Discover the Best Music & Culture Festivals in Australia

Australia is home to a wide array of music and cultural festivals throughout the year. No matter what you like or what your interests are, there is more than likely a festival that celebrates it. Here are a few of the best you should attend in 2025. ​

Sydney Festival

Starting off with one of the biggest and most popular festivals of the year, the Sydney Festival is a 3-week-long performance and visual art extravaganza that takes place in January. 

While you’re packing a pod vape, add a few snacks and drinks, as you will find yourself spending hours exploring and enjoying this breathtaking festival. If you are in Sydney in January, this is most definitely something you need to experience. 

Perth Festival

As Australia’s longest-running cultural event, the Perth Festival takes place from the beginning of February to the beginning of March every year. It celebrates everything art, from music and dance, to literature and idea talks and panels. 

The festival also takes place across multiple indoor and outdoor venues, and is a truly holistic deep dive into the art and culture of Australia and the rest of the world. 

Sydney Mardi Gras

Held from Valentine’s Day until the 2nd of March, Sydney Mardi Gras is a massive LGBTQ+ festival attended and celebrated by hundreds of thousands of people. As one of the largest Pride festivals in the world, you can expect a lot more than marches. 

Attendees can enjoy parades, Bondi Beach Drag Races, multiple parties, academic talks, and a film festival. Even if you are not part of the LGBTQ+ community, it is an incredibly fun event to attend packed with love and acceptance, with everyone aiming to have a great time. 

Parkes Elvis Festival

First started as a small get-together to enjoy and celebrate the life and music of Elvis Presley, Parkes Elvis Festival has exploded in popularity, with 300 guests attending the first festival, and now 25,000 people make their way to Parkes each year. 

With 200 different events and celebrations, this is the perfect place for those who still love the King of Rock n’ Roll and want to enjoy their passion with like-minded people. 

Byron Bay Bluesfest

First held in 1990, the Byron Bay Bluesfest is an annual festival that brings together the best Australian and international blues and roots performers. 2025 is also, unfortunately, the last year the festival will be held. 

However, with past performers like John Mayer, Wolfmother, ZZ Top, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and countless others, if you can, find your way to this festival this year, you will most certainly not regret it. 

Laneway Festival

The Laneway Festival is a multi-city music extravaganza that takes place between late January and early February each year. Laneway keeps it simple; it is also about the music, singing, dancing, and living life to the fullest. 

Some of the acts that have graced the stages of Laneway include Stormzy, Haim, Joji, Finneas, Charlie XCX, Fred Again, King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard, and plenty of other indie and internationally famous acts. 

Melbourne International Comedy Festival

Typically starting in March and ending in April, the Melbourne International Comedy Festival hosts upwards of 800,000 attendees, with countless local and international comedians taking to the stage. 

As one of the “Big 3” in comedy festivals, along with Edinburgh Fringe and Montreal’s Just for Laughs, the Melbourne festival is arguably the best in the Southern Hemisphere and, even if you aren’t the biggest fan of stand-up, still a festival that is worth attending to enjoy a few laughs. 

Parrtjima

Taking place over nine days in April, Parrtjima takes place in the majestic Outback, and is a celebration of light and culture. A close comparison is Burning Man, with attendees being able to enjoy art, light shows, installations, and everything in between. 

Not only do you get to enjoy the festival, but you also get to explore and take in the clear skies and vast landscape that surrounds you, with the Outback itself considered a place to visit for spiritual enlightenment. 

Sydney Film Festival

First held in 1954, the Syndey Film Festival is an annual event held over 12 days and is a film competition that draws in plenty of local and international attention. Held across different venues, attendees can enjoy indie films, full features, documentaries, short films, and everything in between. 

There have also been several Hollywood stars who have attended the festival over the years, including Nicole Kidman, Sam Niel, Baz Luhrman, and Cate Blanchett. It is easily one of the biggest and best film festivals held each year in Oceania. 

NYE On the Harbor

When you combine the Sydney Harbor and New Year’s Eve, you get an unforgettable party that is easily one of the best ways to ring in the new year. First held in 1976, this party is one of the best there is, and offers the perfect view of the famous Harbor fireworks. 

There is plenty of food and drink, live performances, an all-night-long party, and everything else you will need to celebrate the end of 2025 and the start of 2026.