The best things to do in Sydney this weekend

Architecture lovers, rejoice! Museum of History NSW’s Sydney Open is back for another year, kicking off its 2026 program early with Sydney Open Symposium.  While Sydney Open offers up a chance to take a stickybeak in the landmark buildings that make up the city’s skyline, Sydney Open Symposium dives deeper, with a series of talks and panel discussions.  Running from May 23 to 24, the two-day event will explore the past, present and future state of housing in NSW. Across day one, five talks will run between 10am and 3pm with topics ranging from housing materials to suburbia and whether people or policy create real solutions for housing. Notable speakers include comedian Tim Ross, partner at SJB Adam Haddow, host of The Sydneyist, Dr Elizabeth Farrelly, Wiradjuri Architect and Managing Director at Nguluway Design Inc, Craig Kerslake, Caroline Pidcock and co-founder of Second Edition Amy Seo. For those keen to see theory in practice, add a private house tour to your ticket. Across day two, a curated selection of exemplary residential designs will be available to view – from small-footprint apartments to sustainable projects. Highlights include the renovation of a 1920s waterfront Rose Bay property and the transformation of a historic shop corner in Marrickville. General tickets are $50 with an additional $15 for a house tour but get in quick as places are strictly limited. Find the full program here. 

Crisp autumn days are made for drinking in gorgeous Sydney harbour views while you drink a glass of wine, don’t you think? And that’s exactly what you'll be doing at the 2026 Pyrmont Festival. Returning to Pirrama Park on May 23-24 for its 14th year, this much-loved free festival transforms the waterfront into a lively community celebration of food, wine and fun. What can you expect? How about more than 30 wineries, breweries and distilleries from across NSW giving Sydneysiders the chance to sip and sample their way through regions like the Hunter Valley, Orange, Mudgee and the South Coast without leaving the city. Expect standout pours from Petersons Wines, Hungerford Hill, Tamburlaine Organic Wines, Cuppit's Estate, Hungerford Hill, Tulloch Wines and Robert Stein, alongside craft brews from White Bay Beer Co and spirits from Finders Distillery. And the food truck line-up is just as tempting. Feast on everything from paella by Sofrito Paella and pillowy pasta from The Gnocchi Way to woodfired sandwiches from Eat Ozzo (one of our Time Out Food & Drink Award nominees) and sweet treats from the iconic Famous Berry Donut Van. There’ll also be artisan produce stalls selling cheeses, salami, honey, olives, chocolates and other gourmet goodies to take home. Pyrmont Festival keeps the atmosphere buzzing with live music across two stages, art and health workshops, plus kids’ entertainment in the form of a bouncy castle, face painting and even mini golf. Best of all, it’s...

The opening note of ‘The Circle of Life’ may just be one of the most recognisable in a Disney musical. If you don’t agree, then you may have to convince the entire theatre-going audience who were at Disney’s The Lion King on opening night. The full house’s roars could be heard all the way out of the Capitol Theatre’s front doors as the king of musicals triumphantly returns to Sydney – the first time in more than a decade. What type of show is The Lion King? It’s called The King of Musicals for a reason. If it’s not Elton John’s iconically recognisable music, or Tim Rice’s lyrics you’ve sung over a late-night karaoke session, then its Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi’s book featuring the characters you love, the characters you hate, and the ones you undoubtedly cry over – tears were definitely still shed during that scene. What’s so beautiful about The Lion King is the blurring of worlds and culture that merges in between all of these. Julie Taymor’s directorial conception blends African culture, language, movement and costume underneath masks and puppetry of the animal characters. Mufasa’s “crown” is a stoic, strong and towering headdress. The elegant lionesses soar and leap through the sky through Garth Fagan’s choreography as wing-like gowns flow behind them. The animals of Pride Rock are adorned with larger-than-life puppets of intricate designs and architecture: a re-engineered bicycle becomes leaping antelope, birds fly above the crowd on poles manipulated by performers,...

Thought-provoking. Boundary-pushing. Unapologetically disruptive. The elusive yet world-famous street artist Banksy has another exhibition coming to Sydney. If you missed the chance to see The Art of Banksy: Without Limits at Sydney Town Hall in 2024, you’re in luck. Banksy Limitless opens at The Rocks (155 George Street) on April 1, 2026 for a limited season, following a sold-out run in London.  This new showcase features more than 250 works, large-scale installations, sculptures, digital displays – plus an impressive state-of-the-art hologram experience. Visitors can uncover untold stories behind iconic works including Cinderella at Dismaland, London Zoo and Ice Cream Van, while immersive rooms and bold visual storytelling invite audiences to step inside Banksy’s provocative universe. Renowned for his sharp wit and unflinching social commentary, Banksy continues to challenge perspectives on politics, culture and human rights. In keeping with his humanitarian ethos, a portion of proceeds from Banksy Limitless will support the M.V. Louise Michel, an independent high-speed lifeboat rescuing migrants in distress. So much more than a traditional exhibition, Banksy Limitless is a powerful, multi-sensory experience that will pull you in. Don't miss it.  Ticket prices are from $42 for adults, $30 for children. Get your tickets here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox....

Anastasia (1997) was among the first musical films I knew in its entirety. While many children frolicked to Timon and Pumbaa’s playful anthem in The Lion King, I was instead reenacting “Once Upon a December” in my living room, captivated by a heroine whose quiet determination carried her through danger and uncertainty. At the time, I could not have anticipated how deeply this film would shape my relationship with musical theatre. “Journey to the Past” soon became a staple audition piece, and Anya’s unwavering belief in her own worth quietly informed my own developing sense of confidence.  What I did not yet understand, however, was the historical context behind the story: the execution of the Russian imperial family in 1918 and the long-standing myth that Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov survived. The 1997 animated film leans fully into fantasy, using magic and spectacle to distance itself from historical reality. The stage musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2017 with a book by Terrence McNally and music and lyrics by Stephen Flaherty and Lynn Ahrens, takes a different approach, removing the supernatural elements in favour of a more realistic political setting. This creative decision has lingered uneasily over the production since its premiere, inviting criticism for its revisionist narrative – a species of theatrical “fake news,” further undermined by the musical’s questionable commitment to American accents. In performance, now at Sydney Lyric Theatre, this shift...

Australia’s most popular arts event is back in action for 2026, with the Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes bringing a fresh batch of painterly expressions to the walls of the Art Gallery of NSW from May 9 to August 16.  They call it “the face that stops the nation”, and the Archibald Prize has indeed been courting controversy and conversation for more than a century now. This popular portrait prize is always filled with famous faces, with artists from all over Australia (and also New Zealand) capturing the spirit of the times through paintings that capture the likeness of the personalities that define their communities. Melbourne-based artist Richard Lewer is the winner of the Archibald Prize 2026 – he won over the judges with a stunning portrait of Pitjantjatjara Elder, senior artist and ngangkari (traditional healer) Iluwanti Ken. RECOMMENDED: A beginner's guide to the Archibald Prize. The winner of the 2026 Packing Room Prize was announced a week earlier, with the Packing Room Pickers (a.k.a. the Art Gallery staff who receive, unpack and hang the entries) selecting Sean Layh's striking painting of actor Jacob Collins as their favourite Archibald portrait this year.  Meanwhile, the Wynne Prize awarded the best landscape painting of Australian scenery or figurative sculpture to Yolŋu artist Gaypalani Waṉambi, and the Sulman was awarded to Lucy Culliton for the best genre painting, subject painting or mural project.  The annual finalists exhibition is a real must-see,...

If the end of Sydney Observatory’s summer music series has left a hole in your Friday schedule, the 2026 Biennale of Sydney is here to fill it. From 6pm every Friday night for the next couple of months, the Biennale’s Art After Dark program will transform White Bay Power Station into a boundary-blending live music venue – with an impressive line-up of acts set to light up the cavernous industrial space (along with bars serving local pours and food stalls serving up your Friday night feed).Curated by Naarm/ Melbourne-based outfit Liquid Architecture, the first three events will feature the likes of Tujiko Noriko, Mara Schwerdtfeger, Ruhail Qaisar, Marcus Whale, Liam Keenan and Allara Briggs-Pattison. Next up, the Inner West Council will present three more nights of live music, with Body Type, Yes Boone and BOY SODA bringing home-grown talent to the historic Rozelle site. The final three nights, curated by Vivid Sydney, will include ambient techno trio Purelink, French-Senegalese singer-songwriter anaiis, and the festival’s closing night party on Friday, June 12, which promises to be a multi-stage celebration of global music (with extended hours until 11pm). Beyond the Friday night fun (and the art, obvs), the three-month festival will also operate Memory Lane Food Markets every Saturday, Africa Day celebrations, six new performance commissions, guided tours of White Bay’s historic spaces, Family Days, youth and education programs, and access initiatives. Art After Dark will...

For a few special days every year, Sydney comes alive with writers, journalists, public intellectuals and book lovers – who gather for the Emerald City’s long-standing celebration of literature, reading and ideas: the Sydney Writers' Festival.In good news for literature lovers who like to plan ahead, SWF has just unveiled its sprawling 2026 program, promising more than 200 events featuring over 250 writers from Australia and around the world. Running from May 17-24, the week-long literary takeover will once again centre on Carriageworks, with other events popping up across the city. This year’s theme, “Show Me the Truth,” explores trust, storytelling and the murky business of separating fact from fiction in uncertain times. Expect conversations spanning everything from fantasy epics to political memoirs, with 39 international authors joining more than 220 Australian writers on the program. It’s a celebration of Aussie creativity at its heart, but big-name international guests headline the lineup. Former New Zealand prime minister Jacinda Ardern will discuss leadership and her memoir A Different Kind of Power, and Patrick Radden Keefe will unpack his investigative reporting career and bestselling nonfiction. Superstar author R. F. Kuang will reflect on her meteoric rise, and Slow Horses creator Mick Herron will share insights into adapting crime fiction for the screen. There’s more literary star power in the form of Booker Prize luminaries including Roddy Doyle, Susan Choi...

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a kid's drawing of their wildest dream utopia suddenly came off the page and into real life, you're in luck, because that's pretty much what's happening right now beneath the Art Gallery of NSW.  Artist and professional disruptor Mike Hewson has taken over the weird subterranean world of The Tank with his one-of-a-kind new exhibition, Mike Hewson: The Key's Under the Mat, where for the first time ever, all the main lights in the normally pitch-dark Tank will be switched on, revealing a weird wonderland of interactive art pieces and play equipment that have to be seen to be believed. We're talking: A steam room with stained glass windows that you can actually sit in, a functioning sauna with bespoke church pews, five actual operating public barbeques that you can cook on, rushing water to play in (seriously, bring your swimmers), a working laundry,  and a free-to-use recording studio, plus a whole plethora of bright and delightful surprises that are all about getting community together, to do cool stuff, for free. Basically, break your imagination and delete all adult expectations. This is unlike anything we've ever seen.  Kids who aren't afraid of some risk are also one of Hewson's big targets with this show (although parents, rest easy, the floor is specially made out of recycled soft rubber that's rated for use in public playgrounds), with the space also home to a wild children's playground. Intrepid kidlets can test their...

If you haven’t yet been to Caness, Paddington’s excellent tapas bar, then here is the perfect time to do so. On Sunday, May 24, the sleek Oxford Street spot is throwing a big birthday bash to celebrate its first birthday – and you’re invited. Four top Sydney chefs will take over the kitchen, serving up $15 loaded Spanish sandwiches, as well as mussel crisps and a halva Basque cheesecake – with proceeds from the day being donated to OzHarvest, Australia’s leading food rescue organisation. The line-up is killer, with Vinicius Oliveira (ex-Bar Vincent and Estela in New York), Diego Duarte (Shaffa), Damir Mujanic (Refettorio) and Caness’ head chef Jorge Alcala all creating their own spins on the classic bocadillo. Plus, guests can enjoy Caness’ G&Ts, $12 Spanish beers, wines plucked from the cellar and non-alcoholic sparkling Conscious Drink by Kakadu Kitchen x OzHarvest. A live jazz duo will be keeping the vibes high. One dollar from every one of Mujanic’s bocadillos and every Conscious Drink sold on the day will be donated to OzHarvest. And every dollar donated provides two meals for people in need. Caness co-owner Erez Nahum says: “We’ve been so heartened by the support we’ve received from the community over the past year that we want to share this day with them,” he says. “But we’re also very aware that people are doing it particularly tough. “We’ve been involved with OzHarvest for a long time, and we think this is the perfect occasion to shine more of a spotlight on the...