Welcome to 2026, and the 25th year of the South Sydney Herald, online and in print!
It is also the Chinese Year of the Fire Horse, which means energy, change and dynamism, starting on February 17 and ending on February. Colours for good luck are green, gold and white.
What better way to celebrate the Lunar New Year than with the Haymarket Street Festival – February 14, 5pm-10pm from Chinatown to Thaitown. There will be lion dances, street food, markets and traditional and contemporary performances.
Hay Street will also light up with 12 Lunar Lanterns of quirky zodiac animals by Erika Zhu. Find them opposite Paddy’s Markets light rail stop, every day from Wednesday, February 11 until Sunday, March 1.
Family Lunar New Year Craft Workshop at Green Square Library
Monday, February 16 (355 Botany Road, Zetland), 2.30-4.30pm
Arts and crafts with a Lunar NY theme for families with children over five years. This is a free event, but bookings are essential.
Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras Festival, February 13-March 1
There are some 80 events in this year’s festival, themed ‘Ecstatica’, culminating in the Parade along Oxford Street on Saturday February 28.
Belvoir St Theatre Unwaged Performance Program 2026
Always in our February issue I publish the Belvoir Unwaged Program for our theatre-loving volunteers and readers for the coming year. Unwaged performances for 2026 are on Thursdays at 1pm and to claim your ticket visit the Belvoir Box Office from 11am on the day of the performance. Pensioner, Health Care Card, Vets Card with photo ID. (MEAA and Equity cards also accepted).
March 19: The Mirror
April 9: Drive Your Plow over the Bones of the Dead
June 4: The Birds
Sept 3: Runt
Oct 15: A Room with a View
Dec 17: The Coconut Children
Welcome to our newest volunteers 2026.
Sasha Imada: series reviews and local interviews; Murray Gillet: short stories and local interviews and Joel O’Connor: stories from the past.
We look forward to your contributions in 2026.
Pat Clarke
volunteers@ssh.com.au
