January is a busy month in Sydney. With summer in full swing and what seems like half the city on holidays, there is something happening every day.
Accommodation prices are still pretty high and many attractions are busy. If you are keen to do tours and activities on a particular day it’s worth booking in advance.
Average Temperatures: 25.9 – 18.7 C ( 79.7 – 67.3°F)
While each year varies the last January was pretty wet with 12 days of rain.
New events and updated content are added to these pages as it becomes available.
Contents
Annual Events this month
- New Year’s Eve and Day
- Field Day
- Sydney Festival
- Australia Day
- Lunar New Year
- Sydney International Tennis
Markets, Fairs and Festivals
Sydney Festival
This annual event, now in its 42nd year, starts the new year on with a bang. The city makes the most of the long days and warm weather by hosting this 19-day event.
Opportunities to check out cutting-edge theatre, music, cabaret, dance and visual art.
Where: Hyde Park, CBD and various venues across Sydney
When: 8-26 January
More: Check the full program here. (It will be released on the 30 Oct.)
Save $$$ on Sydney Festival tickets using Today Tix
Lunar New Year
Dragon Boat Races, giant lanterns, and 80 other events fill this 9-day festival celebrating the start of the new lunar new year.
Where: Circular Quay, Chinatown and other inner-city areas
When: 24 Jan-2 Feb 2020
More: Check more details here
Australia Day
Australia Day, held on 26 January celebrates the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson.
Where: All over Sydney but the CBD, Rocks and Circular Quay
When: 26 January
More: The full event program will be on the website by early January. We have also written up our tips to help you have a great day.
Sport and Outdoor
ATP Cup
A brand new event for Sydney, the ATP Cup is an annual 24-country team competition that will be played in Sydney, Brisbane and Perth.
Where: Tennis Centre, Sydney Olympic Park
When: 3-12 January
Cost: Various
More: Tickets and details.
Music and Theatre
Field Day
Consider giving the very expensive NYE parties a miss and instead get up nice and early on NYE to join in all the fun at Field Day. The music is on offer is a mix of house, hip-hop, indie and electronica.
Where: The Domain
When: 1 Jan. 2020
Cost: $170
More: See the line-up and buy tickets here
Flickerfest
Flickerfest is Academy® Accredited and BAFTA-recognised International Short Film. Films of 35 minutes or less and completed in the last 2 years are eligible for entry.
Where: Bondi Beach
When: 10-19 Jan.
More: check the website for program details.
Japan supernatural
Takashi Murakami features with a huge installation in this exhibition of over over 180 works by Japanese artists past and present.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW
When: 2 Nov 2019 – 8 Mar 2020
More: Check the full list of events running in conjunction with Japan Supernatural
Regional Events
Parkes Elvis Festival
Held each January to coincide with the birthday of Elvis Presley, the Parkes Elvis festival sees this small country town have its population triple with over 27,000 passionate Elvis fans descending for six days.
The Festival features over two hundred unique Elvis-themed events, including the very popular Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest.
Each year has a different theme, this year it’s the 1966 film Frankie and Johnny, a classic Elvis hit where The King played a Mississippi riverboat performer with a weakness for gambling.
Where: Parkes NSW
When: 8-12 Jan. 2020
More: Check the official festival site
Have you got questions about Sydney in January? Pop over to our Facebook group and we would be happy to help.
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