Major events across Australia in 2023

Originally known as the Australasian championships, the Australian Open (AO) was first held in 1905 and is now one of the biggest sporting events in the Southern Hemisphere. Staged across three venues in Melbourne/Narrm – Rod Laver Arena, Margaret Court Arena and John Cain Arena (collectively known as Melbourne Park) – groups can admire the world’s best tennis players in action in this first tournament of the 2023 Grand Slam Tennis Tour. An impressive array of dining experiences complements the 2023 event program, from the Penfolds Restaurant at CENTREPIECE to Atrium by NOMAD on the AO River Terrace. Private spaces include lounges, Superboxes, the Terrace and Player Pod, and for tennis fanatics, curated experiences such meeting a retired tennis legend or exclusive on-court seats can be arranged. Groups can also explore Melbourne Park and surrounds from a First Nations perspective on a private walking tour with a bespoke AO twist; providing guests with insight into the cultural significance of the sites on which the tennis championship is held.

Sydney/Warrane will come alive in 2023 for WorldPride, a global LGBTQIA+ festival that has been staged since 2000. Sydney was chosen as the host city for 2023; the first time a city in the Southern Hemisphere has been selected. The festival will incorporate the beloved Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras events, plus a broad offering across arts, sport, theatre, concerts, parties, First Nations programming and a human rights conference. Groups can enjoy premium tiered seating for the main parade, or experience various in-venue activations at local bars and restaurants - from cocktail making classes to private dinners. Luxury superyacht The Jackson is joining the festivities, offering a sunset harbour cruise and an elevated luxury brunch experience with entertainment from top drag performers and DJs.

The Formula 1 Rolex Australian Grand Prix returns in 2023 to the Albert Park circuit, 6km (3.7 miles) from Melbourne/Narrm’s city centre. This adrenaline-packed event will put Melbourne on the global stage as enthusiasts from around the world follow their fast-paced heroes from the pits around the 58 laps to the chequered flag at the finish line. Guests can make plans to join the excitement and sophistication of this truly global sporting spectacle in 2023 with 21 hospitality suites available for exclusive use, each positioned along the track for maximum race viewing. In between the racing action, groups can explore Melbourne’s outstanding food and drink scene and cultural attractions.

For groups visiting Sydney/Warrane in autumn, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is a thrilling spectacle. 2023 sees the critically acclaimed and wildly popular Madama Butterfly return to the outdoor stage at Mrs Macquarie’s Point, set under the stars to a spectacular backdrop of the famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. Add a touch of luxury by booking the HSBC Platinum Club, an undercover pop-up restaurant with uninterrupted Harbour views, exclusive menus, superior regional wines from New South Wales and dedicated table service. Ending with a bang with fireworks each night, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is a truly unforgettable experience.

For groups with a passion for food and drink, add Tasting Australia to the menu for 2023. This annual festival is held in Adelaide/Tarntanya and across South Australia, and is a showcase of South Australia’s people, produce and place. Tasting Australia entices guests to discover deliciously different events; think indulgent long lunches, masterclasses and even an exclusive ‘Tasting Australia Airlines’ private plane experience to explore the sights and tastes of destinations further afield like Coffin Bay, the Flinders Ranges and Coober Pedy. Stay tuned for the 2023 program, which will include VIP and corporate offerings.

The start of winter in Australia welcomes the much-anticipated Vivid Sydney, an annual festival of light, music and ideas held in Australia’s harbour city of Sydney/Warrane. There are plenty of ways for groups to experience the brilliance of Vivid Sydney, from admiring the light show from the summit of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to cruising the waters of the Harbour itself on a luxury superyacht, or even catching a bird’s eye view of the spectacle from a special helicopter licensed to do night tours of Vivid. For more inspiration, here are 5 ways for groups to experience Vivid Sydney.

The annual Dark Mofo festival makes midwinter a thrilling time of year for groups to visit Tasmania’s capital of Hobart/nipaluna. Staged by the team at the Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Dark Mofo celebrates the dark through large-scale public art, food, music, fire, light and noise. It delves into centuries-old rituals to explore the links between ancient and contemporary mythology, and concepts such as darkness and light, birth, death and renewal. The heart of the event is the nightly Winter Feast at Princes Wharf 1 on the Salamanca waterfront, where guests and locals gather around fires and under the stars to eat, drink and celebrate as the longest night of the year approaches in Australia’s southernmost city.

Groups can be a part of history by visiting Australia during the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023 where fans will see 32 nations playing 64 matches across nine host cities in Australia and New Zealand for the first time in Women's World Cup history. The tournament will embody Australia’s passion for women’s football (known in Australia as soccer) and provide locals and visitors with the opportunity to watch, and be inspired by, the best players in the world. Matches will be held in Sydney/Warrane, Melbourne/Narrm, Brisbane/Meeanjin, Adelaide/Tarntanya and Perth/Boorloo, with a range of corporate offerings across the host stadiums including Match Private Suites with pitch views, in-suite TVs, grazing tables and direct access to seats.

Rugby union fans should consider an incentive program to Australia in September 2023 for the Bledisloe Cup, a thrilling annual competition staged between the national teams of Australia's Wallabies and New Zealand's All Blacks. 2023 will see the event held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) for the first time since 2007, after Rugby Australia and the Victorian Government secured the Bledisloe Cup matches on Melbourne soil in 2022 and 2023. Earlier in 2022, the MCG partnered with hospitality experts Delaware North to form MCG Events, who planners can work with to arrange corporate hospitality packages, tours and experiences.

2023 is a year of firsts for Sydney/Warrane, with the iconic South by Southwest® (SXSW®) event taking its renowned celebration of creativity and innovation out of North America for the first time. The event is a major coup for Sydney and will see a gathering of the world’s most inspired thinkers, creators and innovators for an exploration of the best in music, screen, gaming, technology and innovation. SXSW Sydney will become the official annual Asia-Pacific instalment of SXSW, which launched in 1987 in Austin, Texas and has featured high-profile speakers such as Barack Obama and Steven Spielberg.  More details and corporate offerings to be released in 2023.