New Sydney Festival director Kris Nelson has taken the wraps off his first event, marking the festival’s 50th anniversary.

The 2026 festival, between January 8 and 25, encompasses music, theatre, cabaret, dance, visual art and more in venues large and small across the city.

Last year’s festival, programmed by Olivia Ansell, was attended by nearly 600,000 people.

Canadian-born Nelson, the tenth director in the festival’s history, moved to Sydney about a year ago. He said putting the program together had been a whirlwind process.

“I’ve had the most fun and a few pinch-me moments,” he said. “It’s been fast but I’ve been supported by an incredible team.

“The city is such a gorgeous, incredible landscape to put a festival in. So there’s lots in the iconic nature of the Opera House and othe

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