Sydney goes French for four days and nights in July

Sydney's four-day Bastille celebration of all things French returns in July. 

Now in its 14th year, the Bastille Festival returns to Circular Quay and The Rocks from July 16-19. 

Free to attend and open to all, the festival will offers four days of gourmet food, French wine, live Gallic music and cultural performances in the heart of the city.

The expanded 2026 edition will feature 130+ exhibitors, 80+ dishes, 110+ free performances, and a new French-inspired flea market at Gateway Plaza. 

For the first time, the festival will extends beyond Circular Quay through a collaboration with the City of Sydney's busking program. 

“Every year, our aim is to share a slice of France right in the heart of Sydney,” says Vincent Hernandez, founder and festival director. 

“This edition promises to be our most ambitious so far, larger, more daring and more immersive, inviting visitors on a true ‘Tour de France’ of flavours, culture and experiences.

“Our goal is to make every dish feel like a journey, whether it’s a traditional specialty or something completely new inspired by French cuisine.” 

There will be close to 20 bars across Circular Quay and The Rocks. 

The program features cabaret and roaming mimes to a selection of incontournables, bringing Parisian energy to the harbour city. 

“At its core, Bastille Festival is about connection, to food, to culture, and to each other,” says Hernandez. “It’s about creating joyful, unexpected moments that bring people together.” 

See https://bastillefestival.com.au/sydney/