"A strong and thriving creative sector means more jobs, stronger local businesses and a more vibrant State," says Creative Industries Minister Simone McGurk.

Having got to grips with the city he now calls home, Sydney Festival Director Kris Nelson is fast closing in on a decent night's sleep.

Australian players feature strongly in the prestigious event's 25th-anniversary edition, to be held in Queenstown and Auckland.

A fight for artistic freedom, the breaking down of barriers for musicians with disability and the future of our national opera company in our top stories for 2025.

"Practical and community considerations" lead to the shelving of a new work by Sydney's Legs on the Wall.

Proof (were it needed) that the promise of nudity always boosts traffic.

Our readers gravitated to daring premieres, festival feats and revisited classics alike.

Revivals of beloved musicals and brand-new works in this year's most-read mix.

Franco Zeffirelli's Aida will be part of the 2027 Adelaide Festival, but no word yet on its stars.

Nominations span 56 productions, reflecting the breadth of work across mainstage, independent and musical theatre.

Our top 10 opera reviews chart an operatic landscape where bold new works jostle with reimagined classics for audience attention.

Revelling in some downtime before the Australian Festival of Chamber Music, Jack Liebeck shares some of his Christmas treats.