Things to do in Sydney today

Hate supermarket shopping? You’ll love browsing these aisles of The Grocery Store – an exhibition of inedible goods instead. This fake supermarket is packed with very real food-themed art and it’s the most fun grocery run you’ll ever do. Get to Marrickville's Voluptuary Ceramics studio for this immersive, retro-kitsch exhibition. More than 20 Australian artists have reimagined everyday supermarket staples into covetable artworks through ceramics, sculpture, photography, painting, print and textiles. Nothing is edible; everything is collectible.  Wander the aisles to find ceramic milk cartons, oil-painted mangoes, pasta clocks, glittering fish combs and even asparagus wall hooks. It’s surreal, it's tongue-in-cheek, it's the mundane made magnificent. New works are being added throughout the run, so no two visits are quite the same. The exhibition runs daily until March 15 and entry is free. Find out more here.  Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, food & drink inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Want more? These are the best art galleries in Sydney to visit Make a day of it with these fun things to do in Marrickville  Grab a bite later at any of the Marrickville restaurants on this list

The question of meaning has long shaped the human condition, at once a source of existential anxiety and a catalyst for some of the world’s most powerful artistic expression. For some, purpose is not pursued but inherited – something life quietly unfolds in its own time, revealing itself only in hindsight. For others, it is a relentless obsession, a restlessness that has driven monks, scholars and countless others towards faith, philosophy and protest in the hope of naming and securing it. Whatever the path, one thing remains certain: purpose is a question that sits within all of us.  Sydney Theatre Company has built a reputation for championing African American voices, staging landmark works by writers such as August Wilson (Fences, 2023) and Lorraine Hansberry (A Raisin in the Sun, 2022). While those productions connected Australian audiences with enduring American classics, Purpose offers a voice unmistakably of the present, one grappling with the complexity of living in a world that is hyper-aware of itself.  The play premiered on Broadway in the 2024-25 season, winning the 2025 Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It's rare for Australian audiences to encounter work with such immediacy; more often, international successes arrive years after their debut. Its programming signals that new artistic director Mitchell Butel may be shaping a tenure characterised by currency. At a moment when conversations around race, human rights, identity, politics...

Dear gentle readers, if you’ve ever imagined being Her Majesty Queen Charlotte’s diamond of the season, then here’s your chance. While a trip back to Regency-era London isn’t on the cards, Pandora is set to bring the world of Bridgerton to life with an immersive pop-up at Queen Victoria Building from February 3 to March 8. Alongside the pop-up comes a swoon-worthy 14-piece collection inspired by the Netflix hit series, giving fans the chance to take a little piece of finery home – and you might even spot your new jewellery in the hotly anticipated fourth season, of which the first part lands in late January.  Drawing on the lavish universe of Shonda Rhimes’ period romp, the Pandora and Bridgerton Rules to Love By collection reimagines classic Regency-era jewellery through a modern lens. Crafted in 100 per cent recycled sterling silver and 14k gold plating, the range will feature pearls, bows and crystal accents in pastel shades, including lilac wisteria (a Bridgerton staple). There’ll be everything from ear climbers to necklaces, adorned with hand-finished flowers that nod to the secret love messages of Regency romance.  Watch the Pandora QVB space transform to a salon gorgeous enought to make all the ladies of the ton jealous. The QVB's romantic architecture is already a step back in time, but now the Pandora store will be adorned with wisteria wallpaper and flourishing wall mouldings. Don't miss the regal ceiling-to-floor drapery that's perfect to snap a pic in front...

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...

If you’re craving something surreal to snap you out of reality for an hour or so, Sydney’s recently opened Museum of Illusions has got your back. The first Aussie outpost of the global concept, this interactive exhibition invites visitors to step into gravity-defying rooms, giant 3D illusions, mind-bending perspective zones, holograms and other sensory experiences – in a vast space spanning over 900 square metres in the heart of the CBD.With more than 80 unique exhibits to explore, the museum doesn’t directly follow its global siblings – it’s packed with bespoke Sydney-inspired rooms that you won’t find anywhere else. There’s a ‘Reversed Room’ inspired by a classic Aussie pub, a ‘Building Illusion’ which echoes Sydney’s iconic skyline, and an immersive exhibit called ‘Following Eyes’ – a playful nod to sunscreen-slapping beach days. Part science, part spectacle, part pure fun, the Museum of Illusions is perfect for families, curious minds, and any office worker who’s finding the return to work a little tricky. Whether you’re chasing an escape from the here and now or an Instagram goldmine, or you’re just keen to see your friends wobble in a room that defies gravity, it’s a one-stop shop for awe, giggles and head-scratching wonder. The experience is open now at 413 George Street in Sydney’s CBD, with regular admission tickets for $47 and family tickets offering slightly reduced rates. We’d suggest giving around 60–90 minutes for wandering, posing, and rethinking the laws of...