30,000 free tickets for Sydney’s New Year live entertainment festival and drone show

30,000 free tickets are being made available for the ELEVATE Sydney festival which will offer an impressive week of live entertainment taking place from New Year’s Day overlooking Sydney Harbour and Circular Quay.

As part of the NSW Government’s efforts to turbocharge the CBD’s recovery, ELEVATE Sydney will offer Sydneysiders and visitors the chance to experience entertainment spanning pop, disco, musical theatre, youth, family, sport and First Nations genres.

The festival offers a stellar line-up of more than 180 artists including Dance Monkey star Tones And I, Tim Minchin, Baker Boy, Electric Fields, Marcia Hines and The Wiggles.

It will transform the harbourside expressway, day and night for people of all ages. The event will also feature the biggest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere.

In an Australian first, the Skyshow will feature 500 choreographed drones over Sydney Cove as a natural amphitheater, creating a dazzling light display.  A boomerang, a waratah and a series of animations will tell a powerful story of Sydney’s past, present and hopes for 2022. Specialists from Finland, Germany and the USA have travelled to Australia to train local operators in the drone technology.  

The Cahill Expressway will be closed to traffic and pedestrians during ELEVATE Sydney, with public transport and alternate routes available for visitors and residents.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said ELEVATE Sydney will help revive the spirit of the city, reminding the world why tourists travel from across the world to experience our lifestyle.

Minister Perrottet advised “the day after the fireworks, this event will begin the new year with a celebration of what makes our city great.

“Nowhere else could you hold this kind of event, nowhere has our harbour, our setting or our weather - this is part of our ongoing vision for taking our city from good to great.

“This has been a tough time for hospitality and tourism, we’re committed to doing everything we can to get these industries back on their feet and ensuring that our people have the chance to enjoy the city again.”

NSW Minister for Tourism, Stuart adds “getting more visitors to Sydney and regional NSW, giving them high quality experiences and offering a smorgasbord of events will propel us toward our goal of being the premier visitor economy and events capital of the Asia Pacific by 2030.

 “We know visitors and locals alike are looking for unforgettable experiences to Feel New – and what could be better than immersing yourself in an event that brings together the power of wellbeing, dance, culture, art and community, set against one of the world’s most spectacular backdrops, Sydney’s magnificent harbour?

“This is a very special and exciting event which will not only elevate Sydney and NSW to a global audience but elevate our homegrown talent, economy and community spirit.”

For further information on the program and to reserve free tickets from 2nd December, visit www.elevatesydney.com.

Image top: elevatesydney.com; Image centre and above: stellar line-up of more than 180 artists including Dance Monkey star Tones And I, Tim Minchin, Baker Boy, Electric Fields, Marcia Hines and The Wiggles