Summer Series of Extraordinary Events Announced

01 Dec 2016

Sydneysiders and visitors alike will enjoy a sizzling series of events this summer, with International Convention Centre Sydney (ICC Sydney) set to host a non-stop parade of art, music, theatre and comedy shows and transform Darling Harbour into the city’s new entertainment hub.

Brickman: Wonders of the World Exhibition will lead the spectacular line up and feature more than 50 awe-inspiring LEGO® creations from Ryan “The Brickman” McNaught, including models of the Empire State Building and the Great Wall of China. Major international and local performers including Keith Urban, PJ Harvey and Nick Cave will also light up the precinct’s stages throughout the season.

Part of a $3.4 billion transformation of Darling Harbour, the $1.5 billion new integrated precinct will create a paradigm shift in how events are enjoyed in Sydney and features three state-of-the-art theatres:

ICC Sydney Theatre – an innovative, tiered and fan-shaped design, seating up to 8,000 with unobstructed views of the stage, and over 9,000 in general admission mode.
Darling Harbour Theatre – a 2,500 seat theatre with foyers decorated with artwork.
Pyrmont Theatre – a boutique 1,000 seat theatre that will provide the most intimate experience at conferences and shows.

CEO of ICC Sydney, Geoff Donaghy, said visitors will flock to the spectacular new venue from the moment doors open on 20 December.

“The stage is set, the dress rehearsals have been completed, and now it’s showtime for our new world class venue. Some of the most hotly anticipated acts across genres are set to play at the precinct over the coming months, and we believe visitors will be blown away when they finally experience ICC Sydney.

“All of our entertainment venues feature superior staging and technical capabilities, with stellar sound and visuals brought to life through high definition screens, large scale projection and the highest quality audio equipment. Along with our impressive theatres, ICC Sydney has a 5,000sqm open air event deck, a 2,400sqm multipurpose event space, a 2,000 seat ballroom and seven exhibition halls, all folding into the recently rejuvenated Tumbalong Park,” he said.

Minister for Trade, Tourism and Major Events Stuart Ayres, said the venue will become a hub of activity, hosting an amazingly diverse array of events – from Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds to FAST4 Showdown, a tennis tournament packed with entertainment and music, which will see Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic take on international stars Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori.

“Sydney has long been heralded the cultural capital of Australia, and with ICC Sydney at its heart, the future of entertainment in our city certainly looks bright. ICC Sydney is the first venue of its kind in the country, and this unprecedented infrastructure investment will inject over $5 billion into the local economy over the next 25 years,” he said.

ICC Sydney can be easily accessed via public transport and features seamless pedestrian access and walkways plus a connective public domain. The venue will open in the dynamic and activated Darling Harbour precinct full of restaurants, bars and public spaces. It is only a moment’s walk to the CBD, Barangaroo, local universities, Sydney Harbour Bridge and The Sydney Opera House.

Mr Donaghy said that thanks to the venue’s plethora of flexible spaces, the summer series is just the beginning for ICC Sydney, with over 400 diverse events now secured at the venue.

“During the summer peak, we will have focus on entertainment with world class performances and engaging exhibitions, followed by our corporate events season, which will launch in late January 2017. A packed business events calendar will then ramp up from February onwards with the prestigious REED Gift Fair being the first cab off the rank. Darling Harbour will be activated year-round and become a truly dynamic place to visit, work and enjoy.”

Back to News