Sydney Festival director Wesley Enoch has said he has the "second-album jitters" during the launch of the program for next January's event, after a hit festival last summer.
Mr Enoch is in his second year in the job and said repeating the success of his inaugural festival, which saw audience attendance up by 150,000, was a tough act to follow.
The 2018 program, running from January 6–28, has themes of human consumption, the evolution of feminism and our interaction with the digital realm.
An ethereal underwater concert AquaSonic will see five Danish musicians play custom-made instruments while submerged in aquariums.
UK's National Theatre will bring the critically acclaimed Barber Shop Chronicles to Sydney while British choreographer Wayne McGregor teams up with artist Olafur Eliasson and musician Jamie xx for contemporary ballet Tree of Codes.
Local acts are also being featured including Circus Oz, which is celebrating its 40th birthday next year.
Performer Mitch Jones said their show examined the Australian suburban dream through music and physical feats.
"It's exciting, it's acrobatic, it's topical, it's funny, it's great for the family and it's got lots of spectacular acrobatics as well," Mr Jones said.
For those looking for a quick cultural fix, Mr Enoch suggests Hyde Park's Festival Village where you can hop on a karaoke carousel, immerse yourself in a virtual reality ghost train or take part in a 10-minute dance party.
"I think my big thing is that the festival has to be relevant to the city, it has to do something that asks people to go somewhere they haven't been before," he said.
"It's kind of like the cultural speed date — something you can do for five or 10 minutes with your friends and family.
"Think of it as your cultural new year's resolution: to do things that take you out of your comfort zone and express yourself in your city in summer."
With nearly 140 events and 700 artists from 22 countries, the Sydney Festival is the nation's largest.
