With more than 10,000 French-born people living in Sydney, and plenty more who love the cuisine, wine, and culture, it’s no surprise there’s multiple French markets and festivals thrown around the city. The best (in our opinion) is the annual Bastille Day festival.

Held on a weekend close to the 14 July French national day, the Bastille Day festival brings all kinds of French foods, tipples from acclaimed wine regions around the country, fashion stalls and more.

And the best part? It’s completely free to attend! No tickets, no queues. Just wander over to Circular Quay and take in all things French. No need to take out your wallet until you give in to the French cuisine and wine that will be everywhere.

When does the festival take place in 2026?

In 2026, the festival is held from Thursday, 16 July until Sunday, 19 July. Perfect for lunch on a workday or a sunny Sunday afternoon.

• Thursday, 16 July: 12pm until 10pm
• Friday, 17 July: 10am until 11pm
• Saturday, 18 July: 10am until 11pm
• Sunday, 19 July: 10am until 9pm

Where is the Bastille Day festival in Sydney?

Scattered around the Circular Quay area, there are six zones for the 2026 festival, all within easy walking distance of one another:

• MCA (Tallawoladah Lawn)
• First Fleet Park
• Gateway Plaza
• Loftus Street
• Customs House
• East Circular Quay

After spending a few hours at the festival in 2025, we found most of the classic French eats and drinks were in the section in front of Customs House.

First Fleet Park, which very much flows toward the MCA, had a festive atmosphere with a stage playing music and more places to sit and eat on the grass.

Below the Cahill Expressway, there seemed to be more not-so-French merchants trying to put a twist on their dishes.

Getting to the Bastille Day festival

It’s easiest to arrive either by train or light rail, getting off of both at Circular Quay. Expect the streets to be a bit busy, with some even closed off, so buses and cars probably aren’t the best option.

If you live near a ferry wharf, you can also take a ferry to Circular Quay. And if it’s a nice day, we highly recommend doing so, too. It’s always a pleasure on a sunny afternoon to cruise along Sydney Harbour and pretend to be a tourist.

What’s there to do?

Eating and drinking is probably the main draw card of the festival. Or at least it’s what drew us into the city on a weekend.

There are live shows in each section, too. Live performers play from 12pm until 11pm on the main stage on the Saturday and Sunday, with slightly earlier endings on Thursday and Friday. (See a full schedule on the Bastille Day festival website.)

Between eats, there are market stalls as well. Browse through jewellery, leather goods, fashion and art until you’re feeling hungry again.

Best things to eat and drink

If you’re like us, when you think “French” you think of all the wonderful things to eat and drink. And the Bastille Day festival doesn’t disappoint.

What to eat at the Bastille Day festival in 2026

We’re seeing a lot of repeat stalls from 2025, which is great because the food was fantastic!

• Something hearty: Raclette from Raclette Melted Cheese or the grilled scallops from Orleans Moules-Frites or the steak frites baguette from Bouillon L’Entrecôte
• Something light: Crepes from French Kiss Crêperie, escargot from Escargot Brothers or cheese and charcuterie from Saucissons & Cheese by La Bastide
• Something sweet: Macarons from Macaron de Paris

While we didn’t get to try it as the line was too long and we were short on time (probably a great sign!), we heard rave reviews about the steak-frites baguette from Bouillion l’Entrecôte. Having eaten at the restaurant nearby, we’re sure the year-long wait will be well worth it.

There’s plenty of not-so-French options as well, with stalls selling everything from German sausage to Italian pastas and gnocchi.

What to drink at the Bastille Day festival

The festival’s Le Passeport wine passports are a fun way to sample different drops from around the country. Simply pick up your book and glass and sample wines from Bordeaux, Provence, Burgundy, the Loire Valley and more. Across the festival, different stalls feature wines from different regions. Each usually has a few on offer, but sometimes the menu gets a bit smaller toward the end of the day as supplies run low.

While fun, the wine passport experience isn’t free. It’s $39 for four stops, or $69 for eight stops.

But, there’s more than just wines on offer here. Here’s just a sample of what you can drink at the festival:

• Something classic: French champagne stalls
• Something warm: Mulled wine or cider
• Something new: Belgian chocolate champagne
• Something for the kids: French-style hot chocolate (with the option to add marshmallows and whipped cream!) from Epique Hot Chocolate

What to do next…