Australia Day Live Concert

A spectacular concert staged on land and water featured live musical performances from top Aussie acts and included a dazzling fireworks display.

When

07:30 PM - 09:30 PM

26 January 2025

Where

Sydney Opera House Forecourt

Sydney, NSW, 2000

Important Information

Free access

Ticketed event

Australia Day Live 2025 was a spectacular concert staged on land and water as the sun set on our national day. It was an unmissable celebration of music, lights, and dazzling fireworks that entertained the nation.

Set against the iconic Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge backdrop, the night turned to magic with live musical performances choreographed to a flotilla of yachts and watercraft. The heart of Sydney lit up with striking imagery on the Sydney Opera House sails and stunning pyrotechnics over the harbour.

An all-star line-up of Australian artists entertained audiences on the Sydney Opera House Forecourt with powerful renditions of iconic Aussie hits. Much-loved characters made appearances, and stories reflecting the diversity of our cultures, lifestyles, and the quirkiness that makes our country special were shared.

Australia Day Live was a one-of-a-kind celebration that brought everyone together to sing, laugh, dance, and have fun. It inspired and celebrated the Australian spirit.

The Australia Day Council of NSW ensured all activities and events were accessible and inclusive so everyone could enjoy the magic of the day. Find out more.

Those who missed out, you can enjoy Australia Day Live from ABC iView.

Dragon

The legendary band Dragon purveyors of Antipodean anthems and Australian Rock since 1973. 893 shows, 12,800 songs played since the reformation in 2006.

We never stop moving.

Paulini

Paulini has been heralded as one of the finest vocalists and performers to come out of Australia. The Fijian born songstress rose to fame through television screens on the very first season of Australian Idol. Making it through to the final four, she won the hearts of a nation with her angelic, five octave range, and engaging personality.

 

Sheppard

As one of Brisbane’s most successful bands of all time, Sheppard are enjoying a renaissance with recent singles lighting up charts on five continents.

 

William Barton

William Barton is Australia’s leading didgeridoo player as well as a highly esteemed composer, instrumentalist and vocalist.

 

 

Hosts

Jeremy Fernandez

Jeremy Fernandez is presenter and journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and is one of the country’s most experienced live news & events anchors. 

 

John Foreman

John Foreman AM is a musical director, event director, pianist and composer. He’s the man behind many of the biggest events in Australian entertainment.

 

Dr Megan Burslem

Dr Megan Burslem is a violist, educator and researcher who is leading the charge in fresh conversation about music in the contemporary landscape.

 

Full lineup

Aussie Pops Orchestra

For more than forty years, the Australian Pops Orchestra has been the ensemble of choice for some of the world’s most iconic performers. Renowned for its versatility, professionalism, and exceptional artistry, the APO continues to leave an indelible mark on Australia’s musical landscape.

Australian Guitar Quartet

The Australian Guitar Quartet brings together leading soloists Slava Grigoryan, Andrew Blanch, Vladimir Gorbach, and Leonard Grigoryan in a collective of unparalleled calibre. Renowned for their virtuosic technique and genre-defying performances, this ensemble blends the precision of classical guitar with the flair of new music from across the globe.

Burn the Floor

Over the past 26 years Burn the Floor has taken the reinvented Ballroom style to Broadway in 2009, The West End in 2010 and 2012 and have connected with audiences in over 180 cities and through 30 countries.

 

Burrundi Dance Theatre

The Burrundi Dance Theatre for Performing Arts, founded in 2020, is a vibrant grassroots company made up of passionate First Nations artists, both newcomers and seasoned professionals breathing life into contemporary and cultural art forms, embracing our roles as modern storytellers for our community.

Clarissa Spata

Clarissa Spata is an award winning Soprano who has performed around the world singing a range of repertoire from Opera, Music Theatre and Classical Crossover.

 

David Pritchard Blunt

David Pritchard-Blunt is a Musical Director and arranger for television, theatre and albums. This year marks David’s tenth year with Australia Day Live, having been involved from when the concerts first took place on the Opera House Forecourt.

 

Emma Pask

Award winning vocalist Emma Pask has firmly established herself as one of Australia’s favourite voices in Jazz. Her effortless honest stage presence combined with her powerful vocal ability, leaves audiences spellbound and inspired whenever she takes to the stage.

James Morrison

James Morrison is, by anybody’s standard, a virtuoso in the true sense of the word. Besides the trumpet, this multi-instrumentalist also plays trombone, piano, saxophone and double bass.

 

Junkyard Beats

Junkyard Beats is an innovative Australian performance group founded by Oded Prior in 2015 that transforms everyday objects and recycled materials into musical instruments, creating high-energy, interactive shows that blend drumming, body percussion, dance, comedy, and circus arts to entertain and educate audiences about creativity and sustainability.

NSW Schools Choir

The NSW Public Schools Choir is thrilled to be invited to sing alongside some of Australia's greatest performing artists on the steps of the Sydney Opera House to celebrate Australia Day 2025. A unique opportunity for students from across NSW to showcase their passion for music on a national stage.

Rrawun Maymuru

Rrawun Maymuru comes from a long line of Yolngu Songmen from Yirrkala. Rrawun sings in both English and Yolngu Mata. His songs reflect a love for country and culture as well as his distinct perspective on the modern world.

 

Sync or Swim

Sync or Swim is a rock band formed through an ABC series "Headliners" that specifically creates musical opportunities for musicians with disabilities. The band, mentored by Ella Hooper from Killing Heidi, performed at the Mundi Mundi Bash festival, highlighting the musical talent and potential of performers with disabilities while challenging industry representation norms.

 

Véronique Serret

Véronique is a violinist, vocalist and composer effortlessly bridging the divide between classical and contemporary - equally at home on the concert hall platform and the rock n roll stage.

 

Highlights from Australia Day Live Concert 2025

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