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/

Bastille Day celebrations will be a few days late this year in Sydney

With Bastille Day inconveniently falling on a Monday this year, Sydneysiders will have to be patient before Sydney’s iconic French festival returns from July 17-20.

The Bastille Festival - four days of food, wine, art and more - will be again be held across the Circular Quay/The Rocks precinct.

For over a decade, the Bastille Festival has been bringing joie de vivre to Sydney's Francophiles.

“Each year, we aim to recreate what we love about France right here in the heart of Sydney,” says Vincent Hernandez, the founder and event directorval Director. “This 12th edition is all about going bigger, bolder, and more immersive - offering Sydneysiders and visitors a true ‘Tour de France’ of flavours, sights, and sounds.”

Bastille Festival 2025 will feature more than 120 exhibitors and over 80 dishes.

Expect crowd favourites like raclette, escargots, crêpes, and macarons, along with international flavours reimagined with a French twist.

“Food is at the heart of French culture, and it’s at the heart of Bastille Festival too,” says Hernandez. “We want every bite to transport you - whether it’s through a traditional regional speciality or a creative new fusion you’ve never tried before.”

Bastille Festival’s wine program is promoted as its most extensive yet.

Eight wine regions will be offering a curated selection of four wines. From Bordeaux to Burgundy, Beaujolais to Provence, Languedoc to the Rhône Valley, and Alsace to the Loire Valley, it sounds a liquid delight.

“Our wine experiences aren’t just about tasting - they’re about storytelling,” says Hernandez. “Each glass is a journey through a region, its traditions, and its people.”

This year, Champagne will take centre stage, with pop-up stations throughout the festival and two distinctive wine bars offering Champagne paired with oysters and seafood.

There will also be mulled wine, spiced hot cider, beer bars, and cocktail stations with 18 bars dotted around Circular Quay and The Rocks.

The program includes over 100 free shows, including live concerts, street theatre, dance lessons, fire performances, acrobatic displays, and more. And entry is free.

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

Culinary Tour de France aims to be a tour de force

The one week of the year when Sydney has a French accent will return in July.

The Bastille Festival will run from July 17-20 around Circular Quay and The Rocks and feature food, wine, music and French joie de vivre.

Organisers are promising more than 120 exhibitors and over 80 dishes on offer, ranging from traditional favourites to sweet treats. 

So expect crowd favourites like raclette, escargots, crêpes, moules and macarons. 

“Food is at the heart of French culture, and it’s at the heart of Bastille Festival too,” says founder and festival director Vincent Hernandez. “We want every bite to transport you - whether it’s through a traditional regional speciality or a creative new fusion you’ve never tried before.”

This year will be the 12th Bastille Festival with the food and music joined by cinema and cabaret. 

“Each year, we aim to recreate what we love about France right here in the heart of Sydney,” says Hernandez. “This 12th edition is all about going bigger, bolder, and more immersive - offering Sydneysiders and visitors a true Tour de France of flavours, sights, and sounds.”

And, of course, French wine will play a starring role. 

This year, the Festival will present tipples from eight iconic wine regions, each offering a curated selection of four wines. 

From Bordeaux to Burgundy, Beaujolais to Provence, Languedoc to the Rhône Valley, and Alsace to the Loire Valley, there should be something for everyone. 

“Our wine experiences aren’t just about tasting - they’re about storytelling,” explains Hernandez. “Each glass is a journey through a region, its traditions, and its people.”

This year, Champagne will also take centre stage, with pop-up stations throughout the festival and two  wine bars offering Champagne paired with oysters and seafood. 

For those seeking something heartier, mulled wine, spiced hot cider, beer bars, and cocktail stations will keep the winter chill at bay. There will be 18 bars in total. 

Visitors will be able to enjoy over 100 free shows, including live concerts, street theatre, dance lessons, fire performances and acrobatic displays. 

Two main stages and a dozen busking spots will operate from morning until late into the night.

“At its core, Bastille Festival is about connection - to food, to culture, and to each other,” says Hernandez. “We’re creating moments where Sydney can come together, celebrate, dance, and rediscover a little bit of magic in the middle of winter.”

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

Bastille celebration moves to Adelaide

 

A popular Sydney festival is set to offer French-accented fun in Adelaide this winter. 

Bastille Festival, a French food, wine, art and culture expo, will make its Adelaide debut from May 30-June 1. 

Known for transforming Sydney’s Circular Quay and The Rocks into a celebration of all things French in July, the Adelaide edition will be earlier in the year - at Festival Plaza. 

“Bastille Festival finding its second home in Adelaide is no coincidence,” says festival founder and director Vincent Hernandez. 

“With its passion for European living, its taste for exceptional wines and flavours, and its vibrant appreciation for the arts, Adelaide embodies the spirit of Bastille.

"We’re igniting that legacy, freedom, boldness, and pure joy through a thrilling fusion of food, wine, and art, perfectly matched to this city’s lively soul. 

"Festival Plaza, with its dynamic energy and beating heart, is the ideal canvas."

Adelaide's three-day event will feature over 30 food stalls operating from breakfast to dinner. 

Think raclette, crepes, and pastries. 

Wine lovers can prepare for a journey through French regions including Bordeaux, Burgundy, Provence, Languedoc-Roussillon, and Alsace with at least 15 boutique wines imported from France.

Organisers also promise over 40 free performances along with market stalls and - reminiscent of French Christmas markets - a fire pit and mulled wines. 

Admission to Bastille Festival Adelaide is free, with ticketed experiences like the Wine Walk, Food Passport and Fire Pit Experience available for purchase.