10 unmissable experiences at Parramatta Lanes 2026

Four nights. More than 20 sites. One city transformed.

From 21–24 October 2026, Parramatta Lanes celebrates 15 years of transforming laneways, rooftops and unexpected spaces into a celebration of eats, beats and art. Discover headline acts, unforgettable flavours and surprise experiences around every corner.

Start your festival wish list here.

1. Find your festival soundtrack

Ghanaian-Australian artist Genesis Owusu is one of the most exciting and innovative voices in Australian music. With back-to-back critically acclaimed albums, he's established himself as a distinctive force on the local music scene. Catch him at the Ngurra Gunya stage on Saturday 24 October.

Sydney punk favourites Shady Nasty play Beatdisc Lane on the same night, while Esha Tewari brings her heartfelt alternative songwriting to Ngurra Gunya on Thursday 22 October. Check set times to plan your night.

_{This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through Creative Australia, its principal arts investment and advisory body.}

Smiling bearded Black man in a red cap and glasses, wearing a white shirt and tie against a bright blue sky; joyful, confident mood.

2. Take sides in a DJ showdown

At Red Bull Turn It Up, the crowd decides who comes out on top. DJ crews battle it out, playing mixes to a theme chosen by the MC and trying to win you over. Head to Bodega Lane on Thursday 22 October and get behind your favourites.

Smiling performers raise their hands onstage beneath a Red Bull Turn Up sign, surrounded by colorful lights and cheering people at a lively event.

3. Tee off inside Eat Street Car Park

The Great Putty Pop-Up: Art Mini Golf turns a round of putt-putt into an art adventure. Rosie Deacon and Jen Denzin have dreamed up six colourful holes, from underwater coral floral to kitsch koalas. Bring your competitive streak, then explore the Art Car Boot Sale, where artists transform vehicles into installations and places to discover art and experiences.

Bearded man in sunglasses plays whimsical indoor mini-golf amid colorful hanging balls, striped poles, tropical plants, and bright playful décor.

4. Meet PurseZilla

A tiki purse on a spectacular scale? Meet Benjamin Akuila’s PurseZilla. Inspired by the artist’s ceramic-tiki mask purses, this larger-than-life inflatable explores Tongan-Australian identity through humour, culture and a whole lot of personality. Add it to your festival route and snap a photo while you’re there.

Bearded man in a white shirt and patterned crossbody bag stands beside a gold handbag sculpture in a quiet gallery, smiling calmly.

5. Take your night to the rooftop

Take your festival experience skyward at the CINCiN Spritz bar on Eat Street Rooftop. Choose a Blood Orange Negroni, Peach Bellini, Lemon Frenchie or Passionfruit Caipirinha spritz, while you soak up the city views to a soundtrack from Beat Kitchen, fbi.radio and Blend Theory.

Two smiling women chat at a nighttime rooftop event, one holding a microphone, with guests, drinks, and a stone wall behind them.

6. Watch the action at Concrete Plaza

Parramatta Square’s amphitheatre becomes a pop up skatepark, complete with six-foot half pipes, ramps and stairs. Concrete Plaza brings pro rider demonstrations, an Opens Skate Jam and free skate sessions across four nights. Watch from the sidelines or check the session details to join in.

Skateboarder performs an airborne trick above a city plaza, framed by tall glass buildings and a bright blue sky; energetic urban scene.

7. Follow the flavour to Phillip Street

Parranda Down Under brings the energy to Phillip Street, where BAR30 & Parilla return with a South American-style open-fire barbecue. Expect smoky choripán, sizzling asado cuts and fresh, spicy margaritas. Pull up a seat and settle into the fiesta.

Four cocktails line a bar: fruit-filled yellow, pale, orange, and amber drinks garnished with chips, chili, citrus, and herbs; bartender behind.

8.Find your next favourite bite

Watch Bianco toss spaghetti inside a 24-month aged cheese wheel, try East Blue Seafood’s lobster rolls and donuts, or seek out Firepop’s O.G. lamb and Butter CUBE wagyu, cooked over coals. Dessert deserves its own stop: Chimnutz combines Hungarian chimney cake, crème brûlée custard and soft serve.

Close-up of spiced meat skewers grilling over glowing charcoal, with smoky heat rising and rows of wooden sticks extending into the background.

9. Play your way through Civic Arcade

TE$H: CyberKitty brings a cyberpunk alien and Dance Dance Revolution to Civic Arcade. Anyone can jump on, everyone gets scored, and the playlist is part of the surprise. While you’re there, discover Modular Conversations, where artists experiment together with live synths.

Tattooed punk person in leather and chains leans over a metal railing, staring intensely at the camera against a bright blue sky.

10. Find a car meet with a difference

At Leigh Memorial Car Park, Edith Amituanai’s Sound Off brings together Siren cars, roof-mounted MidBox sound systems and large-scale video projections for a night of booming beats, striking visuals and high energy.

It’s a meeting of music, moving image and car culture that makes the car park a destination in its own right.

Smiling man sits in an open car trunk beside a gaming screen while another man films him in a colorful, lively auto paint shop.

Make a night of it, then come back for more. With four nights of eats, beats and art, there's always something new to see, hear and discover.

Explore the program and plan your Lanes night.