Australia’s most famous beach is welcoming back its big winter festival, this time with the biggest program to date.
Running from Friday, July 4 until Sunday, July 20, Bondi Festival 2025 will bring 17 days of world-class music, theatre, comedy, visual arts and interactive performances to the beachside suburb – as well as a huge ice-skating rink and the beloved ‘Bondi Vista Ferris Wheel’. This year’s fest will also see a welcome focus on foodie offerings, with the festival’s ‘Blue Sky Markets’ making their debut at Bondi Park over three big Saturdays, hosting stallholders from across Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
Festivities will begin with the 2025 Waverley Art Prize winners’ announcement at Bondi Pavilion Art Gallery – a prize that’s now in its 39th year. After the announcement, festival goers can get their giggle on at the opening night Bondi Festival Comedy Gala, which will take over Bondi Pavilion Theatre for two laughter-filled nights. The first Saturday of the fest also sees the return of two fan favourites: the Pavilion Paw Parade, and Sydney’s beloved inclusive art class, Gladdy Drawing Club.
Other highlights from the first week include an incredible showcase of First Nations talent, an on-stage film-making spectacle by POV by re:group, the Sydney premiere of Alternative Facts’ unexpectedly intimate new theatrical experience Sincere Apologies and the Bondi Festival debut of the award-winning comedian and disability advocate, Madeleine Stewart.
The second week of the festival will kick off with an all-inclusive, fully accessible, free Daytime Dance Party with aerobic icon Betty Grumble and special guest DJ Hiphopher, followed by a night of storytelling with Queer Compost by Fruitbox Theatre and a performance by ARIA-winning Australian singer-songwriter Meg Washington.
That’s just scratching the surface of what’s on show at this year’s festival, with a heap of plays, films, shows and screenings available to book via the Bondi Festival website.
Throughout the fest, visitors can also witness live paintings of new murals from some of Australia’s leading and emerging street artists on the ever-colourful Bondi Beach Sea Wall.
Bondi Pavilion will act as the festival hub, with other events popping up in venues around the Eastern Suburbs. Many events are free, with some ticketed events costing up to $55.
You can check out the full program over here.
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