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Dishes at Homer Rogue Taverna
Photograph: Trent van der Jagt | Dishes at Homer Rogue Taverna
Photograph: Trent van der Jagt

Things to do in Sydney this week

Wondering what to do across Sydney? Our list will guide you in the right direction

Avril Treasure
Written by Avril Treasure
Editor, Time Out Sydney
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Hello! Welcome to your weekly wrap of what’s on.

Sydney Film Festival returns to Sydney this week, kicking off on June 3-14. Time Out writer Stephen A Russell has rounded up his top 10 picks here. Grab the popcorn.

Acclaimed First Nations artist Tony Albert has opened his largest-ever solo exhibition at the MCA. Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir explores the stereotyping and commodification of Aboriginal culture while celebrating survival, resilience and pride. Alongside the exhibition, Albert and the MCA have launched the Aboriginalia Appeal, encouraging Australians to donate mass-produced souvenirs that reduce Aboriginal culture to stereotypes.

Vivid, Sydney's annual festival of lights, music, food and more, is on right now. From the 6.5km free light walk to Vivid Fire Kitchen, it’s all going down.

Qtopia Sydney’s Pride Fest 2026 is on this month, with more than 300 events celebrating queer arts, culture and community across the month. For the first time, the festival expands beyond Qtopia to take over Sydney’s Oxford Street precinct, featuring theatre, drag, music, fitness, talks and more.

Sydney’s historic harbourside precinct The Rocks is once again turning Thursday nights into a free open-air jazz party this winter, with live music every week until September 24.

Have you played pickleball before? It’s a cross between tennis, badminton and ping-pong. Team Time Out hit the orange courts recently on our lunch break at House of Pickle in Darling Harbour and it was fun, sweaty and competitive. And they serve post-pickle Spritzes. Find out more and book your spot here.

The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes has landed at the Art Gallery of New South Wales, with Richard Lewer taking home the top honour for his portrait of Pitjantjatjara Elder Iluwanti Ken. Head to the gallery to check out the winning portrait in person, plus all the finalists and winners. The exhibition runs until August 16, with tickets from $30.

The Lion King is finally back in Sydney – and it's as moving and spectacular as you’d expect. Check out the best shows to see in Sydney this month here.

Hungry? Burwood Chinatown Night Market runs Thursday to Sunday from 5-10pm, and it's always a delicious, fun time.

For a culture hit, head to the Art Gallery of New South Wales and check out Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat – a giant interactive playground for the young (and young at heart). It’s free – bring your swimmers. 

Booking a catch-up? Sydney's best restaurants and best new restaurants are a good place to start. Or, head to one of Sydney's best bars.

Scroll on for our full list of the best things to do in Sydney this week.


Mapping out your weekend? These are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

The best things to do in Sydney

Dream Feast

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Sydney
Dream Feast
Dream Feast
Photograph: Supplied | Museums of History NSW
Sydney’s sparkly wintertime festival may have started as an ace light installation across the city but it’s fast become a chance to showcase world-class food and drink. Think of Dream Feast like the cherry on top of Vivid Sydney’s dining offerings this year – it’s an imaginative collaboration with international chefs, new music compositions, and inspiring art projections within one of the oldest public buildings in the city. Housed inside The Mint (aka a front-row seat for exploring Circular Quay after dinner), you’ve got four chances to secure a spot at the table from Tuesday, June 2 to Friday, June 5, starting at 6pm. Museums of History NSW has teamed up with the New York-based duo behind cult favourite dining collective Arlo Communal.  Head chef Tobi Fox and creative director Cal Fernie actually hail from Sydney and are bringing a multi-course feast paired with curated cocktails to their hometown. The meal is inspired by the Caroline Simpson Library Collection – a rich archive of Australian design and domestic life from the 1700s to now. Using locally sourced produce, including bone marrow toast, oysters and mixed grill, the five-course meal will reflect how we have eaten, gathered and entertained over time. Animated projections of the collection will bring the Mint facade to life while you’re dining, and DJ Munasib sets the mood. She’ll be mixing brand new compositions created by artists JWPATON, Fatshaudi, Jacob Turl and Hinano Fujisaki, who have added their own flair...
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Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir

  • Art
  • The Rocks
Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir
Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir
Photograph: Louis Lim
Acclaimed First Nations artist Tony Albert’s major solo exhibition, Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir, has opened at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA). The exhibition explores the commodification and misrepresentation of Aboriginal people and culture – both historically and today – while also celebrating survival, resilience and cultural pride. Bringing together Albert’s photography, sculpture, painting and installation works, the exhibition draws inspiration from the MCA’s location on Sydney Harbour and The Rocks, an area shaped by early colonial contact and now closely tied to tourism and souvenir culture. In tandem with this exhibition, Albert and the MCA have launched the Aboriginalia Appeal, an initiative encouraging everyday Australians to donate mass-produced souvenirs and household items that reduce Aboriginal culture to stereotypes. From ashtrays and tea towels to decorative boomerangs and figurines, these objects are a familiar part of Australian popular culture. Albert uses Aboriginalia as a way to understand the imagery and messages he encountered growing up as a young Aboriginal boy. “I’ve been collecting Aboriginalia since I was a child. And if I had my way, I'd love to take the whole lot of it out of circulation,” says Albert. “It’s about taking these objects and turning them into something that celebrates our survival as the world’s oldest living culture.” The Aboriginalia Appeal gives the public a chance to contribute to that process. Visitors can donate...
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Undercurrent

  • Music
  • Parramatta
Undercurrent
Undercurrent
Photograph: Supplied | Riverside Theatres
Parramatta’s pulsating after-dark music series, Undercurrent, is back at Riverside Live at PHIVE from April to June, with two high energy live music nights showcasing bold Western Sydney artists, alongside a special international act. It all kicks off on April 2 with Elsewhere in India – a genre-defying collision of drum and bass, electro‑classical dance, South Asian culture and AI-driven visuals. For the second night on June 12, country group Simply West are blending their Pacific Islander, African and Portuguese roots into warm soul-filled sounds. Set in the heart of the internationally recognised Purple Flag precinct, Undercurrent is your chance to experience nighttime live music gigs in a safe and accessible city centre. If you didn’t already have an excuse to pop in after dark, let this be it. Undercurrent is delivering two nights of live music this April and June. Find out more and book your tickets here.  Supported by the NSW Government through the Office of the 24 Hour Economy Commissioner.
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The Lion King

  • Musicals
  • Haymarket
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
The Lion King
The Lion King
Photograph: Daniel Boud
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,...
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Anastasia

  • Musicals
  • Darling Harbour
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Anastasia
Anastasia
Photograph: Jeff Busby
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...

Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes

  • Art
  • Galleries
  • Sydney
  • Recommended
Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes
Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes
Photograph: AGNSW/Jenni Carter
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,...
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Jazz Sessions in The Rocks

  • Music
  • Jazz
  • The Rocks
Jazz Sessions in The Rocks
Jazz Sessions in The Rocks
Photograph: Supplied | The Rocks
To bring a little musical joy to the Harbour City through the cooler months, Sydney’s historic waterside precinct The Rocks is once again transforming Thursday evenings into a free, open-air jazz experience – with Jazz Sessions in The Rocks returning for its third year in 2026. Running from Thursday May 7 until Thursday September 24, the series will take over The Rocks Square each week, delivering intimate live performances set against cobblestone laneways and heritage buildings in the heart of Sydney. Curated in partnership with SIMA (Sydney Improvised Music Association), the program spotlights Australia’s thriving contemporary jazz scene, with a rotating monthly line-up of artists. The opening month features standout acts including the Harley Coleman Trio and Billie McCarthy, with new performers announced at the start of each month to keep things fresh, spontaneous and ever-evolving. Event times (every Thursday) 6:30pm – 7:15pm – First set 7:15pm – 7:30pm – Interval 7:30pm – 8:15pm – Second set 8:30pm – Event concludes To complement the music, visitors can explore a range of nearby food and drink offerings across The Rocks, from fiery Thai at Snake Bark, freshly shucked oysters at Hooked & Harvest, and classic Italian at Sicilian. Pisa Slice will also be serving a $10 slice and soft drink combo every Thursday, while a pop-up bar will be pouring everything from mulled wine to and Spicy Mango Margaritas. Free entry. No bookings required. Sign us up. Find out more over...

Qtopia Pride Fest

  • Darlinghurst
Qtopia Pride Fest
Qtopia Pride Fest
Photograph: Giuseppe Santamaria
It’s time to paint the precinct purple! Yes, Qtopia Sydney is dialing up the glam and glitz for Pride Fest 2026, Sydney’s queer arts and culture festival that celebrates International Pride Month this June. Bigger, bolder and more unapologetic than ever, the 2026 program serves up more than 300 events celebrating queer creativity, community and connection for the entire month of June. From theatre that shocks to drag that dazzles, plus film, dance, fitness, workshops, book launches, panels, parties and pop-up restaurant takeovers – if it’s queer, it’s here. For the first time ever, Pride Fest spills out of the walls of Qtopia Sydney and takes over the entire Oxford Street precinct, transforming fab venues including The Loading Dock Theatre, Eternity Playhouse, Ginger’s at the Oxford, Universal and more into a month-long celebration of LGBTQIA+ pride. The festival kicks off with a bang at the inaugural Pride Fest Gala on June 2 – a high-energy, glitter-soaked night showcasing the best of what’s to come. This year’s headliners include award-winning cabaret icon Skank Sinatra with The Name on Everybody’s Lips (10-14 June), Nails: The Musical (June 25-27) and Juicy Riot (29 June), a high-femme variety extravaganza by Kala Gare and Victoria Falconer. Elsewhere, the program is stacked with must-sees including Homo Grown (June 1), comedian Jess Fuchs’ Feral (June 12-13), Dykes on Bikes (June 14), Saddle Club Line Dancing (June 17), and Still Proud: Honouring the 78ers (June 24),...
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Mould x Pinot Palooza

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Moore Park
Mould x Pinot Palooza
Mould x Pinot Palooza
Photograph: PJ Pantelis
Sydney, get ready to "brie" delighted. Delicious cheese and wine fest Mould x Pinot Palooza is heading to the Hordern Pavilion in Moore Park from June 12-14 for one gloriously gouda weekend.  Bringing together two previously separate events: Mould (est. 2017) and Pinot Palooza (est. 2012) makes for the perfect pairing, don’t you think? Think more than 50 artisan Australian cheeses alongside over 50 types of vino from Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Expect cheeses from creamy bries to gloriously funky blues as well as tons of silky and spicy wines, all poured by the winemakers themselves. It’s your chance to chat tannins with the pros, discover a new cellar door, taste some oozy cheese and even stock up on artisan salami, local honey, crackers and preserves for your next charcuterie board.  Sydney will have four sessions across three days. Festival favourites Milawa Cheese return with their crowd-pleasing cheese wheels; Rub-a-Dub will have their bold and flavour-packed haloumi and spices; Ohkela Wine is all about low-intervention drops; and sustainable standouts from the Adelaide Hills, Vinteloper join heaps of other cheese and wine producers. Beyond the tastings, there'll be bars pouring wine, spirits, beer and cocktails, plus food producers slinging ready-to-eat bites and pantry heroes. There’s also a very handy "cheese check" counter, allowing you to keep your cheesy purchases cold instead of lugging them around the event.  Says event organiser Jess Audas, Head of...
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Banksy Limitless

  • Art
  • The Rocks
Banksy Limitless
Banksy Limitless
Photograph: Supplied
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....
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