Parramatta’s city centre will be transformed into a four-night festival of music, street food, art and live performance when Parramatta Lanes returns from 21 to 24 October 2026.
The free festival will take over laneways, streets and public spaces across the Parramatta CBD, with international and Australian performers, immersive installations, skateboarding activations and food vendors forming part of this year’s program.
The 2026 edition also marks 15 years of Parramatta Lanes, with more than 20 festival sites planned across the city.
Genesis Owusu Leads Music Line-Up
ARIA Award-winning artist Genesis Owusu headlines this year’s music program.
Other artists announced include:
- US poet and performer Aja Monet
- American bassist Nik West
- Japanese dance music duo Stereo Champ
- Australian indie artist Esha Tewari
- Sydney collective Shady Nasty
- Luritja singer-songwriter Keanu Nelson
The program combines international artists with musicians and performers from Western Sydney and across Australia.
The broader festival will also include the return of Parranda Down Under in the Latin Quarter, Bodega Collective’s Pass the Mic Grand Final, Red Bull Turn It Up and a four-day skateboarding program at Concrete Plaza.
Street Food Across Parramatta CBD
Food will remain a major part of Parramatta Lanes, with vendors serving dishes ranging from Asian street food and charcoal-grilled skewers to pizza, pasta, desserts and viral food trends.
Food creator Dim Sim Lim will make his Parramatta Lanes debut, with dishes including crispy honey chicken, Flying Bowl Noodles, dumpling cups, tanghulu and Dragon’s Breath treats.
Other announced food operators include:
- Bianco
- Burger Head
- May’s Malaysian Hawker
- Satay Brothers
- Tokyo Taco
- Antico Woodfire Pizza
- KOI Dessert Bar
- Mix Mix Co.
Western Sydney collective Bossman will also take over the Eat Street car park with DJs, live performances and street food.
Immersive Art Across the City
Parramatta CBD will also become an outdoor arts precinct during the festival.
Major works include Benjamin Akuila’s PurseZilla, an illuminated sculpture exploring culture, identity and community, alongside Mechelle Bounpraseuth’s oversized fruit and condiment installation Ma ma ma.
Other interactive works include Samuel Kim and Lawrence Liang’s OURO and Rosie Deacon’s colourful The Great Putty Pop-Up: Art Mini Golf.
Additional activations include Sound Off by Low and Slow, featuring vehicle-mounted sound systems and large-scale projections, as well as a Wingstop precinct at Civic Link with live music curated by 92Wrld.
George Street to Become Part of the Festival
Parts of Parramatta’s city centre will be temporarily repurposed for pedestrians and festival activities, including sections of George Street within the festival precinct.
The street-based format forms part of the NSW Government’s Open Streets Program, which supports councils in temporarily transforming roads into public spaces for cultural, entertainment and community events.
City of Parramatta has received $350,000 through the Open Streets Program to support Parramatta Lanes over three years.
The festival has also received $537,000 through Create NSW’s 4 Year Multi-year Funding program for 2026–2028.
Major Night-Time Event for Western Sydney
Parramatta Lanes has become one of Western Sydney’s major annual night-time events, combining hospitality, live entertainment and public-space activations across the CBD.
Previous editions have generated increased spending across hospitality, retail and entertainment businesses, with City of Parramatta transaction data showing average spending of around $74.60 per person during the 2025 festival.
The 2026 festival will run across four nights from Wednesday, 21 October to Saturday, 24 October, with free entry across the main festival precincts.
Be the first to comment