Sydney Opera House to celebrate 50 years

Major Australian and international artists will take centre stage at the World Heritage listed architectural wonder on the Sydney Harbour foreshore for the year-long festival.

"The Opera House is a gift and an immense source of pride to our community," CEO Louise Herron said on Wednesday.

The program will kick off next month, with nightly projections on the iconic sails, accompanied by free open air choral performances by community choirs, culminating in a grand finale concert on its 50th birthday in October 2023.

Summer concerts will feature performances by Tim Minchin, Fat Freddy's Drop, Vance Joy and neo-soul R&B artist Ngaiire.

First Nations people will also feature on the program, with performances from the Central Australia Aboriginal Women's Choir and Blak & Deadly - a First Nations gala concert set to feature a "Blak" carpet.

Ms Herron said the program was designed to be more inclusive and accessible than some previous Opera House performances.

"It may have been something of the Opera House of the past that it belongs to the privileged," she said.

"But our message is (it) belongs to everyone," she said.

Arts Minister Ben Franklin launched the celebrations at the Opera House, noting the role the program will play in post-COVID-19 economic recovery.

"There is no more iconic building in Australia," he said on Wednesday.

"An explosion of celebration in this venue couldn't send a more powerful message that Sydney is open and that Australia has opened once again," he said.

Programming director Fiona Manning says the program will feature both free and ticketed events, including children's and outdoor performances.

"Just as the Opera House transcends the boundaries of architecture, our programming will transcend the limits of the past and encourage artists and audiences from all backgrounds to explore new forms of expression," she said.

Australian Associated Press