Bondi Pavilion’s 2026 Artistic Program is an inspiring celebration of creativity and culture, featuring an extraordinary line-up of world-class art, music, theatre and entertainment.
It’s Bondi Pavilion’s biggest Artistic Program yet, presenting something for every season from summer through winter, with more than 30 events on offer including cutting-edge exhibitions, boundary-pushing theatre, award-winning comedy, free performances, youth programmes, and the return of Bondi Festival.
“I’m delighted to be launching our 2026 Artistic Program at Bondi Pavilion. With events for and by everyone from the very, very young to the young at heart, audiences can expect to savour a season of cabaret, comedy, theatre, dance, music, author talks and visual arts,” Artistic Director Chris Bendall says.
“Over the past year, we’ve celebrated the natural environment across our program. In 2026, we’re adjusting our lens to interrogate, and celebrate, human nature in all our rich diversity. We’ve assembled an outstanding array of artists, who are all set to delight, challenge and inspire audiences at our iconic home where culture meets the sea.”
The programme begins in January, with some sizzling summer events. First up, world-renowned physical theatre company Legs On The Wall presents ‘Waverider’, a spectacular new outdoor performance mixing surf culture, acrobatics and ocean magic, into a breathtaking summer celebration. Then, Erth Visual And Physical Theatre’s ‘Deep Sea Divers’ follows, featuring performances by extraordinary puppets around the Pav and promenade.
Proud Noongar artist Bumpy and First Nations drag performer Miss Ellaneous (Ben Graetz) take over, with music, cabaret and immersive storytelling. Bumpy will present a hypnotic fusion of jazz, funk, folk and R&B, while Miss Ellaneous takes centre stage in a celebration of Darwin, drag performers, and Tina Turner in ‘TINA: A Tropical Love Story’.
Then, Australian visual artist Lauren Brincat will present her boundary-pushing new exhibition Curtain Call, while Good Together will bring together Waverley’s best artists in a collaborative exhibition exploring human nature, the natural environment, and our ongoing quest for creativity.
One Fell Swoop Circus comes to the Pav in autumn with a thrilling blend of acrobatics and sculptures in ‘In Common’, followed by a big celebration of women in music for International Women’s Day 2026. Curated by Lily Richardson and featuring a huge array of bands, DJs and gender-diverse artists, Amplify: Featuring The Buoys invites audiences to connect, dance and celebrate.
Comedy and theatre light up that Pav from May-April – re:group performance collective presents ‘AUTO-TUNE’, musical comedian Gillian Cosgriff brings ‘Life, Oh Life’, Luke Kennedy presents photographic exhibition Broken Glass And Blue Bottles, award-winners Dummies Corp perform side-splitting circus show ‘Splash Test Dummies’, and Emma Memma twirls her way to the Pav for a concert celebrating creativity, inclusiveness and friendship.
Bondi’s annual music programme Jazz At The Pav makes its return during winter, featuring the likes of Freyja Garbett, Sandy Evans, and Lisathe. Also, multi ARIA Award-winning Alex Lloyd will visit the Pav to perform his greatest hits and new songs, and there’ll be world premieres of two new works: dancer-choreographer Annalouise Paul’s ‘Self Portrait’, and Jonny Pasvolsky’s ‘The CAN Principle’.
Four local favourites return from July to August – there’s the annual Bondi Festival, Waverley Council’s 12-week youth programme Bondi WAVE, the Waverley Art Prize celebrating its 40th anniversary, and ARTEXPRESS, showcasing the outstanding High School Certificate Visual Arts students from across New South Wales.
Sarah Austin and Performing Lines present ‘An Uncertain Time’ and A Dance Makers Collective unites Western Sydney’s finest movers for ‘All In’, to conclude the winter season.
Spring blossoms as choreographer and dancer Tupua Tigafua’s ‘Shel We’ pays homage to the whimsical world of Shel Silverstein, while in Jessica Wilson’s interactive project ‘I See You Like This’, kids become art directors. Plus, ‘Thank God You’re Here’ and ‘Taskmaster’ star Anisa Nandaula dives headfirst into chaos in ‘No Small Talk’.
Kids’ comedians The Lists will present their one-hour explosion of slapstick, songs, chaos and gags in ‘This Show Is A Joke!’, while 100 Women 100 Stories brings together six award-winning female composers in a moving choral work. Plus, Bondi Writers’ Festival brings authors, subject matter experts and storytellers together.
Audiences will be able to experience film screenings of the West End’s hottest stage shows, free lunchtime concerts in the High Tide Room, public conversations in Waverley Council’s Talks & Ideas programme, vibrant artist talks in the Art Gallery, and the 25th anniversary of the Mark & Evette Moran Nib Literary Award.
Bondi Pavilions’ 2026 season begins with ‘Waverider’ by Legs On The Wall.
