Schools Spectacular

The NSW Schools Spectacular is an Australian variety show featuring more than 5,500 students from public schools across New South Wales and was performed annually at the Sydney Entertainment Centre (later known as Qantas Credit Union Arena) between 1984 and 2015, after which the venue was permanently closed. In 2016, it moved to Sydney Olympic Park, and found its new home at Qudos Bank Arena.

Schools Spectacular
Genre	Music performance
Frequency	Annual event
Location(s)	Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park (2016–present) Sydney Entertainment Centre (1983–2015)
Years active	41
Inaugurated	1983
Most recent	2024
Previous event	29 and 30 November 2024
Next event	28 and 29 November 2025
Participants	5,500+[1]
Attendance	32,000+
Website	www.schoolsspectacular.com.au

Australian Variety Show Schools Spectacular, 2005.

The NSW Schools Spectacular was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1984 until 2012, then by the Nine Network from 2013 until 2015. The Seven Network has been broadcasting the Schools Spectacular since 2016. Fifteen television cameras are placed in various vantage points throughout the arena. All four performances are recorded, and the best versions of each show segment are edited together and then aired in the television broadcast two weeks after the live event.

The actual performance is made up of many different pieces. A typical piece would have a spotlighted soloist singing on an elevated platform in the arena, surrounded by many dancers and actors. On the stage, the orchestra would be playing the instrumental part of the song while the choirs behind and next to the orchestra would be singing the chorus of the song. There are some 400 audio inputs for microphones and musical instruments, and an amazing array of around 600 lights used throughout the show.

The first NSW Schools Spectacular was Schools Spectacular 1983 and was intended to be a sound test for the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Since then, the NSW Schools Spectacular has evolved significantly. The 2012 event included 3,600 students and 600 teachers from 400 schools in four performances viewed by 30,000 people.^[2] Schools Spectacular 2016 broke the Guinness World Record for "Largest Amateur Variety Act", with 5,500 performers.^[1]

As well as being broadcast each year on national television, the NSW Schools Spectacular is webcast through the Internet onto their website, with the help and sponsorship by Cisco Systems. The Schools Spectacular is produced by 'The Arts Unit' of the New South Wales Department of Education.

The Victorian Government also sponsors their own edition which began in 2001.^[3]

Themes By Year

Each year, the Schools Spectacular follows a theme:

1993 – One Spirit 1994 – International 1995 – Hats Off To Australia 1996 – Get Set 2000 1997 – The Edge 1998 – Reaching the World 1999 – To Be Australian 2000 – The Entertainers 2001 – Celebrate! 2002 – By Invitation 2003 – 20 Years on

2004 – 21st Birthday 2005 – The Face of Australia 2006 – Shine 2007 – My Spec 2008 – The Spectacular Spirit 2009 – Reaching Out 2010 – Colour My World 2011 – Imagine 2012 – Our Time[4] 2013 – 30 Spectacular Years 2014 – This Is Australia

2015 – This is Our World 2016 – Dream Big 2017 – Own The Moment 2018 – The Greatest 2019 – Stars 2020 – Remixed (Broadcast Special) 2021 – Spectacular Schools Inspired (Broadcast Special) 2022 – Creating The Magic 2023 – FabuloUS 2024 – All 4 One 2025 – Remarkable 2026 – 42nd of Creating The Magic

Notable alumni

• Human Nature (band, Australian recording artists)
• Nathan Foley (children's TV group Hi-5)
• John Foreman (musician, Australian Idol musical director, Schools Spectacular host)
• Jack Vidgen (Australia's Got Talent Winner, The Voice Australia Performer, Australian Recording Artist)
• Shannon Brown^{[5][better source needed]} (The Ten Tenors)
• Paulini (Australian Idol finalist, Australian recording artist, Young Divas)
• Sabrina Batshon (Australian Idol finalist)
• Roshani Pridis (Australian Idol Finalist)
• Anja Nissen (The Voice 2014 Winner)
• Trevor Ashley (Musical Theatre performer)^{[6][better source needed]}
• Travis Collins (Golden Guitar Winner)
• The McClymonts (Golden Guitar Winner)
• Arlo Sim (The Voice Australia Season 10 Grand Finalist)
• Tsehay Hawkins (fourth and current yellow Wiggle) ^[7][8]
• Iliysh Retallick (Australian Idol 2025 Runner Up)