Introduction
We welcome all visitors to Sydney Festival events and are committed to making the festival a safe and accessible space for everyone. Your feedback helps us continue to improve our access program and services.
Please get in touch with us on 02 8248 6500 or access(at)sydneyfestival.org.au if you have any queries or suggestions regarding accessibility at Sydney Festival.
We would like to thank the members of the Sydney Festival Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel for their expert advice and advocacy:
Alex Craig
Bridie McKim
Dan Graham
Debra Keenahan
Lisa Jackson Pulver
Liz Martin
Max Burt
Morwenna Collett
Rob Lang
Sofya Gollan
Paul Nunnari
Festival Guide
The 2026 Sydney Festival preview guide is available in the following formats:
Access Guide and Accessible Performance Calendar:
- Accessible Performance Calendar, coming soon...
Disability Inclusion Action Plan
Our Disability Inclusion Action Plan highlights our work to date and outlines our approach for further improving accessibility and inclusion for people with disability across all aspects of our festival.
It reinforces and focuses our work to ensure we include and represent people with disability – as artists, audiences, staff, partners, donors and other stakeholders.
We want all members of the community to have the opportunity to experience our festival and this plan acts as our Roadmap to how to we will continue to work towards this over the next three years.
Read our Disability Inclusion Action Plan in the following formats:
View PDF
View Word.doc
We would like to thank the members of the Sydney Festival Access and Inclusion Advisory Panel for their expert advice and advocacy:
Alex Craig
Bridie McKim
Dan Graham
Debra Keenahan
Lisa Jackson Pulver
Liz Martin
Max Burt
Morwenna Collett
Rob Lang
Sofya Gollan
Paul Nunnari
Vision
AUDIO DESCRIPTION
Audio description is a service provided for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Audio describers give live, verbal descriptions of actions, costumes, scenery, and other visual elements of a performance. This is done during gaps in the dialogue via a small earpiece, provided to patrons pre-show. The audio description begins 10 minutes prior to the performance and provides program details together with descriptions of costumes and stage settings. Patrons must book the service in advance and pick up a free FM headset on arrival.
EXXYAudio description and tactile tour
Thursday 15 January 8pmOpera for the Dead 祭歌Tactile tour
Friday 16 January 6pmAudio Described performance
Friday 16 January 7pmMama Does DerbyTactile tour
Tuesday 20 January 6pmAudio Described performance
Tuesday 20 January 7pm
WAKETactile tour
Saturday 24 January 5pmAudio Described performance
Saturday 24 January 6pmLACRIMA Tactile tour
Sunday 25 January 11amAudio Described performance
Sunday 25 January 12pmThe Bogong’s Song: A Call to Country (Pavilion)Tactile tour
Tuesday 20 January 12:30pmAudio Described performance
Tuesday 20 January 1:30pmPost-Orientalist ExpressTactile tour
Saturday 10 January 6pmAudio Described performance
Saturday 10 January 7pm
TACTILE TOURS
Tactile tours allow patrons who are blind or have low vision to have a hands-on experience. Depending on the production/installation, patrons are given access to costumes, props and stage set in order to capture the atmosphere of the work. Tactile tours occur before the performance. Patrons must book in advance.
EXXYAudio description and tactile tour
Thursday 15 January 8pmOpera for the Dead 祭歌Tactile tour
Friday 16 January 6pmAudio Described performance
Friday 16 January 7pmMama Does DerbyTactile tour
Tuesday 20 January 6pmAudio Described performance
Tuesday 20 January 7pm
WAKETactile tour
Saturday 24 January 5pmAudio Described performance
Saturday 24 January 6pmLACRIMA Tactile tour
Sunday 25 January 11amAudio Described performance
Sunday 25 January 12pmThe Bogong’s Song: A Call to Country (Pavilion)Tactile tour
Tuesday 20 January 12:30pmAudio Described performance
Tuesday 20 January 1:30pmPost-Orientalist ExpressTactile tour
Saturday 10 January 6pmAudio Described performance
Saturday 10 January 7pm 
AUDITORY CONTENT
Shows with this symbol indicate which shows are highly auditory and have low visual content, which can aid people who are blind or have low vision to decide whether they can access a show.
ASSISTANCE ANIMALS
Assistance animals are welcome at all Festival events and venues, bookings are essential. If you are blind or have low vision and want to attend an event at Sydney Festival, Guide Dogs NSW/ACT can provide you with free training on how to travel safely from any location to your event at the Festival. Call 1800 804 805 to discuss your travel needs.
Hearing
AUSLAN INTERPRETED PERFORMANCE
Auslan interpreted performances are for audiences who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing and use Australian Sign Language (Auslan).
Experienced Auslan theatre interpreters stand to the side of the stage and interpret dialogue and any text into Auslan, signing live. Audiences requiring this service are seated in the section closest to the interpreter to ensure good sightlines.
Paris Paloma
Auslan interpreted performance Saturday 10 January 8pm
Bad Hand
Auslan interpreted performance Thursday 15 January 6pm
Nowhere
Auslan interpreted performance Friday 16 January 8pm
Death By Powerpoint
Auslan interpreted performance Saturday 17 January 5:30pm
Bigmouth Strikes Again (The Smiths Show)
Auslan interpreted performance Sunday 18 January 6pm
The Bogong’s Song: A Call to Country
Auslan interpreted performance Tuesday 20 January 1:30pm
CAPTIONING
For people who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, theatre captioning is an accurate text display of a theatre performance in its entirety, including actors’ dialogue, ad libs, song lyrics, musical descriptions and other sound effects.
EXXY
Every performance of EXXY includes Creative Captioning. Captions are projected onto the set at the rear of the stage.
Mama Does Derby
Captioned performance Wednesday 21 January 7pm
SURTITLES
Surtitles are translated or transcribed text of dialogue or lyrics projected on a screen above the stage during a live performance. They are similar to subtitles but are positioned above the action to help audiences follow along.
LACRIMA
Surtitles available on all performances
Turandot
Surtitles available on all performances
ASSISTIVE LISTENING
The Assistive Listening Systems symbol indicates which venues provide hearing augmentation and amplification. Ensure you inform us when booking so you can be seated in the relevant area of the theatre.
Assistive listening systems / hearing loops available at:
VISUAL CONTENT
A guide for people who are Deaf or hard of hearing.
100% visual content. Contains no music or dialogue.
75% visual content. Fully captioned or has minimal dialogue, some background music and/or sounds.
Sensory Friendly
RELAXED
Designed for patrons with disability and their families or anyone who may benefit from a more relaxed environment (this may include people with a learning or physical disability, autistic spectrum condition or sensory sensitivities). Relaxed performances usually have slight modifications to sound and lighting, support aids and an open-door policy with a dedicated quiet area.
EXXY
Relaxed performance Thursday 15 January 8pm
Visual Story coming soon...
Mama Does Derby
Relaxed performance Sunday 18 January 2pm
Visual Story coming soon...
The Censor
Relaxed performance Saturday 24 January 1pm
Visual Story coming soon...
Asses.Massess
Relaxed performance Saturday 24 January 1pm
Visual Story coming soon...
Mobility
Sydney Festival ensures that its venues are as physically accessible as possible.
WHEELCHAIR ACCESS
The wheelchair symbol indicates the venue/location is wheelchair accessible or has been made accessible for Sydney Festival. Designated wheelchair spaces (where available) will be sold at the lowest full price in the house for that performance. For access information on specific venues visit sydneyfestival.org.au/venues.
Designated wheelchair space availability and bookings must be made through our Customer Service Team on 02 8248 6500 (9am-5pm Mon to Fri) or emailing access@sydneyfestival.org.au
For further access information or to assist in improving available information, visit WheelEasy. WheelEasy is a useful web portal fostering and creating better access to leisure activity for the mobility-impaired and their companions, conveniently providing lists of mobility-friendly places and events.
Booking
Bookings are essential for all accessible services.
Bookings for Auslan-interpreted and captioned performances can be made online by selecting seats marked ‘Auslan-interpeted’ or ‘captioned’. Bookings for tactile tours & headsets for audio described performances can be made via contacting our customer service team.
We encourage booking tickets prior to Friday 16 December. Seats cannot be guaranteed after this date although we will always do your best to accommodate our request.
To discuss your access requirements, make bookings or give us feedback call 02 8248 6500 or email access@sydneyfestival.org.au
Companion Card
Sydney Festival supports the Companion Card program.
Companion Card holders qualify for a second ticket at no cost for their companion. Please contact Sydney Festival directly on 02 8248 6500 to assist with your booking.
Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative
Sydney Festival is proud to support the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Initiative.
The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower is a discrete tool designed to help people with hidden disabilities communicate that they might need extra help, understanding, or just more time. There are over 900 non-visible disabilities, conditions or chronic illnesses that Sunflower wearers use the Sunflower for.
If you identify as someone with a hidden disability or as a Sunflower Supporter, you are invited to collect complimentary merchandise from select Sydney Festival locations. These include:
- the ACO on the Wharf Box Office
- the Sydney Town Hall Box Office
* Please note: Box Offices operate 1 hour prior to performances and 15 minutes after performances conclude. Merchandise is available while stocks last.
You can read more about Hidden Disabilities Sunflower here.
Get In Touch
Your feedback helps us continue to improve our access program and services.
Please get in touch with us on 02 8248 6500 or access@sydneyfestival.org.au if you have any queries or suggestions regarding accessibility at Sydney Festival.
