adelaide’s 18-day Illuminate will feature 150 global artists, stunning fire gardens and late-night music shows.
In the Northern Territory, witness the Red Centre glow brighter than ever at Parrtjima, on its 10th anniversary year, featuring an open-air orchestral performance by the Darwin Symphony Orchestra.
Winter festivals run nationally throughout June, July and August.
Melt OPEN, Brisbane
After a highly successful outing in 2024 – a celebration of all things LGBTQI+ art, ideas and people – will return this October in Brisbane. Piggybacking off the success of Melt, a queer art showcase held annually at Brisbane Powerhouse, this city-wide extravaganza aims to foster a spirit of inclusivity ahead of the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032.
Melt OPEN runs from 22 October to 9 November.
Adelaide Fringe, Adelaide
Adelaide Fringe, the biggest arts festival in the southern hemisphere, offers an unparalleled platform for 6,000 emerging acts and established artists to showcase their talents to a global audience. The 2025 lineup includes parodies of Marvel heroes, an award-winning electropop netball musical ‘Lady Macbeth Played Wing Defence’ and jazz-meets-The Beatles cabaret performance.
Adelaide Fringe runs from 21 February to 23 March.
Noosa Eat and Drink Festival, Queensland
A favourite for over two decades, this four-day celebration of Sunshine Coast flavours brings renowned chefs like Adriano Zumbo, Gary Mehigan and Khanh Ong to the picturesque beachside town of Noosa. The signature Long Lunch stretches along Arcadia Street, featuring five top local restaurants, while beer and cider lovers can enjoy craft brews and The Beach Garden pop-up offers sundowner sessions. The event’s Festival Village also boasts produce markets, interactive masterclasses and lively entertainment.
Noosa Eat and Drink Festival runs from 29 May to 1 June.
Pair’d Festival, Western Australia
Set amid the rolling vineyards and hidden coves of the Margaret River, Western Australia’s spectacular coastal wine region, Pair’d is a ‘wine first’ festival that debuted in 2024. This four-day celebration showcases South West’s finest wines, paired with exceptional food, music, and culture – guests can enjoy sunlit long table lunches, exclusive Grand Tastings and a world-first Wine Dinner Series featuring acclaimed chefs.
Pair’d runs from 20 November to 23 November.
Guys & Dolls at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney
For the first time ever, Guys & Dolls takes to the open-air stage on Sydney Harbour, bringing Broadway magic to this stunning waterfront setting. This classic musical bursts to life with high-stakes gamblers, feisty showgirls, unforgettable tunes and dazzling fireworks under the stars. With world-class performers and a breathtaking backdrop, this must-see production blends old-school New York charm with Sydney’s iconic views for an unforgettable theatrical experience.
Guys & Dolls runs from 21 March to 20 April.
Floriade, Canberra
Floriade, Australia’s largest spring festival, returns to Canberra’s Commonwealth Park, transforming the area into a colourful garden with over a million blooms. Beyond intricate floral displays, Floriade offers a complimentary day program packed with live acts, art installations, culinary delights, and cultural celebrations; as evening falls, the festival becomes NightFest, where the park sparkles with dazzling light displays, live music shows and adults-only The Kazador tent hosts the risque Kiss Bang Cabaret.
Floriade runs from 13 September to 12 October.
Ashes series, Australia-wide
Cricket enthusiasts, assemble! The Ashes 2025 marks the continuation of one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries. With Australia leading 34 series wins to England’s 32, this historic competition promises high-intensity matches across Australia’s most iconic stadiums, with both teams hungry to claim the prestigious trophy. For over 140 years, The Ashes has delivered unforgettable moments, making it a must-watch for cricket fans.
The Ashes will run from November 2025 to January 2026 across Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
