What’s On In Sydney This Month And Beyond
Lizzie Scorer
Contributor | Urban List, Sydney, NSW
Eloise Luke
Deputy Editor (Local Markets) | Urban List
2026 is serving a massive lineup of events and activities in Sydney/Eora to keep your calendar absolutely loaded.
Expect a jam-packed October in Sydney with heaps of food-filled experiences, unique events, moonlit movie nights, and a banging roster of entertainment.
Here are Urban List's picks for the best things to do in Sydney this week, all of October and further into 2026.
- October Food Events And Markets
- October 2026 Art, Culture And Exhibitions
- October 2026 Music, Theatre And Film Events
- What's On In Sydney Beyond October
Never miss a new opening or upcoming event in Sydney again—get us in your inbox here.
October Food Events And Markets
Night Service At Superfreak
Shop 2/333a Enmore Road, Marrickville
Image credit: The Oyster Stand | Supplied
Superfreak is stretching into the evening with Night Service, a weekly aperitif, wine and digestif session running every Friday from 5pm. Settle in for gildas, oysters from The Oyster Stand, Martinis, Negronis and, in the team’s words, “other freaky things”. There are no bookings, so gather a few mates and walk in for an end-of-week drink and snack.
Snag Meadow’s Bug Sando, Chippies And Their Crème Brûlée For Just $45
Meadow, Shop 7, 2-6 Cronulla Street, Cronulla, 2230, NSW | Until 1 November
Who’s in the mood for a hearty seafood feast followed by an equally epic dessert, all for a fraction of the usual price? Lucky for you, buzzing Cronulla eatery Meadow is serving up its much-loved Meadow Bug Sando, piled high with crumbed Moreton Bay bug, crisp iceberg lettuce and cocktail sauce on pillowy white bread, with a side of golden fries—all for just $45 per person.
Grey Goose x Merivale Martini Moment
20 Merivale venues | Until Sunday 11 October | From $2
Image credit: Merivale | Supplied
Merivale and Grey Goose are staking their claim on Sydney's most iconic cocktail with The Martini Moment, a dedicated martini menu pouring across 20 Merivale venues. Pick your poison from the Classic, the Elderflower (St-Germain and orange bitters) or the Dirty, all $24 and all on offer at the likes of Mimi's, Fred's, Little Felix, Charlie Parker's, Mr. Wong and Bert's. Feeling flush? Upgrade any martini to Grey Goose Altius, or head to select venues for the Goose Bump: a frozen shot of vodka with a bump of caviar for $60.
Knock Off Early For Fabbrica's Aperitivo Hour
Fabbrica CBD, Darlinghurst and Newtown | From 3pm to 5pm
Image credit: Fabbrica | Supplied
Fabbrica has refreshed its Aperitivo Hour across its CBD, Darlinghurst and Newtown venues, with happy hour-priced drinks and new snacks from 3pm to 5pm. Sip on seasonal spritzes and house wine for $10, Peronis for $7 and Negronis for $12, with olives ($7) and cicchetti ($7 each, or three for $19) on the side.
The snacks are exclusive to each venue and change often, from sourdough with sardine, olive and chives in the CBD to polenta chips with aioli, pecorino and Aleppo in Newtown. It runs daily in the CBD, Friday to Sunday in Darlinghurst and Wednesday to Sunday in Newtown.
Double Deuce Lounge Is Back
137 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst | Wednesday 7 October–Saturday 5 December
Image credit: Double Deuce | Supplied
The much-loved Sydney bar returns for an eight-week Oxford Street residency called Now Serving, this time inspired by 1970s Spanish Harlem. By day, tailor Mister Mister runs made-to-measure fittings from 12pm to 5pm. At 5pm, the lights change and Double Deuce Lounge takes over until midnight, Wednesday to Saturday.
Expect a new drinks list, including the Calle Sesame (bourbon, corn liqueur, coconut and sesame) and a frozen Chica Chica Boom with gin, Aperol and tropical fruit. The classics are back too, including the Doris Martini and Full Bush, plus empanadas from Pochito in Marrickville. It's a very good reason to get fitted for a suit and stay for a drink.
The Great Artist Market Arrives at Manly Wharf
Manly Wharf | Saturday 10 October, 8am–3pm
Image credit: The Great Artist Market | Supplied
After a successful Sydney debut in May, The Great Artist Market returns with more than 60 artists and makers. This time it's spilling out of Felons Barrel Room and into the upper-level event space. Browse ceramics, illustration, photography, homewares and handcrafted goods, with stallholders including All Day Clay, Darian Woods, Gazal Ceramics and Studio Flos, and buy straight from the people who made them.
It's free and family-friendly, with free face painting, plus coffee, pastries, Felons beers and live entertainment. Not a bad way to start a Saturday on the harbour.
Drink Pink For A Cause At Chiswick's Rosé Reverie
Chiswick Woollahra | Sunday 18 October, from 5pm
Image credit: Chiswick | Supplied
Chiswick is raising a glass to spring with a one-night soirée of rosé, cocktails and seasonal bites, in support of breast cancer research through Pink Bloom. The Private Dining Room becomes a roaming celebration with a cocktail spritz station, a blind rosé tasting and plenty of canapés, including fresh oysters, zucchini flowers with goat's cheese and wagyu sliders. Rosés from Bianca Vigna, Audrey Wilkinson and Giant Steps will be pouring.
Tickets are $59 per person, including all food and wine, with $10 from every ticket donated to Pink Bloom, a very good excuse to gather the group chat and drink pink.
Africultures Festival Is Bringing The Nile Food Court To Sydney Olympic Park
Cathy Freeman Park, Sydney Olympic Park | Saturday 24 October, 11am–8pm
Image credit: Africultures Festival | Supplied
Now in its 18th year, Africultures is Australia's largest celebration of African cultures, and its Nile Food Court is the main event for hungry visitors. Vendors from Ethiopia, Sudan, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and more are serving everything from injera and doro wat to thiéboudienne (widely considered the original jollof), foo foo, mishikaki skewers and icy hibiscus karkade.
Beyond the food, there are two stages of live music, a fashion parade, 60-plus market stalls and a kids' precinct with a new cultural scavenger hunt. Entry is a $6 donation plus booking fee, which is excellent value for a day-long trip across a continent.
Norton St Italian Festa Turns 40
Norton Street, Leichhardt | Sunday 25 October, 10am–5pm
Image credit: Norton St Italian Festa | Supplied
One of Sydney's biggest street festivals is celebrating its 40th year, with 800 metres of Norton Street, from Marion to William Street, given over to pizza, pasta, panzerotti, porchetta paninis, grilled octopus, cannoli and gelato. More than 170 stalls will line the street, alongside Leichhardt favourites like Bar Italia and Mezzapica Cakes.
There's more music than ever this year, including a new stage featuring the NSW Police Band and opera from tenor Matthew Reardon, plus an Italian DJ in the middle of the food stalls. Over in Pioneers Memorial Park, you'll find kids' rides and AutoFesta, a showcase of classic Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Ducati and Vespa machines. Come hungry and wear stretchy pants.
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Cafe Diner Pop-Up
7–9 Flinders Street, Surry Hills | Sunday 25 October, 10am–late
Image credit: Cafe Diner Pop Up | Supplied
Three Sydney hospo names are testing out their dream all-day eatery in Surry Hills this October, bringing together diner comfort food, Japanese kissaten culture, European wine bars and a serious hi-fi setup for one day only.
Cafe Diner comes from Jack Mosher (10 William St), Louis Shtein (Frank’s Deli, ex-Bella Brutta) and Milo Le Berre (ex-Manzé), who met working at Bella Brutta and started dreaming up the concept after time spent eating and drinking around Japan. Taking over the former Maido space at Provider Store, they’ll move from brunch into dinner with two menus, wine from midday and batch coffee pouring right through to late.
Food keeps things comforting and a little nostalgic: thick pancakes with smoked maple, tomato soup and grilled cheese, a Hong Kong-style club sandwich and purin by day, before hayashi rice with osso buco hits the dinner menu. Coffee comes courtesy of Yohh Coffee, strictly batch and cold brew, no espresso machine here, while Milo is keeping the wine list small and rotating.
Book online
Pearls and Plates
Broken Bay Oyster & Pearl Farm, Mooney Mooney | Saturday 17–Sunday 18 October
Image credit: Pearls and Plates | Supplied
Pearls and Plates returns to the lower Hawkesbury River for a five-hour culinary experience exploring Australia’s living pearling heritage. Hosted by two multi-generational pearling families, the day includes a cruise through the Hawkesbury’s Oyster Heartland, stories from local farmers and a live harvest beside the leases where rare Australian Akoya pearls are grown.
Back at the farm’s waterside Shellar Door, acclaimed Bundjalung chef Mindy Woods will serve a multi-course long lunch shaped by Country, native ingredients and seasonal produce from the river and surrounding region. Apéritifs, Hunter Valley wine pairings and Champagne are included, with optional pearl-grading and seaplane packages available for those looking to dial up the experience.
Book online
Happyfield Is Taking Over Messinaville For Two Days Only
9th–10th October | 12pm–late
Image credit: Gelato Messina l Supplied
Haberfield's most famous North American diner, Happyfield, is landing at Messinaville for a two-day takeover, bringing its warm comfort food classics to Marrickville for lunch, dinner and everything in between.
The menu includes the Short Stack, Jesse's Fried Chicken, The RIBwich and BIG Happy Jnr, alongside a gelato dessert not to be missed.
Book online
Parramatta Lanes Street Festival
Parramatta CBD | Wednesday 21 - Saturday 24 October, from 5pm
Image credit: Parramatta Lanes | Supplied
Parramatta's laneways and car parks are transforming into one of Sydney's biggest street festivals, with Parramatta Lanes returning for four free nights this October. Expect more than 20 festival sites across the CBD, ten music stages hosting 400-plus international, national and local artists, and 70-plus street food vendors, including plenty of local TikTok-famous names.
Beyond the food and music, the festival brings giant art installations, roving entertainment and quirky activations to unexpected corners of the city, drawing an estimated 400,000 people over the four nights. Running from Wednesday 21 to Saturday 24 October, it's a free celebration of everything that makes Parramatta and Western Sydney's culture scene tick.
Read More
October Art, Culture And Exhibitions
A Four-Day Halloween Festival Is Taking Over The Rocks
Thursday 29th October—Wednesday 4th November
Image credit: Ghost in The Rocks | Website
The Rocks is leaning into its haunted history with Ghost in The Rocks, a four-day Halloween festival filling the precinct with street shows, DJs, immersive experiences and spooky food and cocktails. First Fleet Park will become a haunted woodland with live DJ sets, while Foundation Park’s Casa Murder Bar will serve eerie elixirs among the sandstone surrounds. There’s also a Halloween market, a ticketed cocktail crawl and an outdoor horror cinema at Cadmans Cottage, complete with live performers and immersive soundscapes. Entry to the festival is free, with select experiences ticketed separately.
Sydney Writers' Festival's Homegrown Returns With Free Events At The State Library
State Library of NSW | Friday 9–Sunday 11 October
Image credit: Sydney Writers Festival | Supplied
Sydney Writers' Festival is back at the State Library for the second weekend of Homegrown, with more than ten free events. Highlights include crime writer Michael Robotham on his first Australia-set thriller, Ed Coper unpacking the outrage economy in Angertainment, and Sarah Holland-Batt, Gail Jones and Christos Tsiolkas reflecting on the late David Malouf. There's also Writing Queer Sydney with Benjamin Law and a First Nations poetry session, Sword and Shield.
All events are free, though bookings are recommended.
BOOK NOWAudible Is Turning Darling House Into An After-Dark Dracula Mystery
Darling House, 12 Trinity Ave, Dawes Point | Friday 16-Saturday 17 October
Fancy being the star of your own gothic horror? For two nights only, Audible is taking over the heritage Darling House for an immersive Dracula experience. It celebrates the release of the audio company’s new full-cast adaptation, starring Jonathan Bailey as Dracula and Ella Purnell as Mina.
You’ll step into Mina Harker’s shoes and wander the mansion as the story unfolds around you. Audio excerpts guide you from room to room, while hidden clues scattered through the house help you piece the mystery together.
Tickets are $20, and the advice is simple: listen closely.
Ksubi Has Opened A New Flagship In Westfield Sydney, Bringing The Brand Back To Its Home Ground
Shop 4037, Westfield Sydney, Sydney CBD | Now open
Image credit: Ksubi | Supplied
Born on the Northern Beaches in 1999, Ksubi is back on home ground with a new flagship in the heart of the CBD. It’s the brand’s second Sydney store and seventh globally, joining flagships in New York, Los Angeles, Miami and Chicago.
Spanning 320 square metres inside Westfield Sydney’s luxury precinct, the store keeps the site’s original architecture and layers in Ksubi signatures. Custom wallpaper turns the walls into a visual archive of past campaigns and collaborators, including longtime fans A$AP Rocky and Kendall Jenner, while mirrored plinths, a custom register and floating hanging rails fill the space. Seasonal collections and global collaborative drops are on the racks.
SURPLUS Takes Over Darlinghurst For A Weekend Of Sydney Subculture
Darlinghurst | Friday 16–Sunday 18 October
Back for its second year and presented by Supply Store and Nike, SURPLUS spreads underground music, independent brands, art, zines, vintage and food across Darlinghurst. It kicks off Friday with the Diya Joukani Night Market, followed by the Saturday Marketplace on Burton Street (10am–6pm) with more than 60 local vendors and 15 international names.
On the food front, NYC's Scarr's Pizza takes over AP Pizza from Friday, and Tokyo's Menshirashi brings its viral carbonara udon to the Marketplace for one day only on Saturday, alongside Matty's Patty's smash burgers. Music-wise, hardcore heroes SPEED play a $15 all-ages homecoming show at National Art School, and Japan's Rainbow Disco Club makes its Sydney debut with a Sunday day party. Most events are free, though live shows need tickets.
read more
Sculpture By The Sea Celebrates 30 Years At Bondi
Bondi to Tamarama Coastal Walk | Friday 16 October–Monday 2 November
Image credit: Sculpture By The Sea | Supplied
The world's largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition is back for its 30th year at Bondi. The 2km coastal walk becomes a giant sculpture park of 100 artworks from artists across Australia and the world, including more than 30 first-time exhibitors. Japan's Keizo Ushio celebrates his 50th Sculpture by the Sea show, while Koichi Ishino marks his 20th Bondi exhibition.
It's also the first year since 2023 that parts of the walk haven't been closed due to rock falls. Wear comfy shoes and bring a hat.
This Off-Grid Cabin Stay Is Free If You Cut Your Screen Time By Half
Into The Wild Escapes | Off-grid cabins
Image credit: Into The Wild Escapes | Supplied
Lovehoney has teamed up with Into The Wild Escapes for DND, short for Down N Dirty, a series of off-grid cabin stays where the less you use your phone, the less you pay. Guests screenshot their average daily screen time on arrival and again on departure, and the bigger the drop, the bigger the discount, with a cut of 50% or more earning the one-night stay for free.
It follows new Lovehoney research showing partnered Australians spend almost four hours a day on their phones but just 19 minutes in physical contact with their partner. Around 52% say an off-grid escape with limited phone access would benefit their relationship, so it might be time to swap the scroll for a weekend of actual conversation.
The Galeries Presents: Provider Store And A Very Good-Smelling Collab
The Galeries, Ground Floor, Sydney CBD | Tuesday 29 September–Sunday 25 October
Image credit: The Galeries | Supplied
Sydney lifestyle label Provider Store has created three bespoke fragrances inspired by Incu, Books Kinokuniya and Salomon, each poured into a limited-edition 295ml candle. Incu is all fir needle, oak moss and sandalwood, Salomon blends pine and palo santo, and Kinokuniya's hinoki and amber scent nods to its Japanese heritage.
Visit the Japanese-inspired pop-up under the main atrium to sniff all three. Spend $300 at The Galeries in a single day and you can take home a complimentary candle of your choice, with the ceramic vessel refillable at Provider's Surry Hills store. Retail therapy, now with a free candle.
Read moreMelt Festival
Across Brisbane/Magandjin | Wednesday 21 October to Sunday 8 November
Image Credit: Melt Festival | Supplied
Need an excuse to travel up north? Here it is. Melt Festival returns to Brisbane/Magandjin this spring, bringing over 100 queer arts and culture events to more than 50 venues. Big names like Courtney Barnett, Melanie C, TEEKS and Jude York are involved, but the biggest draw might be a five-storey-high hot-pink duck. Dutch artist Florentijn Hofman’s famous Rubber Duck is coming to Australia for the first time, bobbing along the Brisbane River/Maiwar before starring in the River Pride Parade on Saturday 24 October.
Expect themed party boats, riverside activations and a free Opening Party at Brisbane Powerhouse. And in a city first, there’ll be a Brisbane Pride Rally, March and Fair Day joining the festivities for one enormous Pride Saturday.
Elsewhere, Circa premieres Show Me Love, an immersive acrobatic journey through Brisbane Powerhouse’s hidden corridors, while new drag competition Mr First Nation celebrates Blak excellence. There’s also free participatory art, Heated Rivalry Trivia, Queer PowerPoint chaos, local music and plenty more reasons to make a trip out of it. Basically: pack something pink, book the flight and follow the duck.
Read more
UNHOLY/DIVINE
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, The Rocks | Thursdays 8, 22 and 29 October
Image credit: Divine Playhouse | Supplied
Following the closure of Divine Playhouse, more than 50 artists and performers whose shows were cancelled are finding a new stage at the MCA. UNHOLY / DIVINE brings three nights of collective creativity, artistic freedom and divine mischief to the Museum, inviting Sydneysiders to mourn, rejoice, confess and indulge.
The series begins with An Unholy Funeral in Foundation Hall, laying Divine Playhouse and its memories to rest. Two expressive MCA Lates follow: Bliss! Devotion! Adoration!, a taffeta-fuelled celebration of resurrection and joy, and Pleasure! Vice! Desire!, an evening of forbidden fruits, confessions and deliciously naughty art.
Book online
Sydney's Only Chance To Walk Inside A David Hockney Painting Is Here
Carriageworks, Eveleigh | Ongoing
Image credit: Lightroom | Supplied
Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) makes its Australian debut at Carriageworks, wrapping visitors in a 360° immersive journey through 60 years of David Hockney's practice, narrated by the artist himself. After sold-out runs in London, Manchester, Seoul and Singapore, the show pairs state-of-the-art projections with an original score by Nico Muhly, taking audiences from beloved classics to lesser-seen works and new pieces created especially for this project. Already dubbed "a breathtaking triumph" by The Independent, it's not one to sleep on.
October 2026 Music, Theatre And Film Events
Surf + Sound Festival Hits Manly Wharf And Beach
Manly Wharf and Manly Beach | Friday 16 October–Sunday 1 November
Image credit: Surf + Sound | Supplied
Manly's brand-new festival runs across three consecutive weekends, mixing live music, a free art trail, food experiences and a boardrider competition. The music program at Felons Barrel Room includes The Whitlams (16 Oct), The Beautiful Girls (17 Oct), Skegss (24 Oct), Babe Rainbow (25 Oct), Kita Alexander (29 Oct), Skunkhour (30 Oct), Yolanda Be Cool (31 Oct) and GANGgajang (1 Nov). Winston Surfshirt also plays a secret location at Manly Wharf on 1 November.
Between sets, explore the free immersive art trail curated by Arts-Matter, including Jeremyville's inflatables and five classic Defenders painted live at Manly Cove. It all ends with the Boardrider Battle on 31 October and 1 November, led by Joel Parkinson, with a Legends Heat featuring world champions Mark Occhilupo and Layne Beachley.
The Japanese Film Festival Turns 30
Palace Norton Street, Palace Moore Park, Palace Central and Hayden Orpheum | Tuesday 17–Sunday 29 November
Image credit: Japanese Film Festival 2025 / 1st Kiss/ Ayuko Tsukahara , © 2025 TOHO CO., LTD. / AOI Pro. Inc | Supplied
Three decades on, the Japanese Film Festival unveils its 2026 program, with Hirokazu Kore-eda's Look Back as the opening night film. The line-up spans samurai epics, horror, animation and social dramas. Highlights include Kiyoshi Kurosawa's first period drama The Samurai and the Prisoner, Yōji Yamada's Tokyo Taxi, Takashi Miike's true-story drama Sham, and a remastered Hula Girls. We Are Aliens director Kōhei Kadowaki will attend the Sydney screenings.
Tickets are $25, with concession, member and group discounts. A free Tōru Takemitsu retrospective of film scores includes Harakiri, Kwaidan, Woman in the Dunes and Ran, which is worth a trip on its own.
The Point Is Bringing Live Music To Mrs Macquarie’s Point
Yurong / Mrs Macquarie's Point | Multiple dates
Sydney’s newest live music series is kicking off at Mrs Macquarie’s Point, with a stellar lineup of summer-ready shows. Presented by Fuzzy, The Point will welcome Missy Higgins (alongside supports Jem Cassar-Daley and Ruby Rogers), The Teskey Brothers and Icehouse for a run of outdoor concerts with harbour views to match. Both the Missy Higgins and Teskey Brothers shows are now open to ages 16+, making it a chance to catch some of Australia's best live acts in a spectacular setting.
Book tickets
Peppa Pig Is Celebrating Evie's First Christmas On The Big Screen
Selected cinemas across Australia | From Saturday 14 November
Image credit: Hasbro | Supplied
Peppa Pig and her family are heading to the cinema to celebrate baby Evie's first Christmas in Festive Fun with Peppa, screening from 14 November. The hour-long event brings together seven classic festive episodes, from snowy adventures to decorating the tree, plus four brand-new songs for little ones to sing along to. It's a very good excuse to bring the family along in your best hats and scarves and kick off the festive season early.
SIX The Musical
Theatre Royal Sydney, 108 King Street, Sydney CBD | From Friday 9 October 2026
Image credit: SIX The Musical | James D. Morgan
What do you get when you cross five hundred years of history with heavenly voices and female power in 80 minutes? International smash-hit SIX the Musical, of course. The dazzling, modern pop-inspired musical has returned to Australia, taking over from Friday 9 October at Theatre Royal Sydney in Martin Place.
Written by Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, the show follows the six wives of Henry VIII, reclaiming their own narratives. Blending past and present, you get to dive into the stories of Catherine of Aragon, Anne Boleyn, Jane Seymour, Anna of Cleves, Katherine Howard and Catherine Parr. The cast are no strangers to the stage too. You might even recognise some familiar faces, particularly from the Australian tours of & Juliet and Sister Act.
As the winner of 38 international awards, including two Tony Awards® and a Platinum-certified soundtrack that’s been listened to over 5.5 billion times, ticket sales are already flying and bound to sell out fast. Grab yours before your ideal date is gone.
Book online
France's First 360° Immersive Electronic Experience Lands in Australia
Saturday 24 October, 4pm - 11pm
Image Credit: Electro Merveilles | Supplied
A new immersive electronic music experience is heading to Melbourne and Sydney this October, with Electro Merveilles bringing a 360° celebration of French culture through music, art and projections. The event will feature sets from French headliners Tchami and Tigerlily, alongside KVISION, Tyson O'Brien, Alex Hosking, Mowgli May and Fred B Side.
The Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre will transform into an immersive world of light and projection on Friday 23 and Saturday 24 October, before the celebration wraps with an open-air French Touch party on the University of Sydney campus on Sunday 25 October. Tickets start from $99 in Melbourne and $69 in Sydney.
Book online
Strummingbird Festival
Newcastle Foreshore, Newcastle | Saturday 17 October
Image credit: Strummingbird Festival | Supplied
Strummingbird Festival is back for its second year, touring a stacked lineup of American country stars and homegrown heroes across regional Aus. Topping the bill is cross-genre superstar Post Malone, bringing his Nashville-inspired F-1Trillion to the stage. On support duties are the likes of Bailey Zimmerman, Cooper Alan, Jindabyne local Brad Cox and Cigarettes @ Sunset—plus a stack more on the mammoth program.
Kicking off in Ballarat on 10 October, before heading north to Newcastle on 17 October and finishing the run on the Sunshine Coast on 18 October, it’s set to be a toe-tapping, head-banging boogie. We don’t need to tell you that country’s having a comeback, so make sure to grab your presale tickets here on 13 May to lock in the best price.
A Free TOM FORD Beauty Photo Booth Has Opened At David Jones Elizabeth Street For A Holiday Portrait
Level 1 Beauty Department, David Jones Elizabeth Street, Sydney | Tuesday 13 October–Monday 26 October
Image credit: TOM FORD Beauty | Supplied
TOM FORD Beauty has opened an immersive photo booth inspired by the luminous world of Soleil at David Jones Elizabeth Street. Guests can capture a bespoke holiday portrait, take home a print or share it instantly via email or SMS. Once you’ve had your close-up, wander the booth’s curated edit of fragrance and beauty essentials, The Gift of TOM FORD, for a head start on the gift list.
What's On In And Around Sydney Beyond October
Paddington The Musical Is Coming To Sydney
September 2027 – onwards
Image credit: Paddington Bear | Instagram
Everyone’s favourite marmalade-loving bear is heading to Sydney, with Paddington The Musical premiering at the Capitol Theatre in September 2027. Following sold-out shows in London and a Broadway opening in April, Sydney will become the third city to welcome the production. Inspired by Michael Bond’s beloved characters and the 2014 film, the musical follows Paddington’s arrival in London, his new life with the Browns and a rescue mission when a vengeful villain threatens it all. Expect showstopping songs, dazzling choreography and plenty of mishaps, with original music and lyrics by McFly’s Tom Fletcher.
Fatboy Slim Is Taking Over Carriageworks For Three Nights
Forget the festival mainstage—Fatboy Slim is bringing his breakbeats, funk and cheeky chaos to Carriageworks for three up-close-and-personal nights. The electronic music legend hits Sydney on March 5, 6 and 7, 2027, with presale tickets from September 14 and general sale from September 15.
A Nostalgic Night With Macaulay Culkin
Fortitude Music Hall, Tuesday 24 November
Image credit: Home Alone | Netflix
For anyone whose favourite Christmas tradition is rewatching Home Alone, we have big news. *The* Macaulay Culkin is coming to Brisbane for a very special anniversary screening of the holiday classic, including a live in-conversation where he’ll share behind-the-scenes stories and open up for audience questions.
It’s all going down at Fortitude Music Hall on Tuesday 24 November, with tickets on sale from 11am Wednesday 23 September (you can register for presale here). It’s an all-ages event that’s sure to be full of laughter and nostalgia, so don’t miss out.
Takashi Murakami Retrospective At AGNSW
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney | From Saturday 5 December
Image credit: Art Gallery Of NSW | Supplied
A major Australian-first retrospective of Takashi Murakami is landing at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, bringing one of the world’s most recognisable contemporary artists to Sydney in a blockbuster summer show.
Opening this December as part of the Sydney International Art Series, the exhibition spans more than three decades of Murakami’s work—from his early ‘Superflat’ experiments to new pieces being unveiled globally for the first time.
Set across multiple gallery spaces, including the Nelson Packer Tank, the show promises a full immersion into Murakami’s saturated, surreal universe. Expect paintings, sculptures, video and large-scale installations that blur the lines between high art and pop culture, pulling from anime, fashion and traditional Japanese art.
The World’s Biggest Dinosaur Is Coming To Sydney
November 2026 – onwards
Image credit: Australian Museum | Supplied
The world’s biggest dinosaur is coming to Sydney, with The World’s Biggest Dinosaur: Dinosaurs of Patagonia taking over the Australian Museum from November. The blockbuster exhibition will feature a near-38-metre-long Patagotitan mayorum skeleton, alongside towering dinosaur displays, real fossils, immersive multimedia experiences and discoveries from one of the world’s richest dinosaur fossil regions. The exhibition also kicks off a year-long program celebrating the Australian Museum’s 200th anniversary in 2027, with major exhibitions, talks, performances and family-friendly experiences to follow.
A Sydney Photographer Just Won An Ocean Photography Prize
Exhibition opens November 19
Image credit: Gergo Rugli
Sydney photographer Gergo Rugli has taken out the Adventure category at Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 for his shot of dolphins riding waves alongside surfers at Tamarama Beach. His winning image, alongside all finalist photographs, will go on display at the Australian National Maritime Museum from November 19, in the world premiere of the exhibition.
Elvis Abrahanowicz Is Cooking His Mum’s Dishes At Osteria Mucca, With Hilda Supervising
Osteria Mucca, Australia Street, Newtown | Tuesday 10 November
Image credit: Paisano & Daughters | Supplied
Osteria Mucca head chef Elvis Abrahanowicz is going back to where his cooking began with Mum & Me, a one-night dinner built around the dishes his mum Hilda made for him growing up. Hilda will be there on the night to supervise and make sure he gets them right.
Abrahanowicz grew up in Argentina, where he made fresh pasta and gnocchi with Hilda on weekends from about the age of five. “I want people to try some of the dishes I grew up eating,” he says. “They’re simple dishes, but this is the kind of food I like to eat and it’s the kind of food I like to cook.” If you only try one thing, his pick is the Lasagne Cariddi.
Mum & Me is part of Australia St. Dinners, a series of one-off dinners across the Paisano & Daughters venues in Newtown.
Now, fill your calendar with
- 50 Of The Absolute Best Things To Do In Sydney
- Sydney's Best Walks To Do In 2026
- The Best Restaurants In Sydney Right Now
Main image credit: No Flowers Mahjong Club | Instagram
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