Sydney Opera House hosts DanceRites on 24 October

Sydney Opera House hosts DanceRites on 24 and 25 October 2026 in Sydney, bringing First Nations dance, song and storytelling to the Forecourt. The free festival is presented by the Opera House and is open to visitors without registration.

DanceRites brings two days to the Forecourt

DanceRites is a national competition and cultural programme centred on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dance. The 2026 edition runs across Saturday 24 October and Sunday 25 October, with competition sections, guest performances, an audience workshop and a winners ceremony.

The programme includes Cultural Dance and Song Cycle performances, a Wild Card performance and special appearances by Jannawi Dance Clan, Mackay Torres Strait Islander Cultural Group, NAISDA and Wabanaki Dancers. The Saturday programme also includes a tribute to Rhoda Roberts AO, the former Head of First Nations at the Opera House. The DanceRites programme names the Forecourt as the venue and the Sydney Opera House as presenter.

The Forecourt connects DanceRites with Tubowgule

The event takes place on the sand circle stage below the building’s white sails, at the base of the Monumental Steps. The Opera House identifies Tubowgule as the land on which it stands and describes it as a place of gathering, ceremony and celebration. That setting links the competition’s storytelling and dance with the cultural context given by the venue.

The building was inaugurated in 1973 and was designed through a project awarded to Danish architect Utzon by an international jury in 1957. Its three groups of interlocking vaulted shells cover two main performance halls and a restaurant. The site was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007, and UNESCO describes it as a major work of twentieth-century architecture. The UNESCO World Heritage record places the building at the tip of a peninsula projecting into Sydney Harbour.

Visiting Sydney Opera House: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• DanceRites takes place on 24 and 25 October 2026 at the Forecourt of Sydney Opera House.
• The festival requires no registration. Visitors can use the accessible viewing area at street level, while Auslan interpretation and a calm space are provided for the event.
• The venue is at Bennelong Point in Sydney. The Forecourt is between the Opera House and the Royal Botanic Gardens, and the site is accessible from Circular Quay by train, ferry, light rail, bus, bicycle and on foot.
• The public viewing area on the Forecourt has no shade, and the event footprint does not permit prams, portable chairs or large umbrellas.
• Australia’s official language is English and its national currency is the Australian dollar.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

Searching for Sydney Opera House on social platforms

These links open searches for Sydney Opera House on each platform.

Frequently asked questions about Sydney Opera House

When does DanceRites take place at Sydney Opera House?

DanceRites runs on 24 and 25 October 2026 at the Forecourt, with competition performances and cultural programmes across both days.

What is DanceRites at Sydney Opera House?

It is a national First Nations dance competition and festival featuring Cultural Dance, Song Cycle and Wild Card performances.

Where is Sydney Opera House and how do you get there?

The building is at Bennelong Point in Sydney, beside Sydney Harbour. Circular Quay is the named transport reference, with train, ferry, light rail, bus, bicycle and walking connections.