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 August 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 August and further into 2026.
- September Food Events And Markets
- September 2026 Art, Culture And Exhibitions
- September 2026 Music, Theatre And Film Events
- What's On In Sydney Beyond September
Never miss a new opening or upcoming event in Sydney again—get us in your inbox here.
September Food Events And Markets
Park Street Bistro At Kurrajong Hotel Is Back Open In Erskineville
Erskineville's Kurrajong Hotel has reopened as Park Street Bistro, following a major renovation under Harbour Hospitality Group. George Calombaris leads the kitchen alongside Head Chef Francesco Castellana, serving up reimagined bistro classics like lobster nuggets, chicken cotoletta and premium Angus steak, backed by a considered cocktail list and a lineup of quality Australian producers. It's a fresh look for a pub that's been pouring since 1938 — and yes, you're greeted with French onion soup popcorn on arrival.
Mid-Autumn Festival
Various Locations | Tuesday 1 September–Sunday 4 October
Image credit: Thai Kee IGA | Supplied
Falling on Friday 25 September in 2026, Mid-Autumn Festival is rooted in ancient harvest celebrations and moon worship. Today, communities gather beneath the full moon to share food, express gratitude and reconnect with loved ones, with lanterns and mooncakes remaining central to the festivities.
Sydney’s biggest free celebrations include the Cabramatta Moon Festival on 20 September, with street food, rides, performances, a lantern parade and fireworks; Burwood Chinatown’s month-long program, culminating in neon lion dancing and fireworks on 26 September; and two days of food, Hanfu, lion dancing and family activities at Hurstville Plaza from 26–27 September. Darling Square will glow with hundreds of lanterns from 19 September–4 October, while the Chinese Garden of Friendship hosts mooncake-making, tea, martial arts and lion dancing from 25–27 September. Bondi Junction’s Twilight Markets get a Moon Festival makeover on 24 September, and the Korean Cultural Centre marks Chuseok with a free celebration on 26 September.
In Haymarket, Market City is giving away 3,500 mooncakes across 18–20 and 25–27 September, alongside personalised Chinese calligraphy and dining beneath the lanterns. Pick up more mooncakes nearby from Sweet Lu, Thai Kee IGA, Emperor’s Garden, Dragon Pastry, XOPP and Lilong—or dress up for No Flowers Mahjong Club’s evening of Hong Kong-style mahjong, live music, drinks and Ho’s Dim Sim snacks at China Heights on 25 September.
The Lord Nelson Is Turning 40, And Every 40th Beer Is On The House
The Rocks' Lord Nelson, Australia's oldest brewery hotel, is marking 40 years of in-house brewing this October long weekend, with a story that started when a group of thirsty sailors drank the pub completely dry back in 1986.
From Saturday 3 to Monday 5 October, the pub is celebrating with a limited-edition English ale from Head Brewer Gus Krug, unveiled at 11am on Saturday, with beer lovers invited to name it themselves via a competition. Between 11am and 2pm each day, every 40th beer poured at the bar is also free, with the count resetting once the bell rings.
Freda's Is Joining The Team At The Crix
The Cricketers Arms, Surry Hills | Friday 25 September, 7pm–late
Image credit: Freda's | Supplied
Freda's has found a new permanent home at the Crix, the same pub where founder David got his start DJing regularly at 27, before going on to launch Freda's at the now-closed GOODGOD Small Club. Sixteen years on, and after stepping away from The Abercrombie earlier this year, the move brings things full circle.
Celebrate the news this Friday with DJ Crabby, DJ Salami and friends taking over the decks from 7pm till late.
Merge Dating: Sweet & Spicy Breakfast Edition
Thursday 24th September 7am–8.45am
Image credit: Merge Dating | Supplied
Bondi's dating scene is getting a breakfast makeover. Merge Dating is teaming up with Crunchy Nut for a morning of "Sweet & Spicy" speed dating, bringing together 60 singles under 35 at The Depot, Bondi.
Guests will rotate through guided conversation starters designed to spark real connections, hosted by dating expert Nicole Colantoni. There's also a breakfast menu to match the theme, including halloumi and avocado toast with hot honey crumb, spicy cacao porridge, and a DIY cereal station stocked with a range of milks and toppings.The event is free, but with only 60 spots on offer, it won't stay that way for long.
Cross Section $10 All Day
Both Cross Section stores, Darlinghurst and Bondi Junction | Wednesday 30 September
Image credit: Cross Section | Supplied
Cross Section is celebrating a couple of years in business by dropping every sandwich, salad and wrap to $10 for one day only. On Wednesday 30 September, both the Darlinghurst and Bondi Junction stores will run the deal from open until sold out.
Add-ons like bacon, extra protein and avocado are still available at their usual cost, and drinks on tap remain at regular price. The deal is in-store only and isn't valid on the app or delivery platforms, so get in early before your local favourites sell out.
ButterBoy x Dove Limited-Edition Body Care Range
Available now across ButterBoy stores | Limited edition
Image credit: ButterBoy | Supplied
Cult cookie chain ButterBoy has taken its signature flavours out of the oven and into the shower, teaming up with Dove on a limited-edition body care range.
The three-piece lineup includes a Birthday Cake Cookie Vanilla Body Wash, a matching 72-hour antiperspirant and a Black Forest Cookie Exfoliating Body Polish, landing mid-October and layered with notes of tart cherry and rich chocolate.
From The Ground Up Cafe Takeover
Black Market Coffee, 24 Cadogan Street, Marrickville | Thursday 10 September
Image credit: Black Market Coffee | Supplied
Black Market Coffee is handing over the keys to its Marrickville cafe for one hour this September, when 15 newly trained young women step behind the machine to serve free coffee to Sydney.
The takeover marks the culmination of From the Ground Up, an employment-focused hospitality program run by Black Market Training in partnership with Youth Off The Streets and MrJobs. After a week of hands-on barista training, participants will put their new skills into practice in a real cafe environment, with local hospitality operators looking to hire also invited along to meet the group.
From 10am to 11am, coffees made by the participants are completely free, while cult vegan bakery Miss Sina will be on deck with its cakes, scrolls and pastries available to purchase. No registration is required—just turn up.
Bar Bruno, Razz Room, Odd Culture Newtown, The Duke Of Enmore And The Old Fitzroy Hotel's $10 Cheeseburgers
Friday 18 September National Cheeseburger Day
Image credit: Odd Culture | Supplied
To celebrate National Cheeseburger Day, five Sydney venues are slinging $10 cheeseburgers with any beverage purchase. Razz Room is even swinging its doors open early from 12.30pm, making it the ideal Friday team lunch to kick off the weekend.
AFL Grand Final At The Carlisle Hotel
Saturday 28 September
Head to The Carlisle Hotel in Newtown for the AFL Grand Final, showing live and loud on the big screen. Settle in with a drink and tuck into $1 wings while you watch the action unfold. Bookings are recommended.
Hong Konger Street Market
Victoria Avenue, Chatswood | Sunday 20 September, 10am–7.30pm
Image credit: OzStarter | Supplied
Chatswood is getting a taste of Hong Kong this September, when more than 50 local businesses, makers and creatives take over Victoria Avenue for the one-day Hong Konger Street Market.
Organised by OzStarter, the market will be split into three areas inspired by Hong Kong’s streets: Food Street for street eats, desserts and milk tea; Ladies’ Street for shopping, beauty and market-only finds; and Tai Nan Street, an arts-focused precinct spotlighting local designers and creatives. There’ll also be games, live portrait sessions, handmade goods and plenty more to browse throughout the day.
The Blue Door Bellingen
4 Church Street, Bellingen | Friday 18 September
Image credit: The Blue Door | Supplied
The Blue Door is heading home, with award-winning chef Dylan Cashman opening a new 24-seat restaurant in Bellingen after five years in Surry Hills. Set inside a heritage-listed former bank, the restaurant will serve an ever-changing seven-plus-course tasting menu shaped by what local farmers and producers have available each week.
Dylan and his team will work closely with farms and regenerative growers, butchering whole animals in-house and aiming to source as much as possible from within 100 kilometres of Bellingen. The tasting menu is $179 per person.
Love Tilly Group's Charity Dinner For RU OK?
Fabbrica Darlinghurst | Tuesday 8 September
Image credit: Love Tilly Group | Supplied
Love Tilly Group is hosting its annual charity dinner, raising funds and awareness for RU OK?, a national suicide prevention charity. Held this year at neighbourhood pasta bar Fabbrica Darlinghurst, the night brings together an all-star lineup of chefs from across the group.
Guests start upstairs with a standing mingle over bites from Love, Tilly Devine and Letra House. Downstairs, savoury courses continue at a long communal table with dishes from Palazzo Salato, Fabbrica and Ragazzi, plus the returning steak frites from Dear Sainte Éloise. Dessert wraps up around the benchtop island with tiramisu. Held over two sittings, tickets are $100, with all proceeds going to RU OK?
Crush Clubs Sexy Singles Dinner Party
Attenzione, Redfern | Thursday 3 September
Image credit: Crush Club | Supplied
Crush Club is bringing its debut singles dinner party to Sydney this September, taking over the private dining room at Attenzione for one very flirtatious night. Expect a lively room of singles feasting on a three-course Italian menu, with guests moving freely between tables after each course so you're never stuck talking to the same person twice. High energy, flirtatious and delicious, tickets are $90 and come with the chance to meet your one true love, or at least a very good pasta.
This Sydney CBD Basement Izakaya Is Serving Japanese Highballs And Fried Chicken For $25
Image credit: Suntory | Supplied
Sydney's after-work drinks scene has a new reason to head underground, with Suntory taking over buzzing CBD basement izakaya Sakura House for a limited two-month residency.
Bar Bruno's Aperitivo Hour Is Serving $2 Oysters Alongside $10 Martinis
Bar Bruno | Daily, 3–6pm
Image credit: Bar Bruno | Supplied
Whether you've clocked off early or just want a pre-dinner drink and snack, Bar Bruno's daily Aperitivo Hour has you covered. From 1 September, $2 oysters join the lineup alongside a Two-Sip Wet Martini ($10), Aperol Spritz ($13), crumbed olives with 'nduja mascarpone ($8), a Bruno Burger ($14) and mushroom bruschetta ($8 each). Dishes and drinks start at $8 per item, running daily from 3–6pm.
Chin Chin Is Turning 15 With A Month Of $15 Cocktails And A Bill-On-The-House Dice Game
Chin Chin, Surry Hills | Throughout September
Image credit: Chin Chin | Supplied
Chin Chin is celebrating 15 years with a month-long stack of birthday specials across both its Melbourne and Sydney locations. Every table dining throughout September gets a shot at winning their meal for free—roll three dice, land a total of exactly 15, and the whole table eats on the house. Executive Chef Benjamin Cooper is also hosting a Birthday Edition of Cooking with Cooper on 13 and 20 September, a hands-on class covering green nahm jim, beef martabak spring rolls and hellfire chilli oil, before a Feed Me feast featuring the cult-favourite kingfish sashimi ($165pp, limited places). Rounding things out, Chin Chin is pouring $15 cocktails each week, alongside limited-edition specials including chicken and sweetcorn dumplings, sesame cauliflower toast and a pandan and coconut birthday lamington.
$15 Thursday Smash Burgers At Chophouse Sydney
Chophouse Sydney, CBD | Thursdays throughout September, lunch only
Image credit: Chophouse Sydney | Supplied
Matt Moran's CBD steakhouse Chophouse Sydney is trading white tablecloths for a $15 smash burger this September, running every Thursday lunch throughout the month. It's the first time Chophouse has done a takeaway burger, cooked fresh on the Terrace flat grill and built with a house-made beef patty, American cheese, onion and the restaurant's signature burger sauce on an AP Bakery bun. Grab it to go for an easy desk lunch or take a seat on the Terrace, with the option to go double or add bacon for $5 each, and pair it with a $10 draught or $15 glass of wine if you're staying to dine in. Walk-ins only, available 3, 10, 17 and 24 September.
Tailor Room's Precopeo
The Rocks | Sunday 13 September
Image credit: Tailor Room | Supplied
The Rocks is getting a Mexican cocktail Sunday session courtesy of Oscar and Miguel Valle, the team behind Mexico City bar Licorería Limantour. Called Precopeo, it takes its name from the Mexican ritual of meeting for drinks and snacks before heading out for the night.
From 3pm to 5pm, Despacho Margarita takes over The Garden with margaritas, street snacks, vinyl DJs and mariachi. Then from 6pm to 10pm, Limantour—ranked No. 52 in The World's 50 Best Bars 2025, takes over the intimate Tailor Room with a one-off menu (tickets $50, including two cocktails).
Australian Native Food Festival
Carriageworks, Eveleigh | Saturday 26–Sunday 27 September
Image credit: Carriageworks | Supplied
Following last year's successful debut, the Australian Native Food Festival returns to Carriageworks for a two-day celebration of native ingredients, culture and connection. Presented by Indigiearth and led by Weilwan woman Sharon Winsor, the program unites Indigenous and non-Indigenous chefs including Rayleen Brown, Aunty Beryl Van Oploo OAM and Mindy Woods.
The festival also features 30 First Nations-owned businesses selling native spices, bush beauty products, chocolate and handcrafted weaving. Each day includes a basket-weaving workshop from Ngumpie Weaving, and new for 2026 are one-on-one Ngangkari Healing Treatment Sessions with Pitjantjatjara healer Debbie Watson.
Garlo's Australian Pie Eating Championship
Coogee Bay Hotel | Sunday 20 September
Former Rabbitohs player and Garlo's Pies founder Sean Garlick is launching Australia's first national pie eating championship, with hopes it'll one day rival New York's Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest. Channel Nine is documenting the journey as the Garlick family attempts to turn the meat pie into the centrepiece of a new Aussie sporting tradition.
The Championship runs across three divisions: the Public Championship for everyday competitors, the Legends Division featuring NRL greats including Paul Gallen, Aaron Woods and Mark "MG" Geyer, and the Professional Championship headlined by world No.4 competitive eater James Webb. Former referee Bill Harrigan will preside as Chief Pie Judge.
Chefs In The Vines
Spicers Guesthouse, Pokolbin | Saturday 5 September
Image credit: Spicers Guesthouse | Supplied
For one day only, five restaurants and five Hunter Valley wineries come together for Chefs in the Vines, a food and wine event built around regional produce and face time with the people behind the plates.
Chefs James Soltau, Anthony Fullerton (Circa 1876, éRemo), Thomas Heinrich (Restaurant Botanica) and Ed Butcher (Rick Stein at Bannisters Port Stephens) will cook across five live stations, each preparing a signature dish exclusively for the event, from a wood-fired Barossa pork kebab to XO Birubi Beach pipis. Wine flows from Tyrrell's, Brokenwood, Mount Pleasant, First Creek and Silkman Wines, held across two sessions from 12–2pm and 2:30–4:30pm.
The Grounds of Alexandria is teasing a Winnie the Pooh takeover
Launching this Friday 11 September.
Expect a full Disney-style transformation dripping in 100 Years of Pooh magic — details are still under wraps, but if the teaser images are anything to go by, this one's set to be a hunny-loving photo op. Watch this space.
Dumpling Making Classes At Lotus
Lotus The Galeries, 500 George Street, Sydney CBD | Ongoing
Image credit: Lotus Dining Group | Website
In the dumpling-loving world, Lotus is a familiar name that sparks daydreams of crispy dough and juicy insides. Crafting some of the best dumplings in the city, Lotus is offering to share their expertise with their dumpling-making masterclasses at The Galeries location.
Whether you’re looking for a fun new date activity or just want to level up on your culinary skills, this masterclass will teach you the tips and tricks of making delectable dumpling dishes. Available by booking only, submit an enquiry online to secure your spot as a future dumpling chef.
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Dine-Out With Uber Eats
Various Locations | Ongoing
Image credit: Island Radio | Instagram
With eating out getting pricier by the month, plenty of Sydneysiders are rethinking their restaurant habits. But while the splurge might be shrinking, the love of a shared meal isn’t going anywhere. That’s where Dine Out with Uber Eats comes in—a new initiative helping diners stretch their budget a little further.
The best part? The offers are available any day and time the restaurant’s open (aka no happy-hour restrictions or weekday fine print), so you can plan your next dinner, date or catch-up on your own terms.
September Art, Culture And Exhibitions
Sydney Contemporary
Carriageworks, Eveleigh | Thursday 3–Sunday 6 September
Image credit: Sydney Contemporary | Supplied
Australasia's leading contemporary art fair marks its landmark 10th edition with its largest ever program, returning to Carriageworks with more than 100 galleries from Australia, Aotearoa New Zealand, Asia and the UK, showing work by over 500 artists from 33 countries.
Curated by José Da Silva, the program brings 15 ambitious installation and performance works into play, including Kamilaroi artist Reko Rennie's ALWAYS at Sydney Fish Market, Joan Ross's video installation at Barangaroo, three works celebrating the late Billy Apple®, and a new performance piece from Melbourne duo The Huxleys. Elsewhere, expect major sculptural works from William Kentridge, Nabilah Nordin and Kirtika Kain, alongside a kinetic collaboration from Grace Lillian Lee, Dr Ken Thaiday Snr and Allan George Lee.
KOOZA Is Cirque Du Soleil's Last Australian Stop For 2026
The Big Top touches down at Entertainment Quarial, Moore Park from October 17, closing out a run that's already wowed Melbourne and Brisbane. Expect gravity-defying acrobatics, daring clowning and a "circus in a box" bursting with thrills and surprises, performed by an international cast of 53 artists from 20 nationalities, backed by a live band blending 1970s funk, orchestral arrangements and traditional Indian music.
Unlock The Rocks With Art And Culture Month
The Rocks | Throughout September
Image credit: Unlock The Rocks | Supplied
The Rocks is unlocking its creative soul this September, with Art and Culture Month bringing a free, month-long celebration of art, music and culture to Sydney's oldest precinct. By day, expect a self-guided art trail and weekend workshops tucked into the laneways, from plein-air painting at Dawes Point Park to weaving and sketching sessions, plus a Sunday record market and the regular Rocks Markets running Friday to Sunday. Once the sun goes down, the program shifts into live jazz, stand-up and improv at Unfiltered, unscripted chats with emerging musicians courtesy of FBi, and late-night culture at the Museum of Contemporary Art. It all builds to the Unbound: Street Performance Festival on 26–27 September, when George Street shuts down for giant puppets, aerial acrobats, roving performers, a disco under mirror balls and a conga line parade through the historic streets.
Free Family Day At Rosebery Plaza
Saturday, 26 September | 11am-3pm
Image credit: Rosebery Plaza | Supplied
Rosebery Plaza's free community Family Day is back by popular demand, and this time it's bringing a full-blown circus with it.
Head down on Saturday, 26 September between 11am and 3pm for live performers, interactive kids' arts and craft, face painting, unicorn pony rides and plenty of photo opportunities.Local dining options will also be on hand, so you can grab a bite while the little ones burn off some energy. Best part? It's completely free.
Catch Shouse Live At W Sydney
W PRESENTS Local Sessions at W Sydney, Sydney | Saturday 10 October, 8pm
Australian-Born Dracula Expands To 30 Sydney Performances After Overwhelming Demand
22 to 27 September (State Theatre) & 7 to 29 November 2026 (Capitol Theatre)
Image credit: Big Live | Supplied
Following sold-out international seasons, BIG Live's Dracula is expanding its Sydney run, with 22 additional performances added at the Capitol Theatre after the show's eight-performance State Theatre season sold out. With breathtaking choreography, hauntingly beautiful music and striking production design, the ballet is shaping up as a must-see for ballet lovers and thrill seekers alike.
This Incredible Outdoor Lightshow Is Returning To One Of The Region's Most Historic Landmarks
Bella Vista Farm | 18 September – 11 October
Image credit: Laservision | Supplied
Echoes: Moon Garden is returning to Bella Vista Farm this spring, bringing its sold-out immersive light and sound journey back through the grounds of one of the region's most historic landmarks. Produced by Laservision in partnership with The Hills Shire Council, the award-winning trail transforms the historic farm into a glowing after-dark world of light, sound and storytelling. Tickets start from just $11.50, so it's well worth getting in early before it sells out again like last time.
Luna: A Journey To The Moon
Fever Pavilion, Sydney Olympic Park | Opens Wednesday 17 September
Image credit: Fever | Supplied
Sydney's getting its own slice of the Moon this September, no rocket required. Luna: A Journey to the Moon brings the Apollo 11 mission to life through an immersive virtual reality experience at Olympic Park's Fever Pavilion.
Across the experience, visitors train like astronauts, launch into space, orbit Earth and take their first steps on the lunar surface, all built around the real 1969 mission that put humans on the Moon. It's an easy pick for anyone with even a passing interest in space, history or a solid excuse for a family outing.
This New Street Festival Has Circus Performers, Disco Grannies And A Confession Booth
George Street, The Rocks | 26–27 September
Image credit: The Rocks | Supplied
Unbound: Street Performance Festival is closing out Art and Culture Month with a full street takeover of George Street. Expect towering puppets, including a giant bin chicken, alongside world-class buskers and circus performers, roving streetlamp posts, disco-loving grannies and a confession booth. The two-day event caps off a month-long celebration of art, music and culture through The Rocks, Sydney's oldest precinct, and promises to be a suitably chaotic send-off.
Mechelle Bounpraseuth ສູ້ສູ້ Sou Sou
Art Gallery NSW, Naala Nura Building Lower Level 2 | Until February 2027
Image credit: Art Gallery Of NSW | Installation view of the exhibition Mechelle Bounpraseuth: ສູ້ສູ້ Sou Sou at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, artworks © the artist
Ceramic Indomie, Sriracha and mangosteens are taking over the Art Gallery of NSW and best believe you'll want to mark this one down in your calendar. In Sou Sou (a Lao phrase of encouragement that kind of means 'keep going', 'stay strong' or 'you can do it'), Mechelle Bounpraseuth scales up a stack of everyday pantry staples and fruit into glossy, hand-built forms with an exhibition that leans hard into the rituals around her family table, pulling from Lao heritage to frame food as something deeper than sustenance.
This one is definitely an all-ages affair where visitors can gather on floor mats, leave offerings at a fruit shrine, or add to shelves of reimagined canned goods—a cool way of showcasing how these small acts echo how culture gets passed down, held and reshaped.
THE UPSIDE Opens Its Eighth Australian Store In Manly
West Esplanade, Manly | Opens Friday 28 August
Image credit: THE UPSIDE | Supplied
Activewear brand THE UPSIDE has opened its eighth store, this time in Manly. Designed as a neighbourhood clubhouse rather than a standard shop, it follows the same approach the brand debuted at its Currumbin Beach store in Queensland.
A refurbished Mosman flagship is set to follow in early October.
Pup Yeah!
QT Hotels & Resorts | Ongoing
Image credit: QT Hotels & Resorts | Supplied
QT Hotels & Resorts is pampering pooches across Australia and New Zealand with dog-friendly stays. Pup Yeah! boasts pet-appointed rooms, luxe orthopedic memory foam CUB beds, St Argo’s hand-baked treats stocked up in the mini bar, dog-friendly room service with dishes like steak tartare and bacon ice cream, plus a bunch of designer grooming products from smith&burton to truly spoil your furry best friend.
To top it all off, each QT destination has a Strut Your Pup digital map, offering guides on the best local walks, parks, pup-friendly cafes and photo ops. Book a well-deserved stay for you and your pooch online.
September 2026 Music, Theatre And Film Events
Wild Things International Kids Festival
Sydney Opera House | Saturday 26 September–Sunday 11 October
Image credit: Sydney Opera House | Supplied
Sydney Opera House is launching its first annual kids festival this spring school holidays. Wild Things transforms the building into a creative wonderland for kids and their families across 16 days, with leading companies from Europe, North America, the United Kingdom, Asia and Australia presenting work for ages zero to 14.
The lineup spans circus, Korean pansori and inventive stage adaptations of classic children's book, plus James Joyce's Ulysses, taking young audiences through Taiwan, Syria, Africa, Korea, Australia's First Nations, Antarctica and outer space. All performances are priced at $49 and under.
Armenian Film Festival Australia
Sydney | Friday 11–Sunday 27 September
Image credit: Amenian Film Festival | Supplied
Armenian Film Festival Australia (AFFA) marks its 10th anniversary this year with a national program screening across the country. One to spotlight on the Sydney program is Outliving Shakespeare.
Set in a derelict Soviet-era retirement home, the film follows a group of elderly residents rehearsing an original play, "Shakespeare's Sins". It's a thought-provoking look at the loneliness that comes with ageing, and the community the troupe builds along the way.
Sculpture By The Sea Is Back In Bondi, Celebrating 30 Years Since First Exhibition
16 October – 2 November 2026 | Bondi to Tamarama Coastal Walk
Image credit: Sculpture by the Sea | Supplied
Sculpture by the Sea returns to the Bondi to Tamarama coastal walk from 16th October, marking 30 years since its first Bondi exhibition. The free outdoor show, the largest of its kind in the world, transforms the 2km clifftop walk into a giant open-air sculpture park.
This year brings 100 artworks from artists across Australia and around the world, including Japanese sculptor Keizo Ushio marking his 50th exhibition, plus over 30 first-time exhibitors and returning Archibald Prize winner Tim Storrier AM.
State Library Of NSW: 200 Years Of Awe
State Library of NSW | September–October
Image credit: State Library of NSW | Supplied
Australia's oldest library continues its 200th-anniversary celebrations with a six-week program of performances, talks and free live music from some of Australia's leading creatives.
On 11–12 September, director and storyteller Stephen Page AO presents RECLAIM: A Contemporary Ceremony in the Mitchell Library Reading Room, combining dance, spoken word, poetry and music to celebrate the resistance and resilience of NSW's First Nations peoples. From 18–19 September, composer and yidaki master William Barton presents Earth Flow, also in the Mitchell Library Reading Room, with Aunty Delmae Barton, Jack Thompson, Ray Martin and the Sydney Street Choir.
Africa Film Fest Australia
Sydney Opera House and Event Cinemas Parramatta | Thursday 3–Sunday 6 September
Image credit: Africa film festival | Supplied
Africa Film Fest Australia returns with fourteen Australian premieres, spanning nine feature-length films and documentaries, eight short films, filmmaker Q&As and an Opening Night celebration at the Sydney Opera House.
Highlights include The Eyes of Ghana, directed by two-time Academy Award winner Ben Proudfoot and executive produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's Higher Ground Productions; Muganga: The One Who Treats, produced by Cynthia Pinet and Angelina Jolie; and Black Is Beautiful: The Kwame Brathwaite Story, tracing the Harlem photographer behind the Black Is Beautiful movement. The 2026 program spans stories of apartheid, independence, music and Black creative movements from across Africa and its global diaspora.
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.
Footloose The Musical
Sydney dates and venue TBC
Image credit: Footloose The Musical | Supplied
If your idea of a night out leans towards big vocals, full-throttle choreography and a soundtrack you already know every word to, Footloose The Musical is pulling into Sydney (sign up to the waitlist) after drawing serious crowds in Perth, Melbourne, Newcastle, Adelaide, Brisbane and Canberra.
You’ll follow Ren McCormack, a city kid dropped into a town where dancing’s off-limits, as he starts to push back against the rules. Leading the charge is Gabriel Tiller, joined by Brittany Morton, Steven Hirst, Sophie Weiss and Rachael Beck. Expect tight choreography, standout vocals and a run through the hits—“Holding Out for a Hero”, “Let’s Hear It for the Boy” and “Footloose” included.
With a short season and momentum building, this one won’t hang around for long—sign up for Sydney tickets here.
Live Music Lineup At Elliott's
79 Elliott Street, Balmain | Every Weekend
Image credit: Elliott's | Instagram
Elliott's have been curating a live music program that takes full advantage of the Inner West's recently relaxed music laws—and things are getting loud this month. The courtyard hosts a rotating lineup of vinyl DJs and live soul, funk and blues sets every weekend, curated by Jordan McDonald (NITE-RITE Entertainment).
What's On In And Around Sydney Beyond September
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.
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.
Pearls And Plates
Broken Bay Oyster & Pearl Farm, Mooney Mooney | Saturday 17–Sunday 18 October
Image credit: Pearls and Plates | Instagram
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.
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.
France's First 360° Immersive Electronic Experience Lands in Australia
Saturday 24 October, 4pm-11pm
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.
Melt Festival
Across Brisbane/Magandjin | Wednesday 21 October to Sunday 8 November
Image credit: Melt Festival Brisbane Powerhouse | 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.
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.
Happyfield Is Taking Over Messinaville For Two Days Only
9th–10th October | 12pm–late
Image credit: Messina | 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.
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.
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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.
Sense Of Self Sydney
Surry Hills | Opening September 2026
Image credit: Sense of Self | Supplied
Sense Of Self is bringing its much-loved bathhouse experience to Sydney this September, with a sprawling 1,200-square-metre space opening in a former industrial warehouse in Surry Hills. Expect two hot mineral pools, a Hammam steam room, walk-through cold plunge and the largest sauna in the Southern Hemisphere, alongside massage rooms and its popular Scrub Station.
Designed by RITZ&GHOUGASSIAN, the space will be intentionally device-free, with Quiet Mornings offering a slower, more serene way to soak, sweat and switch off.
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.
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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