events - 2026-06-15

Manly's Rise Festival Returns with a 25-Metre Ferris Wheel and a Week of Winter Celebrations

The beloved winter festival is back from 19 to 28 June, with a towering new Ferris wheel opposite the Corso, light projections, a silent disco, and a swim from Manly to Shelly Beach.

Manly is gearing up for its most ambitious winter festival yet, with the return of Rise Manly from Friday 19 June to Sunday 28 June 2026 — and this year, the headline act is a 25-metre Ferris wheel planted directly opposite the Corso. Standing more than eight storeys high on the ocean beachfront, the wheel promises sweeping panoramic views across the Pacific from the top of its arc. It is a first for Manly's ocean side — the suburb has hosted Ferris wheels before, most famously at the Fun Pier at Manly Wharf, which ran from 1931 until the pier's demolition in 1989, but that was on the harbour cove side. This edition marks the first time a Ferris wheel has graced the ocean beachfront. Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the community should expect more surprises this year. "The program was such a success last year and there are plans to build on this with more surprises — including the Ferris wheel," she said. The festival is designed as a celebration of local businesses and the community through the colder months, with local shops, restaurants, bars, cafes, and fitness and wellness businesses teaming up for a packed program of special events and experiences. Taking a cue from...