Parramatta Lanes will return to the Parramatta CBD from 21 to 24 October, bringing four nights of live music, art, street food, skateboarding and cultural experiences to the city.
The free festival’s 2026 music program will feature ARIA Award-winning artist Genesis Owusu, US poet and performer Aja Monet, American bassist Nik West, Japanese dance music duo Stereo Champ, indie artist Esha Tewari, genre-defying collective Shady Nasty and Luritja singer-songwriter Keanu Nelson from Papunya.
The festival will also feature a new food offering from Dim Sim Lim, with Asian street food including crispy honey chicken and Flying Bowl Noodles from Dumpling King, dumpling cups from Dragon Express, and tanghulu and Dragon’s Breath treats from Fruity Poppin.
Across the Parramatta CBD, visitors will find a range of art installations and interactive experiences. Benjamin Akuila’s PurseZilla will feature an illuminated sculpture exploring culture, identity and community, while Mechelle Bounpraseuth’s Ma ma ma will present exaggerated offerings of fruit and condiments.
Other installations include Samuel Kim and Lawrence Liang’s OURO and Rosie Deacon’s The Great Putty Pop-Up: Art Mini Golf.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Martin Zaiter said the festival would bring together music, art, food and culture while showcasing Western Sydney talent.
“From international headline acts to talent from Western Sydney, this year’s program celebrates everything that makes Parramatta such a dynamic destination,” Cr Zaiter said.
The program will also include the return of Parranda Down Under at the Latin Quarter, Bodega Collective’s Pass the Mic Grand Final, Red Bull Turn It Up and Concrete Plaza, which will feature skateboarding activations across the four days.
George Street within the festival boundaries will be closed to vehicles, allowing visitors to move through the event precinct.
Food options will range from woodfired pizza and charcoal-grilled skewers to hawker classics, loaded street food, tanghulu and desserts.
Featured venues and operators include Bianco, Burger Head, Bossman Eat Street Car Park, May’s Malaysian Hawker, Satay Brothers, Tokyo Taco, Antico Woodfire Pizza, KOI Dessert Bar and Mix Mix Co.
Western Sydney collective Bossman will take over Eat Street carpark with DJs, live performances and street food. Wingstop will host a laneway activation around Civic Link, featuring a 92Wrld-curated music stage, nightly live performances and a food truck.
Sound Off by Low and Slow will feature Siren cars and MidBox sound systems mounted on vehicle roofs, alongside large-scale video projections.
Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said the festival would provide an opportunity for locals and visitors to experience music, art and food while supporting the local night-time economy.
Parramatta Lanes is funded by the City of Parramatta and the NSW Government through Create NSW’s 4 Year Multi-year Funding program and Transport for NSW’s Open Streets Program 2025-28. The City of Parramatta received a $350,000 grant through the Open Streets Program to deliver the event over three years.
The event has also received support from the Australian Government through Creative Australia.
The full program and event information are available through the Parramatta Lanes website.
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