The most successful opera in the history of Opera Australia’s harbourside event will return in 2027, with Verdi’s epic Aida playing at Mrs Macquaries Point from 27 March to 25 April.
Few stages in the world can match Sydney Harbour for a production of this scale. Sparkling city lights and the Sydney Opera House silhouetted against the setting sun provide the backdrop for a production that combines Verdi’s soaring music with theatrical spectacle on a monumental scale.
Directed by the multi-award-winning Gale Edwards (Jesus Christ Superstar, The Boy from Oz, La Bohème), Aida will return to the harbour stage for the first time since it premiered to great acclaim in 2015. That season sold more than 55,000 tickets, making it the most successful opera in the event’s 15-year history.
With the set and costumes designed by Mark Thompson (Carmen on Cockatoo Island), the production features an 18-metre-high, 15-tonne rotating bust of Nefertiti, fireworks and a cast of almost 130 performers and musicians. Together they will bring to life in spectacular fashion the famous Triumphal March, one of grand opera’s grandest scenes.
“Bringing back this awe-inspiring production of Aida, the most successful opera we’ve ever staged on Sydney Harbour, marks the perfect opportunity to once again experience grand opera on the harbour at its most spectacular,” said Opera Australia CEO Alex Budd.
“Gale Edwards and her team created an extraordinary piece of theatre. Verdi’s magnificent score, the scale of the production and one of the world’s great settings combine to create an experience unlike anything else in Australia.,” said Budd.
“It is a thrill to announce that the epic opera Aida will return to Sydney Harbour in 2027. The tremendous scale of this production, set against the natural beauty of our Harbour City, is what makes this only-in-Sydney event a cultural bucket-list experience,” said NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper.
“Opera on Sydney Harbour is an annual highlight of NSW’s cultural calendar, showcasing Sydney as one of the world’s great destinations for arts and entertainment, while attracting visitors and supporting our visitor economy.”
Aida on Sydney Harbour is supported by the NSW Government via its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW, and Opera on Sydney Harbour’s Principal Partner HSBC.
Original Creatives:
Director: Gale Edwards | Set & Costume Designer: Mark Thompson | Lighting Designer: Matt Scott | Choreographer: Lucas Jervies | Sound Designer: Tony David Cray
Early access to tickets are available by booking an Opera Australia 2026 Season Subscription of two or more productions. Priority pre-sale begins Friday 1 October, while general sales available from Friday 8 October 2026.
Aida on Sydney Harbour will be presented at Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney from 27 March 2027. For more information, visit: www.opera.org.au for details.
Image: Opera Australia’s Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour Aida, 2015 – photo by Hamilton Lund