Oscar-nominated John Malkovich (Empire of the Sun, Dangerous Liaisons) will attend the 2011 Sydney Festival in January.

Aside from Malkovich, Arrested Development and country singer Emmylou Harris will also attend the "bold, whimsical and slightly eccentric" festival, according to its director Lundy Hume.

The 2011 Sydney Festival will will run from January 8 to 30. Annually, it attracts more than one million people to Sydney.

John Malkovich will appear on stage at the Sydney Opera House in a production with the Sydney Symphony, The Giacomo Variations. Emmylou Harris and hip hop act Arrested Development will take part in the Festival First Night when "the heart of Sydney will be transformed into a magical wonderland."

The 2011 Sydney Festival features 109 events and 338 performances which includes a Paul Kelly show and swing dancing at Sydney's Town Hall. Free events will also be held on Saturday nights in The Domain.