Major events and festivals charity partnerships

Santa’s Sleigh Ride and Tree Lighting

• Date: 27 November 2025
• Time: 6:30pm to 8:30pm

Pyrmont Christmas Concert

• Date: 29 November 2025
• Time: 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Rosebery Christmas Concert

• Date: 30 November 2025
• Time: 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Surry Hills Christmas Fair

• Date: 6 December 2025
• Time: 11am to 10pm

Rushcutters Bay Christmas Concert

• Date: 7 December 2025
• Time: 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Glebe Christmas Concert

• Date: 13 December 2025
• Time: 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Alexandria Christmas Concert

• Date: 14 December 2025
• Time: 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Dates and times are subject to change.

The charity must:

• be an official registered charity or public benevolent institution and have no religious affiliation
• undertake work which produces significant benefit to our communities
• have an organisational focus compatible with our values and explain how this is important for Sydney Christmas
• demonstrate their experience in successful online and/or face to face fundraising including providing and managing employees and volunteers to operate an interactive paid activation at each of the Christmas concert events outlined above (minimum of 2 employees or volunteers per activation)
• have point of sale infrastructure and floats for interactive activations
• have a cash handling policy
• hold the insurances we require.

The Sydney Christmas charity partner will also:

• provide its logo and approved copy for event collateral
• acknowledge the City of Sydney in all related marketing collateral we approve
• only issue related media releases with our written consent.

• logo acknowledgement across the Sydney Christmas marketing campaign and Christmas concerts
• an opportunity for the charity partner to fundraise at our Christmas concerts, Christmas fair and Santa’s Sydney Sleigh Ride with information about your organisation’s Christmas campaigns and digital ads included on our What’s On website
• local events included in the What’s On newsletter sent to 28,000 subscribers.

Previous charity partners include:

• Sydney Childrens Hospital Foundation (2023–2024)
• The Kids Cancer Project (2021–2022)
• OzHarvest (2020)
• Surf Lifesaving Australia (2019)
• Variety – The Children’s Charity (2017–2018)
• Guide Dogs NSW/ACT (2015–2016)
• The Australian Children’s Music Foundation (2011–2014)

The charity must:

• be an official registered charity or public benevolent institution and have no religious affiliation
• undertake work which produces significant benefit to our communities
• have an organisational focus compatible with our values and explain how this is important for Sydney New Year’s Eve
• demonstrate previous experience in successful online and/or face to face fundraising
• hold the insurances we require.

The Sydney New Year’s Eve charity partner will also:

• provide its logo and approved copy for event collateral
• conduct an online and/or face to face campaign as the official charity partner of the event with approved activities and fundraising
• acknowledge the City of Sydney in all related marketing collateral we approve
• only issue related media releases with our written consent.

• logo acknowledgement across the marketing campaign including website and Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons (subject to approval)
• an opportunity for a charity representative to speak at the event media launch
• general media opportunities relating to the event
• fundraising opportunities subject to approval
• acknowledgement of the charity in community service announcements subject to confirmation.

Previous charity partners include:

• National Breast Cancer Foundation (2023–2024)
• The Smith Family (2021–2022)
• Refugee Council of Australia (2019)
• UNICEF (2017–2018)
• Habitat for Humanity (2015–2016)
• Engineers Without Borders (2013–2014)
• The Fred Hollows Foundation (2012)
• CARE Australia (2011)

Lunar Decorations

• Date: 14 February to 1 March 2026
• Time: All day
• Estimated Attendance: 240,000

Media Call

• Date: TBA
• Time: 10:30am
• Estimated Attendance: 100

Lord Mayor Reception

• Date: 14 February 2026
• Time: 6pm to 7:30pm
• Estimated Attendance: Approximately 150 invited guests

Sydney Lunar Streets (Major Festival Event)

• Date: 14 February 2026
• Time: 5pm to 10pm
• Estimated Attendance: 22,000

Lunar Spectacular

• Date: 21 February 2026
• Time: 2pm and 5pm
• Estimated Attendance: 1,000 per show

Lunar Family Day

• Date: 28 February and 1 March 2026
• Time: 11am to 4pm
• Estimated Attendance: Approximately 1,500 throughout the day

Dates and times are subject to change.

The charity must:

• be an official registered charity or public benevolent institution and have no religious affiliation
• undertake work which produces significant benefit to our communities
• have an organisational focus compatible with our values and explain how this is important for Sydney Lunar Festival
• demonstrate previous experience in successful online and/or face to face fundraising
• hold the insurances we require.

The Sydney Lunar Festival charity partner will also:

• provide its logo and approved copy for event collateral
• conduct an online and/or face to face campaign as the official charity partner of the event with approved activities and fundraising
• acknowledge the City of Sydney in all event marketing collateral we approve
• only issue related media releases with our written consent.

• logo acknowledgement across event marketing and communications, including print advertisements, event signs (including street banners), media releases, What’s On event newsletter and Sydney Lunar Festival website
• an opportunity for a one to 2 minute speech by a charity representative at the event media launch
• fundraising opportunities subject to approval
• a digital ad on the Sydney Lunar Festival website
• introductions to event sponsors including media partner
• up to 10 invitations to the Lord Mayor’s reception
• information in the media kit or in a media release for the media launch
• verbal acknowledgement in the Lord Mayor’s or representative’s speech at the festival launch.

Previous charity partners include:

• Settlement Services International (2024–2025)
• The Benevolent Society (2022–2023)
• OzHarvest (2021)
• The Fred Hollows Foundation (2020)
• Surf Lifesaving NSW (2019)
• Guide Dogs NSW/ACT (2018)
• Cure Brain Cancer Foundation (2016–2017)
• Barnardos Australia (2015)
• Chinese Parents Association – Children with Disabilities (2014)
• Taronga Foundation (2012–2013)