Sport in Sydney

The Sydney side of sport

Push your limits on a marathon. Connect with your community at a local match. Shoot hoops with friends. Watch a blockbuster game that will leave you on the edge of your seat. The Sydney sports calendar is jam-packed with a wide variety of thrilling events, from cricket, netball, football and rugby to motorsports, sailing, surfing and golf. Embrace your competitive side and join the action.

Must-see events

Sporting highlights in 2023

2023 is going to be a huge year for sport in Sydney. Major global events are coming to the Harbour City, so you’ll have the chance to cheer on your favourite team on home soil. Watch the Wallabies take on Argentina in the second match of the hard-fought Rugby Championship, to be played at CommBank stadium on 15 July.

From 20 July to 20 August, 11 matches in the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be played across Sydney. This is the largest women’s sporting event in the world and the first time it has ever been held in the Southern Hemisphere. Don’t miss your chance to see the Matildas take on the best of the best.

FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023

Annual sporting events

January means cricket in Sydney. One-dayers, test matches and Big Bash games are held regularly at the Sydney Cricket Ground, as well as a fixture from the Ashes tournament when it’s played in Australia. Tennis fans will want to get tickets for the United Cup where the best players from 18 countries compete for the title. The tournament is played in both Sydney and Brisbane from late December to early January.

Sydney Cricket Ground, Moore Park - Credit: Sydney Cricket Ground

High-speed yacht races will have your heart in your mouth at the KPMG Sail GP, held in February on Sydney Harbour. You can watch from spectator boats on the water, harbour islands or the SailGP Village at Barangaroo. The Sydney Surf Pro brings more than 200 local and international surfers to the Northern Beaches to compete for a spot on the elite Championship Tour.

Vissla Sydney Surf Pro at Manly Beach in Manly, Sydney North

Vissla Sydney Surf Pro, Manly Beach

Football fans from every code are spoilt for choice in Sydney. International men’s and women’s teams compete in a blistering weekend of sevens rugby at the HSBC Sydney 7s in January. At least one game of the State of Origin, a legendary rugby league series between NSW and Queensland, is played in Sydney in June or July. There’s also a full calendar of rugby union, rugby league, AFL and soccer matched played at Sydney’s stadiums throughout the year.

State of Origin, ANZ Stadium

The famous City2Surf is the world’s largest fun run, attracting more than 85,000 participants. Run (or walk) the 14km from Hyde Park through the city and along the coast to Bondi Beach. In September, join thousands of keen runners for the Sydney Marathon. There are different races for every skill level, ranging from a 3.5km family run to a full 42km marathon, and everyone gets the thrill of running across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

City2Surf, Sydney CBD

The year wraps up with the famed Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, an annual spectacle that starts on Boxing Day. Up to 100 yachts depart from Sydney Harbour, sailing majestically out through the heads and on to Tasmania. Watch from the shoreline or book a harbour cruise to be in the middle of the action.