The best things to do in Sydney in September

You’re never too old to have a ball checking out one of Australia’s largest inflatable obstacle courses, which is fantastic news for Sydneysiders this school holidays. Why? Because Monster Jump is back and bigger than ever. The all-ages playground is returning to the Entertainment Quarter from September 27 to October 12, and for the first time a second location is popping up at The Crescent in Parramatta Park.  Jump into some action-packed school holiday fun with this monstrous 280-metre-long jumping castle boasting more than 30 different custom-built obstacles. You can race your mates to see who can complete the course the fastest, or take it slow and steady to enjoy your favourite parts. Either way, you’ll have some serious fun climbing, sliding, bouncing, slipping and tumbling all over the place. Don’t let the kids have all the fun! Monster Jump is suitable for everyone from children aged three and up to adults. That makes for an epic experience for the whole family. Kids under five will need adult supervision, but there’s one adult included at no extra charge with each toddler pass. A two-hour pass costs $30 for anyone aged five and up, toddler passes are also available for $45 (includes one adult). Don't forget to upgrade to an all-day pass if you plan on a full day of fun. Best of all, spectators are welcome to come and watch for free! Really want to burn some energy? Monster Jump returns for another year with Monster Sports Jam Inflatable, exclusive to the Sydney...

I last watched the film adaptation of The Talented Mr Ripley in the summer of 2023 – the summer that Saltburn hit our screens and mesmerised us all with its intoxicating, messed-up depiction of a complex, envy-ridden friendship. Saltburn director Emerald Fennell came under a lot of flak for what many people viewed as a barefaced rip-off of Patricia Highsmith’s beloved 1950s novel. And though the people wielding that claim have a point (Saltburn seems to borrow a lot from Ripley: the dynamic between the protagonists, the complexity and nuance of a minor class divide, even the sexy bathtub scene), the more I watch both, the more I’m reminded that this is a story as old as time. In both Saltburn and The Talented Mr Ripley, we see a starry-eyed boy driven to the furthest extremes by a toxic curdle of admiration, lust, and hatred. It’s a story that’s played out in literature forever, with characters in Greek mythology, Roman comedy, and Shakespearean tragedy all following similar journeys of envy, deceit, and attempts at stolen identity. In Sydney Theatre Company’s new production of The Talented Mr Ripley, the story is executed with masterful comic brilliance and a chilling, sociopathic undertone. As an audience, you’re carried on an all-consuming journey by characters you learn to hate but root for all the same.  What’s the premise of The Talented Mr Ripley? The play follows the slightly awkward, desperately socially unsatisfied Tom Ripley (whose status anxiety is perfectly...

Most people know a Suntory beverage. Maybe it’s the mega popular Minus 196 cans, the ultimate to-go Boss Coffee, the refined Roku Gin or premium Japanese whiskies. What we guarantee you *don’t* know is just how many popular labels it owns: think everything from Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark to Canadian Club. And now, you can experience more than 125 years of Suntory’s history and innovation all in one place – for the next three months. Say hello to Sydney’s new Suntory Bar. The Japanese spirit company has chosen the city’s only Japanese culture and dining precinct, Prefecture 48 on Sussex Street, as host for the residency. The moody Whisky Thief bar with gorgeous historic artwork and marbletop counters is the place to be when you clock off. Choose between timeless highballs, signature serves, special cocktails, RTDs, The Premium Malt beer and whisky flights crafted by the team at Prefecture 48 in collaboration with Suntory.  The must-try tipple of the affair is the Highball. While it’ll be dished up with a range of Suntory whiskies (it’s what Suntory’s known for in Japan), we say try the spotlight cocktail, the Hakushu Highball, first. Not only is it a refreshing mix of Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve, soda and mint, but it’s been paired with an exclusive snack from the genius Michelin Star chef Tetsuya Wakuda (you know, from *the* Tetsuya’s). Now’s the chance to sample Wakuda’s cuisine since his eminent Sydney restaurant closed last year – that’s a golden opportunity if we ever...

The state’s largest independent arts festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, is back for 2025 – with more than 460 events hitting our stages for one very entertaining month. Presented across the city throughout September 2025, the dynamic program spans theatre, music, comedy, visual art, film, musical theatre, dance, circus, street festivals, literature and poetry – and it's going to be ace. Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, says: “The Fringe is as diverse as our city – and I’m very proud of that.” This year, Sydney Fringe Festival is presenting a city-wide playground of entertainment, with ten key hubs hosting immersive theatre shows, boundary-pushing cabaret, comedy galas, dance shows, live music performances and so much more. Time Out's picks: 10 of the best shows to see at Sydney Fringe Festival 2025Spanning a full four weeks from now until September 30, the Sydney Fringe program includes a heap of interactive, community-focused events, including a free street party taking over The Rocks on Thursday, September 4 and a child-friendly ‘Kids Fringe’ popping up in The Entertainment Quarter for the school holidays.  You can learn more and plan your Sydney Fringe experience over here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Want fun now? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this weekend. In the mood for a show? Here’s our list of the best theatre to see in Sydney this month.

As I’m on my way to Sydney's Capitol Theatre for the new Australian production of The Book of Mormon, my friend tells me it’s the very first musical a lot of people see. Created by South Park duo Trey Parker and Matt Stone (with Robert Lopez), the show’s reputation for extremely irreverent jabs at religion draws a non-traditional theatre crowd. What I now realise my friend didn’t mean was, “it’s often the first musical kids see”. When I say the musical is extremely irreverent, I mean it. The humour is crass, verging on grotesque (some things I wouldn’t dare repeat). So it’s probably questionable that I’ve brought along my 13-year-old son with me. That said, he loves it.  Some of the humour is classic teen boy (i.e. a regular exclamation from one of the Ugandan characters that he has “maggots in my scrotum”). Very South Park. My son laughs loudly with the rest of the audience – and when the jokes go too far, he cringes, glancing around with a “should I be laughing at this?” look. Although the shock value is high, it’s nice seeing a Gen Alpha-ite who’s been raised on Youtube and other screen-based entertainment bopping along in his seat to the song and dance of a stage show.    What’s the premise of The Book of Mormon? The Book of Mormon tells the story of two young Mormon missionaries sent to a small village in Uganda. Although the story centres on Mormonism, Parker and Stone have been known to refer to the show as an “atheist’s love letter to religion” – a wink and a jab...

Calling all arts enthusiasts. Sydney Contemporary, the largest and most diverse art fair in the country, is on right now at Carriageworks – and it's brilliant. Back for its ninth iteration, the incredible art fest has popped up at Sydney’s multidisciplinary arts hub, from Thursday, September 11 until Sunday, September 14 2025. There’s a full four-day program of installations, performances, talks and panels, plus – naturally – a whole lot of stunning art ready to be claimed. As the largest fair to date, this year’s event will also feature a brand new ‘Photo Sydney’ sector, a whole program dedicated to aspiring young artists (appropriately titled ‘Kid Contemporary') and works by more than 500 artists.  First things first: art. As always, Sydney Contemporary will bring together some of Australia and New Zealand’s best galleries, with gallerists and individual artists putting forward a curation of works that speak to the festival’s bold, creative spirit. This year’s booth highlights will include a surreal, grocery store-inspired solo exhibition by New Zealand based installation artist Mike Hewson (presented by Michael Lett), a kooky, thought-provoking installation by Shen Shaomin (featuring 2,000 mechanical carps, with canned carps available for purchase) and the first solo Sydney exhibition of acclaimed Melbourne-based artist Julia Ciccarone. Other top picks on the gallery front include Neon Parc, Ames Yavuz, EG Projects and Sydney’s own Olsen Gallery. The debut of ‘Photo...

Scrap the seat and get moving at this interactive theatre show that engages all your senses, including taste, with cocktail (and mocktail) tastings embedded into the show. Imagine a theatre production, your favourite dimly lit bar and a haunted house (just way less scary, and heaps more playful) all rolled into one.  Setting up camp at the Union Bond Store in The Rocks this August and September, When Night Comes is part of Sydney Fringe Festival’s ‘Sideshow at The Rocks’ hub. You’ll follow performers between multiple rooms, each with a setting more hedonistic and sensory than the last. Your ticket includes a number of cocktails tastings, plus some gold-star entertainment, of course. Not a big alcohol drinker? You can still get involved by selecting the mocktail option when you check out.  Catch When Night Comes at Union Bond Store from August 22. Find out more here and book your tickets here. 

Every Friday from 5pm, Chinatown transforms into a vibrant night market selling Asian street food, desserts and gifts. After a month-long closure, the popular night fest is back, now in a temporary new location – next to Paddy’s Market Light Rail stop. RELATED READ: These are the best Chinese restaurants in Sydney. Chinatown Night Market attracts a wide mix of visitors, from tourists and homesick international students to the post-work crowd, who you’ll find wisely padding their stomachs with cumin lamb skewers before hitting the next bar. During peak times, it can get a bit squishy, but the hustle and bustle is also what makes it fun. A number of Chinatown stalwarts run stalls each week, and you'll find everything from yum cha favourites like har gow and mango pancakes to fluffy roti canai. As tempting as those options might be, ration stomach space for the takoyaki – a Japanese savoury doughnut‑hole snack filled with seafood – or dragon beard candy and potato chips on a stick. You’ll also find stalls selling clothes and sunglasses, jewellery and phone cases. On some weeks, there’s even a Scientology stall offering “free stress tests” to the curious. There are no artisanal goods, but more mass-produced, imported products à la Paddy’s Markets downstream. Find out more here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS: These are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend Read more about...

Didn’t make it to Rome this Euro summer? Us neither. And in excellent news for art enthusiasts of the Harbour City, one of Europe’s most famous and beloved cultural sites is coming to us. From Friday, August 29, the Sistine Chapel will come to life in Sydney thanks to an immersive multisensory experience. For context, the Sistine Chapel is a world-famous Renaissance chapel in the Vatican City, celebrated not only as the Pope’s private chapel but also as an artistic masterpiece – with Michelangelo’s famous painting The Last Judgment framing the ceiling, and other masterpieces lining the walls. The 15th century chapel attracts millions of visitors every year, but if you’re not up for facing the crowds in Italy, you can get a taste of the space right here. Opening soon in Sydney’s Fever Pavilion, Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel: The Exhibition will bring the Renaissance masterpiece to life. Inside the Sydney Showground Pavilion, 34 of Michelangelo’s ceiling frescoes from the Vatican’s Sistine Chapel will be recreated in true-to-size scale. Masters of immersion Fever will use a specially developed printing technique that mirrors the texture, colour, and detail of the original works. While nothing quite compares to the real thing, the Sydney-based iteration of the chapel comes without the crowds and access-restricting scaffolding of the Roman version, allowing up-close encounters with the artwork. So far, the exhibition has mesmerised art lovers around the world – popping up in...

The time-honoured tradition of celebrating the September/October full moon – also known as the Harvest Moon or Hunter’s Moon – has played an important role in many Asian cultures for centuries, offering a moment to honour the magnificent moon at its brightest. Harvest Moon-related festivals have been celebrated across Sydney for years, but in 2025, the celebrations will take over one of the city’s most iconic celestial landmarks. From Tuesday, September 30, to Thursday, October 2, Sydney Observatory will host its first-ever Moon Festival, featuring lion dances, lantern parades, live musical performances, and Vietnamese street food. Traditionally, Moon Festivals focus on the theme of gratitude, with mooncakes shared among guests, lion dances performed, and feasts enjoyed under the glowing moon. The Sydney Observatory event will follow this tradition, with interactive lantern-making workshops led by renowned visual artist Truc Truong, alongside other traditional activities – and the added bonus of the city’s best view of the moon through the observatory's powerful telescope. The Moon Festival will take over the observatory grounds for three consecutive days at various times, with the main event – including a lantern parade, lion and dragon dances, and a live set by Asian-Australian DJ Small FRY – taking place on Thursday, October 2. Workshops will be free to attend, but a (free) ticket will be required for the Thursday evening main event. Keen? You can check out the full...