The best things to do in Sydney this weekend

Wondering what to do with the kids during the spring school holidays? The Sydney Opera House has got you covered with its first-ever Wild Things International Kids Festival. Running for 16 days from September 26 until October 11, this festival turns the Opera House into a creative playground, with performances, workshops, installations and activities for all kids from toddlers to teens.  Out on the Forecourt, families can enjoy free performances, giant interactive installations and roaming puppeteers. Venture inside to catch shows for different age groups from Australia and around the world. And with every performance priced at $49 or less, it’s a fun thing to add to your school holiday calendar. Shows to watch ZOOOM September 26–29 at Playhouse; Age: 4+ Patch Theatre takes kids on an imaginative journey through the universe, inspired by the beloved Harold and the Purple Crayon. We Come From Far, Far Away October 3–7 at The Studio; Age: 10+ Abdallah shares his story of life, travel and growing up, inspired by the real journeys of young refugees and performed inside a Mongolian yurt. Tinker Tales!October 3–5 at Playhouse; Age: 6+ Three performers build, dance and create on a giant building site, where things quickly spiral into wonderfully chaotic fun. Grand Soft Day October 8–11 at Playhouse; Age: 2–6 Three friends head into the woods, but the weather has other plans. Expect movement, music and a charming mix of English, Irish and Italian. Free Events in the Forecourt ...

A sawfish swimming alongside a sea turtle in the Pilbara. Royal penguins stopped in their tracks by an enormous elephant seal. A Tassie devil fighting for survival. A whimbrel racing an incoming wave with a freshly caught crab in its beak. Flame-like patterns formed by the tides across a Western Australian sandbank. It’s true what they say: a picture definitely does speak a thousand words. Opening at the Australian Museum on September 12, the 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition brings you face-to-face with some of the most extraordinary moments in the natural world. From wildlife encounters to otherworldly landscapes, these photographs offer a rare glimpse into the beauty and fragility of nature in our region. This free exhibition, produced by the South Australian Museum, showcases the finest images selected from 2,129 entries by 501 photographers across 17 countries. Spanning Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea, the photographs take in everything from critically endangered species and dramatic animal encounters to patterns and textures of the natural landscape. Western Australian photographer Matt Deakin has been named the 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year for Ethereal Encounter. His mesmerising aerial photograph captures a critically endangered green sawfish moving towards a group of green turtles in the shallow waters of the Pilbara. Shot in the last light of the day, the milky water gives the...

If you’ve ever felt the push and pull between expectation versus opportunity, then you should nab tickets to the upcoming Belvoir St Theatre takeover, A Room with a View. This stage adaptation of E.M. Forster’s timeless story is heading to the Surry Hills theatre for a month-long stay from next month, and promises a refreshed take of the original work.   In a production boasting a female-led creative team and an exciting cast, expect a modernised take on Lucy’s whirlwind journey as she navigates romance, hope and challenging social norms.  From Saturday, October 3 ’til Sunday, November 1, this book-to-stage adaptation will grace the cosy upstairs space of Surry Hills haunt, with evening sessions running from Tuesday to Sunday each week. You’ll still be met with all the best elements of the original, including the familiar Edwardian era charm and light comedic streaks. But this time, it’s contemporising the narrative that grapples with femininity, societal pressure, freedom and choosing self-expression – themes that still feel pertinent.  Co-produced with Melbourne Theatre Company, this reimagining of E.M. Forster’s classic by rising playwright and Aussie homegrown talent, Grace Chapple (Never Closer), has Hannah Goodwin (Never Closer, The Wrong Gods) directing and will feature Nathalie Morris (Bump), as Lucy Honeychurch. With tickets from $58, you can delve deep into Lucy’s experiences with womanhood, and the expectations that are attached to it, as she travels from her...

The Sydney Fringe Festival is back for another year, taking over Moore Park’s Entertainment Quarter from August 26 to October 11. This year’s line-up is stacked, and will see the return of the Fool’s Paradise hub alongside a dedicated Fringe Kids program. For acrobatics, comedy, cabaret, live music and burlesque, head straight to Fool’s Paradise. Spanning two dedicated venues, ‘The Virago’ and ‘The Bunker’, this year’s festivities are curated by the award-winning team at Head First Acrobats. Expect edge-of-your-seat stuff, with performances – day and night – that are guaranteed to get your adrenaline pumping (all from the safety of your seat). Got little ones in tow? The Fringe Kids program takes over the precinct for two weeks during the school break, with a line-up of music, magic, giant bubbles, hands-on science and circus acts. With highlights like All Star Circus and the Flying Bubble Show, and tickets starting at just $12, consider your kids' holiday boredom cured. With the entire seven-week line-up consolidated into one hub, you can catch a show, grab a bite to eat and soak up all the Fringe vibes without even having to rack up a massive step count. Refuel at the Fool’s Paradise bar with signature cocktails and snacks, or explore the many restaurants, cafes, markets and pop-up food stalls around the precinct.Performance times and ticket prices vary by show. To explore the full program, check session times and secure tickets, visit the Sydney Fringe Festival website.

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,...

We all know that politics is a greasy machine where idealism goes to die. A hot new frontrunner for a local electorate seat can hold the bright-eyed hope of youth, while a hard-edged minister eroded by the gravity of office just wants to get the day done so they can head to the nearest bar.  Emily Steel’s Housework aims high, wanting to cover the vast range of staffers of every rank who keep our democracy running – from hopeful interns through to the highest seat in office. Where she lands is often predictable and all-too-familiar territory. The result is an Australian version of House of Cards, but with a lot less blood and a lot more pastries. What is the plot of Housework? First-term MP of a marginal seat in Sydney, Ruth Mandour (Susie Youssef), won her campaign on first-hand experience and relatable candour as a nurse during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, her hard-working Chief of Staff Anna (Emily Taheny) is the real backbone of the successful campaign. With Media Advisor Ben (Laurence Boxhall) and the preppy new junior staffer Kelly (Franca Lafosse) rounding out her team, their task is to keep the energy from Ruth’s win all the way through to the nation’s capital. After a negative Covid test sees Ben replaced by Kelly on a trip to Canberra, Anna uses her previous – possibly intimate – relationship with the Minister for Science, Paul (Johnny Nasser) to help get Ruth’s women’s health bill to cabinet. But Paul’s eyes linger elsewhere as an all-too-familiar scandal...

How does happiness impact the body? It’s a question that’s crossed all of our minds at one time or another: floating in the ocean or gloriously exhausted after a long run around the city. This year, a globally-renowned exhibition dedicated to answering that question is landing in Sydney. Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness will open in The Rocks on September 17, inviting visitors to explore the links between physical health, emotions and overall wellbeing. Created by plastination pioneer Dr Gunther von Hagens and curated by Dr Angelina Whalley, this blockbuster exhibition explores what happiness actually looks like inside the human body. Through real donated human specimens, interactive displays and multimedia installations, you'll discover how everything from stress and resilience to movement, ageing and social connection leaves its mark on our anatomy. Highlights include an Anatomical Mirror that lets you see where your organs sit inside your own body, side-by-side healthy and diseased organs, brain health displays exploring conditions like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, and a photographic series examining longevity across 100 years of life. Since launching, Body Worlds has attracted more than 58 million visitors across 175 cities worldwide, with more than 270,000 Australians already stepping inside the exhibition during its stints in Brisbane, Perth and Melbourne. Tickets start from $35 for adults and $20 for children, with general sales opening on July 29. Keen to get...

The Comedy Store in Moore Park has been Sydney’s go-to spot for belly laughs since 1981. Venture inside and watch the stage come alive with top-notch talent with comedic timing – think homegrown favourites, international stars, rising newcomers and the occasional surprise guest. The Comedy Store Showcases run Thursday through Saturday, packing in 90 minutes of back-to-back stand-up with plenty of comedians on the bill. In fact, you can even catch The Saturday Late Show at 8.30pm if you prefer a later line-up. No two nights are the same, but each one guarantees tons of chuckles with new acts added constantly. RELATED READ: Make Tuesdays more fun with this affordable comedy show in the Inner West, featuring a rotating line-up of cracking comedians – plus, you get a free drink. The calendar is also dotted with solo shows and special events, from household names debuting their latest routine to the next big comedian testing out fresh material. What’s more, all tickets come with an alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverage. Still feeling thirsty? Get more drinks and nibbles at the Lounge Bar that keeps cocktails, cold beers and wine flowing with tasty antipasti also on offer. They even have table service, so you’ll never miss a punchline. It’s true what they say: laughter really is the best medicine, so gather your mates and go. Find out more and book your tickets here. Weather not looking so hot? Check out our list of the best things to do indoors in Sydney. Looking for weekday...

Sydney’s immersive art scene is on the up and up, with Balloon Story, Museum of Illusions and Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat all alive and kicking in the Harbour City. Now, there’s more. Landing right in the middle of the CBD, DigiPark is a brand-new digital playground that blends science, art, education and entertainment into one futuristic, all-ages experience. Fresh from huge success across Asia, this is the first DigiPark to open in Australia, bringing 19 interactive attractions to Level 5 of Westfield Sydney, just steps from the centre’s ever-busy food precinct. Highlights include the Space & Time Cube, a trippy 3D holographic tunnel that pulls you into a swirling world of light and colour, and the Orbital Cinema (7D) – a flying adventure powered by a massive 180-degree curved screen, motion seats and special effects like wind, vibration and water spray (no VR headset required). There’s also a 3D Figurine Creator Studio, where you can scan yourself and walk away as a custom mini digital avatar, plus dreamy installations like Wandering Planet, Cosmic Space and the Holographic Studio, which blur the line between reality and the virtual world. According to DigiPark’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Jacques Wong, the venue is designed to hook everyone from curious kids to culture-hungry adults – with VR, holograms, kinetic light art, digital play and 3D printing all under one roof. Open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm, DigiPark welcomes all ages (kids under 12...

Greek mythology is definitely having a moment thanks to Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Odyssey, but Sydney’s very own White Rabbit Gallery is the place to be if you want to learn about Chinese mythology.  Established in 2009 to showcase philanthropist Judith Neilson's remarkable collection of 21st-century Chinese contemporary art, The White Rabbit Gallery in Chippendale has become one of Sydney's most fascinating cultural spaces. And now, David Williams brings us Black Myth, the gallery's 33rd exhibition that explores how ancient Chinese myths continue to shape our modern, technology-centric lives. Inspired by the hit 2024 video game Black Myth: Wukong – a modern reimagining of the 16th century Chinese novel Journey to the West – the exhibition examines the darker side of mythology and the enduring power of storytelling. Journey to the West follows the monk Tang Sanzang and his travelling companions: the mischievous Monkey King Sun Wukong, the pig-faced Zhu Bajie and the loyal river ogre Sha Wujing as they embark on an epic quest to retrieve sacred Buddhist scriptures. Mirroring that legendary adventure, the video game Black Myth explores journeys of every kind – physical and metaphysical, inner and outer – while delving into the Chinese ideas of transformation and transcendence. Artists include Sun Xun, whose intricate woodcuts and ink paintings create entire imagined worlds; Zong Ning, who reinvents ancient legends through contemporary photography and everyday...