What city is the capital of events?

A global pop superstar, a top-tier cricket tournament, and a series of facilities hidden in a train station. That’s just a taste of what’s in store for Australia’s two biggest cities as they look ahead to their biggest spring and summer event season since the pandemic began.

Sydney and Melbourne are making up for lost time with an array of music, art, sports and culture showcases aimed at attracting visitors to the CBD after last year’s Omicron-ravaged summer was marred by show cancellations, closures and density limits.

This season’s highlights include two exclusive Sydney concerts by pop star Bruno Mars at the newly opened $828 million Allianz Stadium, and a showcase by internationally renowned Melbourne street artist Rone, whose Time show ranks third empty floor and the Flinders ballroom. street station.

Rone describes the exhibition as his “white whale,” the culmination of three years of navigating restrictions and consulting with more than 120 professionals to bring his vision to life.

“When I started the process in 2019, no one had really been here for 40 years,” Rone said. “For a long time I wasn’t allowed into space, so a lot of it had to be done remotely, and then all of it at the last minute. Between the equity restrictions and the pandemic lockdowns, there were a lot of hoops to jump through. “

The exhibit includes 11 installations that pay homage to post-World War II Melbourne and mid-century working-class life through a series of immersive murals and vignettes. It is one of the artist’s most ambitious works to date, but the public will only have until the end of January 2023 to see it.

“It’s been designed with a limited lifespan in mind, but I hope the stories live on,” Rone said.

The relaxed border controls have also heralded a number of international music acts. Melbourne will welcome acclaimed singer Dua Lipa to the Palais Theater for a one-of-a-kind performance on October 30. In Sydney, the new $828 million Allianz Stadium is attracting big names from around the world, starting with Bruno Mars on October 14.

Venues NSW CEO Kerrie Mather said: “We are about to embark on the most exciting concert season ever in Sydney.”

“With the opening of the new world-class Allianz Stadium, Sydney now has the perfect mix of state-of-the-art multi-use venues that has helped us attract the world’s biggest names in music, sport and entertainment to NSW.” from Bruno Mars to Harry Styles,” Mather said.

Headline acts hitting Sydney’s Allianz and Accor arenas include Elton John, Ed Sheeran, Red Hot Chili Peppers and Guns N’ Roses.

Sports fans can look forward to a great schedule in both cities, including the Boxing Day and New Years cricket tests between Australia and South Africa, the T20 Men’s World Cup, the Sydney Super Cup, Supercross and the Supercross series. Australia netball tests against England.

Spring racing will also make its long-awaited return. The Melbourne Cup and Everest carnivals will go ahead without the previous COVID-19 density limits, with Everest scheduled to attract 130,000 bettors, generating around $130 million for NSW, and the Melbourne Cup is expected to host 300,000 attendees, it’s the first full crowd since 2019, pumping as much as $434 million into state coffers.

Sydney will also be vying to wrest the title of music capital of Australia from Melbourne with a strong lineup of new shows, headlined by Moulin Rouge! The Musical, after a performance in Melbourne that was cut short due to lockdowns caused by the pandemic.

Sydneysiders will be able to sample a sample of the production before a new round of tickets goes on sale on October 17, with a Moulin Rouge launch! The Musical pop-up venue at Circular Quay from 15 to 16 October. The interactive event will feature elaborate photo opportunities, free coffee, mini makeovers, giveaways and more.

NSW Tourism Minister Ben Franklin said Sydney has a long history of hosting theater productions that boost the visitor economy.

“This spring and summer will be no different, with Sydney theaters rolling out the red carpet for a roster of world-class productions taking the stage through 2023.”

SPRING/SUMMER 2022 HIGHLIGHTS

SYDNEY

Moulin Rouge! The Musical: until December 2022. See moulinrougemusical.com/australia

Phantom of the Opera at Sydney Opera House: Until October 16, 2022. See www.sydneyoperahouse.com

Bruno Mars at Allianz Stadium: 14-15 October 2022. Visit premier.ticketek.com.au

The Mousetrap: October 2022. See www.theatreroyalsydney.com

ATC Spring Racing Carnival – The Everest at Royal Randwick: September 17 to November 5, 2022. Visit www.australianturfclub.com.au

ICC T20 World Cup Games at SCG: October 22 – November 8, 2022. See www.t20worldcup.com

Opera on Cockatoo Island – Carmen: From November 25, 2022. See opera.org.au

Sydney International Art Series: Do Ho Suh: November 4, 2022 – February 26, 2023. See www.mca.com.au

Sydney Shimmer Festival: October 13-16, 2022. Visit www.sydneyshimmerfestival.com.au

Sydney Festival: Starting January 2, 2023. See www.sydneyfestival.org.au

MELBOURNE

Hamilton at Her Majesty’s Theatre: Until January 15, 2022. Visit hamiltonmusical.com.au/melbourne

An exclusive evening with Dua Lipa at the Palais Theatre: October 30, 2022. Visit palaistheatre.com.au

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Regent Theatre: November 13, 2022 to January 1, 2023. josephthemusical.com.au

Rone’s time at Flinders Street Station: October 28, 2022 – January 29, 2023. See rone.art

ICC T20 World Cup Games at MCG: October 16-November 13, 2022. See www.t20worldcup.com

Melbourne Fashion Week: October 10-16, 2022. See mfw.melbourne.vic.gov.au

Melbourne Cup Carnival: October 29 to November 5, 2022. See www.vrc.com.au/melbourne-cup-carnival-2022

MotoGP at Phillip Island: October 14-16, 2022. See www.motogp.com.au

Titanic the Musical: November 4-6, 2022. See thearrolloproject.com.au

FINA World Swimming Championships: December 13-18, 2022. See www.fina.org