Sydney Festival director pledges to keep event affordable

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 18 Oct, 19:31 · Archive

Sydney Festival director Kris Nelson says the 2027 festival will be accessible, with 10,000 discounted tickets and free events.

Sydney Festival director Kris Nelson has pledged to make the 2027 festival accessible to audiences amid cost-of-living pressures. The expanded program will comprise 94 events, with 73 ticketed and 21 free, including performances and interactive experiences. To aid affordability, 10,000 tickets priced at $49 will be available across venues, offering some of the best seats. Attractions will include First Nations-led art, a project with Filipino artist Leroy New creating costume parade floats for a Darling Harbour procession, and inflatable surf installations at Barangaroo alongside a festival garden with food and harbour views.

The accessibility commitment follows previous concerns about rising costs. Documents submitted to the charities regulator in 2025 revealed expenses of $20.4 million against revenue of $18.6 million, with just under half the revenue from government funding. The 2026 festival, by comparison, featured 67 shows and events including 16 world premieres and 10 free events.

Nelson described the festival as celebrating Sydney as an international city drawing people from across Australia and the world. He promised it would be 'a festival to cross town for'.

How it is being reported

• Major arts festival director vows to keep it affordableFrom First Nations-led art and Filipino parade floats to inflatable surf installations, a major festival is promising a city-wide celebration of culture.Perth Now · 18 Oct, 19:02
• Major arts festival director vows to keep it affordableFrom First Nations-led art and Filipino parade floats to inflatable surf installations, a major festival is promising a city-wide celebration of culture.The West Australian · 18 Oct, 19:02

In this story: Sydney Festival · Kris Nelson · Leroy New · Sydney · Darling Harbour · Barangaroo · Blacktown

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem