State Memorial for Barry Humphries AC CBE

A State Memorial for Barry Humphries AC CBE will be held at the Sydney Opera House at 11am on Friday 15 December 2023.

On this page
Mr Barry Humphries AO CBE is standing in a dark grey coat against a black background. He is wearing a red scarf and tilting a black hat over one eye smiling.

Photo credit: Simon Schulter

Barry Humphries passed away in Sydney on 22 April aged 89, following a celebrated seven-decade global career. He was known for his iconic characters including Dame Edna Everage and Sir Les Patterson, as well as being a renowned actor, poet, musician and artist.

He was also a much-loved family man and friend to many.

The State Memorial will bring together dignitaries, family, friends and fans of Mr Humphries from across Australia and around the world to celebrate his extraordinary career and achievements. 

It will be co-hosted by the Australian and NSW Governments.

Watch or attend the State Memorial

Free tickets for the State Memorial were made available to the general public on Friday 17 November and allocation has now been exhausted.

The State Memorial will be broadcast live in Australia on ABC TV and ABC iview, providing an opportunity for audiences across the nation to share in the celebration of Mr Humphries' life.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I watch the State Memorial?

The State Memorial will be broadcast live in Australia on ABC TV ABC iview.

Viewers worldwide will be able to tune in to a live stream on this webpage.

How do I get tickets to the State Memorial?

Limited free tickets for the State Memorial were made available to the general public on Friday 17 November and allocation has now been exhausted.

What time does the event start and finish?

The State Memorial will commence at 11am. Doors will open at 10:15am and ticketholders must be seated by 10.45am.

Latecomers will not be accommodated.

The event is expected to run for approximately 90-120 minutes.

Who will be performing and speaking at the State Memorial?

There will be range of tributes and performances from artists, personalities, friends, family members and dignitaries, who will each honour the extraordinary life of Barry Humphries.

What are the transport and parking arrangements?

Public transport is the best way to get to the Sydney Opera House. Visit transportnsw.info to plan your trip.

Those travelling by car can access parking information via the Sydney Opera House website.

Accessibility and Inclusion

For information about accessibility, please visit the Sydney Opera House website.

For other enquiries, please contact Premier's Department Accessibility and Inclusion Officer, Karen Wade via email accessibility@premiersdepartment.nsw.gov.au or phone 0407237864.

Further enquiries

For enquiries about general public ticketing, please contact the Sydney Opera House.

For other enquiries, contact NSW Protocol, Premier's Department by emailing memorial@premiersdepartment.nsw.gov.au.

The selection of images displayed below from throughout Mr Humphries' remarkable life have been kindly supplied by News Corp and TEG Dainty.

Submit a message of condolence

Full name
Address
Enter your message of condolence.
Privacy collection notice

Your personal information will only be used for the purpose you are providing it in this form. Please read the privacy collection notice for more information about how we handle your information.

Australian Government and NSW Government Coat of Arms (left aligned)
Top of page