Media Release
Sydney Observatory Announces 2025 Program
Powerhouse is excited to announce its dynamic year-long 2025 program for Sydney Observatory which will explore human connections to Sky Country, astronomy, tradition and artistic practice to reveal new ways of seeing.
The program starts this summer with Sunset Variations, a live music series celebrating Sydney’s golden hour from sunset to twilight. Enjoy some of Australia’s most compelling musicians from January 31 to the end of February at the Observatory’s iconic hilltop location with sweeping views of Sydney Harbour.
In March, visitors can witness the sacred sighting of the new crescent moon during Ramadan. Sydney Harbour will sparkle under the April full moon as Sydney Observatory hosts Pink Moon, an event celebrating the beauty of natural winemaking, offering guests the chance to explore sustainable winegrowing practices.
Throughout the year, the program will continue to celebrate diverse cultural traditions, with events like No Space is Empty, a First Nations symposium in June, exploring Indigenous perspectives on time and place. Matariki, a Māori New Year celebration marking the midwinter rise of the Matariki star cluster, a time of remembrance, celebration and renewal. The colourful, light-filled Moon Festival will round off the year in October, transforming the highest point of Sydney harbour into a lively precinct of lanterns and lion dancing, music and delicious culinary offerings for the whole family to enjoy.
This exciting year-long program promises to offer a rich and varied experience for visitors of all ages, inviting attendees to hear First Nations stories and celebrate cultural traditions, festivals and ceremonies under the stars.
Powerhouse Chief Executive Lisa Havilah said, ‘This program reflects the rich cultural, scientific and artistic heritage of this iconic Sydney site. We’re excited to invite our audiences to experience new perspectives of time, cultures and perspectives of our skies.’
First Nations Director Beau James said, ‘We’re incredibly excited about the 2025 program, particularly as it offers a platform to explore and honour First Nations deep knowledges which have developed over millennia. The inclusion of First Nations voices throughout the program ensures that our connection to the stars, the land, and the sky is recognised and celebrated. The inaugural First Nations symposium, No Space is Empty, will be one of the many events that will bring together knowledge holders from diverse disciplines to explore the concept of time beyond western measurements.’
For more information and to register for events throughout the year, please visit https://ph.au/4isQF07
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About Powerhouse
Powerhouse sits at the intersection of arts, design, science and technology and plays a critical role in engaging communities with contemporary ideas and issues. We are undertaking a landmark $1.2 billion infrastructure renewal program, spearheaded by the creation of the new museum, Powerhouse Parramatta; expanded research and public facilities at Powerhouse Castle Hill; the renewal of the iconic Powerhouse Ultimo; and the ongoing operation of Sydney Observatory. The museum is custodian to over half a million objects of national and international significance and is considered one of the finest and most diverse collections in Australia. We are also undertaking an expansive digitisation project that will provide new levels of access to the Powerhouse Collection.