If you’ve been lucky enough to check out the Art Gallery of NSW’s Tank takeover (Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat) since it launched in early October, you won’t be surprised to learn that the super immersive (and free-to-access) exhibition has just scored a major global tick of approval. In Time Out’s annual round-up of the 26 best things to do in the world in 2026, the delightfully off-the-wall art experience landed at number 15.
The globe-spanning bucket list is put together every year by Time Out’s global travel editors, so it’s big news to see a very Australiana Sydney exhib landing so high on the list. Topping the list this year was a jaw-dropping Parisian spectacle which will see the city’s oldest bridge temporarily transformed into a cavernous, rock-filled walkway. Other inclusions from across the world include a four-day solar eclipse party in Iceland, a sleepover in a Brazilian sculpture park and a new coast-to-coast trail in South Korea. The only other Aussie mention went to Queensland’s Lamington National Park zipline experience, which came in at an impressive number four on the list.
But we’re here to shine a light on the Sydney event – which is serving up accessible interactive chaos in the heart of the city. The playful, surreal exhibition is like an Australian child’s fever-dream utopia. The subterranean Tank space has been lit for the first time, revealing a wonderland of interactive art pieces and whimsical installations. There’s a steam room with stained glass windows, a sauna lined with bespoke church pews, a working laundry, a recording studio and five fully operational public barbecues waiting for Sydneysiders to get grilling. And yep, it’s all totally free.
For intrepid little adventurers, you’ll find monkey bars looping through concrete columns, towering climbs, giant swings, slides and rushing waterfalls to run through. The floor is soft, recycled rubber, so parents can breathe easy.
Running until October 2026, this is a show that has helped to cement Sydney’s title as one of the best cities in the world for culture. You can check out the full list (and plan your 2026 travels accordingly) over here.
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