Experience the magic of the holiday season with family-friendly Christmas events in Sydney. If you’re planning festive fun with your kids in Sydney this December, we’ve pulled together the full list of events, from free light shows to Santa experiences, concerts and markets.
Some of these events have locked in their 2026 dates already, while others are still finalising details, since most Sydney Christmas events don’t confirm dates until October or November. We’ve marked each one clearly and will keep this page updated as new information comes through, so bookmark it and check back closer to December.
Jump to: Free Christmas Events | Christmas Lights, Trees & Markets | Santa Experiences | Shows, Concerts & Movies
Free Christmas Events in Sydney
Christmas at the Cathedral
Sydney’s favourite free family Christmas tradition returns to St Mary’s Cathedral. Watch the spectacular light and sound show projected onto the Cathedral facade, browse the food and gift stalls, and enjoy nightly performances from choirs and local musicians.
Dates: 16 to 25 December 2026
Time: 5:30pm to 10:30pm nightly
Location: St Mary’s Cathedral Forecourt, College St, Sydney
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Parking tip: there’s no parking at the Cathedral itself, but the Domain Car Park on St Mary’s Road and the Hyde Park Car Park are both a short walk away. St James Station is the closest train stop, about 3 minutes on foot.
Carols in the Domain
Australia’s biggest free Christmas concert returns to The Domain for its 44th year, with fireworks, a massed choir and a lineup of Australian performers. The Accessible Lawn area is free and non-ticketed, so bring a picnic and get there early for the best spot.
Date: Saturday 19 December 2026
Time: Main program from around 7:45pm, gates open earlier for pre-show entertainment
Location: The Domain, Art Gallery Road, Sydney
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free on the Accessible Lawn, reserved seating available from around $85
Christmas at Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour puts on a full season of free festive events, including the floating Christmas tree, weekend fireworks over Cockle Bay, and the Darling Harbour Christmas Festival with live music and roving entertainers.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year the season ran from mid-November through to Boxing Day, with fireworks every Saturday night in December.
Location: Darling Harbour, Sydney
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
What usually happens: A 10-metre floating Christmas tree lights up Cockle Bay from late November, weekend fireworks run through December, and Tumbalong Park hosts a family concert with performers and a visit from Santa.
Jolly Christmas Night Markets
Circular Quay transforms into Sydney’s biggest free Christmas night market, stretching from Customs House to The Rocks with over 120 stalls, live music and a towering lit-up Christmas tree.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year ran 11 to 21 December.
Time: Weekdays 4pm to 10:30pm, weekends 11am to 10:30pm (usual pattern)
Location: Circular Quay and The Rocks, Sydney
Age Group: All ages Cost: Free entry
Homegrown Christmas at The Rocks
The Rocks’ historic laneways come alive with Christmas decorations, a free outdoor Laneway Cinema screening festive films, artisan markets and the Homegrown Concert Series featuring Australian musicians on Tallawoladah Lawn.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year ran from mid-November to 25 December, with the Homegrown Concert Series held over two weekends in December.
Location: The Rocks, Sydney
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free
Christmas at Hay St
Hay St Market goes all in on the festive season with a Christmas menu, themed live music nights, an Elf on the Shelf treasure hunt for kids, and weekend activities like face painting and cookie decorating.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year ran through December, wrapping up around 21 December.
Location: Hay St Market, Haymarket, Sydney
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free to visit, food and drinks priced separately
Christmas Lights, Trees and Markets
Pick Your Own Christmas Tree at Luddenham
Luddenham Christmas Tree Farm welcomes families daily throughout December for a genuine pick-your-own experience. Wander through thousands of real Christmas trees, choose a favourite and cut it down yourself.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year ran from late November through to just before Christmas.
Location: 821 Luddenham Road, Luddenham
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free to visit, no bookings required. Trees priced on size.
Good to know: it’s about 45 minutes from Sydney CBD and 20 minutes from Parramatta, so plan for a bit of a drive.
Christmas at The Grounds of Alexandria
The Grounds transforms into Christmas laneways decked out in baubles, velvet ribbons and an oversized wreath, with pre-booked Santa photo sessions available.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year ran from mid-October through to early January.
Location: The Grounds of Alexandria
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Free to walk through, though access to the festive laneways is reserved for those dining at one of the on-site cafes
Santa Experiences in Sydney
Wundrful World of Christmas
An immersive, mixed-reality walk-through experience taking families on a journey to the North Pole, with animated characters, live actors and a Santa photo opportunity included.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year ran from 1 November through to Christmas Eve.
Location: Wundr Store, 31 Market Street, Sydney, opposite the QVB
Age Group: Best suited to ages 3 to 8, though open to all ages
Cost: Around $37.50 to $41.50 for adults, $27.50 to $31.50 for kids aged 3 to 16, depending on session time. Under 3s free.
High Tea with Santa at QVB
A more grown-up Santa experience under the chandeliers of the historic Tea Room QVB, with a Christmas-themed high tea menu and a photo session with Santa included.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year sessions ran on selected days between late November and Christmas Eve
Location: The Tea Room QVB, Queen Victoria Building
Cost: Last year was $105 for adults and teens, $65 for kids aged 1 to 12. Bookings essential, no walk-ins.
Santa Train Rides
A handful of heritage rail experiences run Santa-themed services each December, including the NSW Rail Museum’s Santa Train from Thirlmere, Santa’s Steam Tram at Valley Heights in the Blue Mountains, the Santa Express at Zig Zag Railway, and Sydney Trains’ Santa Electric Train from Olympic Park to Rhodes.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed for all of these. Transport Heritage NSW typically announces its December Santa services in October, usually running on selected weekends in late November and December.
Location: Various, across Thirlmere, the Blue Mountains, Zig Zag Railway and Sydney Olympic Park
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Ranges from around $12 to $60 depending on the experience
Christmas Shows, Concerts and Movies
The Christmas Spectacular
An extravaganza of music, circus, dance and magic returning to State Theatre, with a nod to the Radio City Rockettes and The Nutcracker.
Dates: Returning December 2026. General tickets went on sale 17 August, with specific show dates and times to be confirmed closer to the season.
Location: State Theatre, 49 Market Street, Sydney
Age Group: All ages
Cost: Tickets started from $59 to $79 last year, family passes from around $189
The Wiggles: Sparkle! BIG SHOW
The Wiggles bring their biggest live show yet, with all four generations of Wiggles, plus Dorothy the Dinosaur, Wags the Dog, Captain Feathersword and more.
Date: Saturday 19 December 2026
Location: Afterpay Arena (formerly Qudos Bank Arena), Sydney Olympic Park
Age Group: All ages
Cost: From around $50
Love Actually in Concert
The beloved Christmas rom-com plays in full on the big screen while a live orchestra performs the score alongside the film.
Date: December 2026, at Sydney’s Darling Harbour Theatre. Exact date still being confirmed across sources, so double check before booking
Location: Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney
Age Group: Rated M, suited to teens and adults
Cost: Tickets on sale now
Handel’s Messiah
A Sydney Christmas tradition for decades, Handel’s Messiah returns for 2026 with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs performing at the Sydney Opera House. Note this is a change from previous years, when Pinchgut Opera staged it at City Recital Hall.
Dates: December 2026, exact date to be confirmed
Location: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Cost: Details to be confirmed closer to the date
Christmas Movies at Moonlight Cinema
Outdoor screenings of holiday classics under the stars, with past programs including Love Actually, Elf, Home Alone and The Holiday.
Dates: 2026 program not yet announced. Last year’s Christmas Favourites program ran from 9 to 23 December.
Location: Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park, Sydney
Cost: From around $12 for a sand spot up to $45 for a bean bed
Taronga Zoo Christmas Concert
A family-friendly concert set against Sydney Harbour views at Taronga Zoo, with a special appearance from Santa.
Dates: 2026 dates to be confirmed. Last year’s concert ran in mid-December.
Location: Taronga Zoo, Sydney
Cost: Last year was around $36 to $43.30
Carols on the Pier
A family concert from the Australian Chamber Orchestra, featuring carols alongside classical music, with free craft activities for kids afterwards.
Dates: Confirmed returning for 2026 as part of ACO’s family season, exact December dates to be confirmed.
Location:ACO On The Pier, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct
Age Group: All ages Cost: Details to be confirmed
Sydney Christmas Events FAQ
Christmas at the Cathedral, Carols in the Domain’s Accessible Lawn, the Darling Harbour Christmas program, Jolly Christmas Night Markets and Homegrown Christmas at The Rocks are all free to attend.
High Tea with Santa at QVB, the Santa-themed heritage train rides, and Santa photo sessions at The Grounds of Alexandria are all popular options for meeting Santa.
The Jolly Christmas Night Markets at Circular Quay are Sydney’s biggest free Christmas market, with over 120 stalls stretching from Customs House to The Rocks.
Most Sydney Christmas events confirm exact dates in October or November. We’ll keep this page updated as details are released.
You might also like: