The 2025 Sydney International Arts Festival Dance Festival will be held in Sydney on 13th July, 2025. This year's festival aims to promote interaction between local Australian and international artists and drive international dialogue and cooperation in culture and art. The Sydney International Arts Festival is not only a cultural feast but also, through a variety of art forms, makes art accessible to a wider range of people, attracts domestic and foreign tourists to interact with the festival, and promotes the development of the local economy.

Schedule of the 2025 Sydney International Arts Festival

Online Preliminary Selection
Online registration deadline for the festival: Jun 20th, 2025
Announcement of preliminary selection results: June 30th, 2025
Grand Final of the Sydney International Arts Festival: July 13th, 2025
Venue: Sydney

Category

Vocal

Folk, Popular, Bel Canto, Jazz and Pop Singing

Chinese Folk Music

Guzheng, Pipa, Liuqin, Suona, Xun, Dizi, Xiao, Pan Flute, Hulusi, Erhu, Chinese Folk Percussion (including solo and orchestra performances) Orchestral Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Cor Anglais, Clarinet, Saxophone, Bassoon, Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba, Euphonium, Baritone Horn, Bass Trombone, Western Percussion (including solo and orchestra performances).

Dance

Chinese Dance, Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Jazz, Hip-hop

Division

Preschool Group: 4-6 years old

Children's Group 1: 7-9 years old

Juvenile Group: 10-12 years old

Adolescent Group: 13-15 years old

Youth Group: 15-18 years old

Young Adult Group: 18-35 years old

Adult Group: Over 35 years old

Student Group of Art Colleges

Teacher Group of Art Colleges

Requirements

Performance Duration
Group performances with more than three people should be within 5 minutes.
Solo/Duet/Trio performances should be within 3 minutes.
Video Submission Standards for the Online Preliminary Round
Video Format: The video format is usually a common one such as MP4, MOV, etc. The video resolution should be high enough to ensure clarity and image quality. Shoot horizontally.
Recording Requirements: The video can be recorded in a dance studio, an outdoor venue, or other suitable places. During the recording process, ensure sufficient lighting and avoid shadows and blurriness. The camera should be placed steadily or fixed to ensure a stable image. The video cannot be edited and needs to be recorded in one continuous shot.
Submission Requirements: Participants should submit their video works in the manner and within the time specified by the competition and upload them. The video should clearly indicate the participant's name, the name of the dance, and contact information. The email subject should state the full name and the name of the participating work. Participants should ensure that their dance works do not infringe on the copyright or intellectual property rights of others and agree to the use of their works by the competition organizer in promotional and marketing activities. The above standards aim to ensure the fairness and professionalism of the competition and provide participants with an opportunity to showcase their dance skills.

Fees

Registration fee for participants: $60 per person
Fees for preliminary round performances:
Dance Category
Solo: $90 per act
Others: $80 per act
Vocal Music and Instrument Category
Solo: $100 per act
Others: $90 per act
The fees for the final competition in July will be announced separately.

Matters Needing Attention

1. The Organizing Committee will invite music educators and performers from domestic and foreign higher professional institutions to form an expert committee. The expert committee has the final decision-making power regarding the results of the exhibition and performance.
2. When registering for the competition, each applicant must fill in the materials truthfully. The Organizing Committee will determine the exhibition and performance qualifications of the applicants based on the registration materials. If any false information is found in the materials, the applicant's participation qualification will be cancelled.
3. The Organizing Committee has the final right to interpret the exhibition and performance of each category, the concert, and related activities. The copyright of all audio-visual products and derivative products generated from the activities shall belong to the Organizing Committee.
4. The specific content of the general exhibition and performance activities of the art festival will be notified separately.
5. For the inquiry of the specific exhibition and performance time periods and details of each category please refer to the final announcement.

Application Form

Please download the registration form here. After completing it, send it to the studio teacher or email it to siafaustralia@gmail.com.

Online Preliminary Selection
Online registration deadline for the festival: 31/10/2025
Announcement of preliminary selection results: 30/11/2025
Grand Final of the Sydney International Arts Festival: Feb 2026
Venue: Sydney

Categories

• Children Group: 9 years old and under

• Junior Group: 10–13 years old

• Teen Group: 14–18 years old

• Youth Group: 18–35 years old

• Adult Group: 35 years old and above

• Art College Student Group

• Professional Artist Group

Evaluation Criteria

• Relevance to Theme

• Depth of Cultural Expression

• Creativity & Innovation

• Conceptual Integrity

• Technical Execution

Artwork & Submission Requirements

Artwork Requirements

Creation Period: Only works created between 2022 and 2025 are eligible.
Mediums Accepted: Including but not limited to painting, sculpture (submit high-quality photos or videos of the physical work), photography, installation art, and digital art.
Originality: All submitted works must be original creations by the participant. Submissions must not infringe upon any copyright, portrait rights, or other legal rights. Works must not contain any commercial branding or logos. No watermarks may be included in the images or videos.
AI Restriction: Works generated, modified, or enhanced using AI tools in any form are not accepted.

Required Submission Files

1) Artwork file(s) (in the required format)
2) Completed registration form (download from the official website: www.sydneyartsfestival.com  must be in Word format)
3) File naming format:  SIAF Arts Competition - Name - Title of Work
4) Package and send all files to the official submission email:
siafaustralia@gmail.com (Email subject line must match the file naming format)

Format Specifications

1) Static Works (e.g. paintings, models, sculptures):
    • Submit high-resolution photographs (not physical works).
    • Image resolution must be at 300 dpi, in JPG format, with file size under 5MB.
    • Do not upload compressed files (e.g. ZIP or RAR).
    • The image must be well-lit, clearly composed, and free from harsh shadows, glare, or any post-editing.
    • Each artwork can be accompanied by up to 3 images, with at least one showing the full piece.
    • White or neutral backgrounds are recommended to highlight the work.
    • For 3D or installation works, please provide multiple angles and specify structure and concept if the piece consists of multiple components.
2) Dynamic Works (e.g. video-based art):
    • Submit in MP4 format, under 100MB, and no longer than 5 minutes in duration.
    • One A3-sized vertical poster must be submitted along with the video for future exhibition use (e.g. winners’ catalogue or promotional materials).
3) Calligraphy & Traditional Painting:
    • Submit high-resolution digital scans or photographs.
    • No restrictions on size, materials, or tools used.
    • Image quality must comply with the requirements listed in 1) above.
4) Usage Rights:
Participants agree to authorize the organizing committee to use submitted works for non-commercial purposes including promotion, publication, and exhibition.