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The Clocktower Bar at Shell House
Photograph: Supplied/Shell House | The Clocktower Bar at Shell House
Photograph: Supplied/Shell House

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.

It’s the last few weeks to catch The Lion King and Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of) – so if you’ve been umming and ahhing, take this as your sign to book the tickets. Looking for more? Check out the best shows on in Sydney this month here.

Enmore Road’s Firepop is turning into a one-night-only art gallery this Wednesday, showcasing Inner West painter and FOH team member Craig Kerrison’s work from 2020 to now. Expect paintings, Firepop bites and a welcome drink for $39-$45.

Free Monday night? Head to Newtown's Bar Planet and lap up $13 Martinis all night long. And you can suss out other Sydney happy hours here, too.

If you'd like to learn more about Chinese mythology, head to Chippendale's White Rabbit Gallery and see its new exhibition, Black Myth.

Love wine but not the snobbery? Newtown favourite Famelia has launched a fun new wine school with guided tastings designed to build your confidence. It’s happening every second Tuesday from July to October – find out more here.

Need a laugh? The Comedy Store in Moore Park has been Sydney’s go-to spot for belly laughs since 1981, with affordable shows every Thursday, Friday and Saturday night. Plus, check out the best shows to see in Sydney this month here.

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.

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.

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

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

Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival

  • Things to do
  • Auburn
  • Recommended
Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival
Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival
Photograph: Destination NSW
Looking to add a dose of hyper-Instagrammable delight to your outdoor activity schedule this winter? We’ve got you. The beloved Sydney Cherry Blossom Festival will return to Auburn Botanic Gardens this August, transforming the leafy oasis (home to the largest crop of cherry blossom trees in the whole Southern Hem) into a sea of pink blossom and Japanese-inspired entertainment for nine flower-fuelled days. Running from August 22-30, the annual festival celebrates the fleeting beauty of sakura season with more than 200 cherry blossom trees in full bloom, alongside Japanese food and family-friendly entertainment. Wander beneath the blossom canopy on the Cherry Blossom Trail (choose the full 30-minute stroll or a shorter express route), snap a few pics beneath the iconic Cherry Arbour and torii gate, then settle in for a day of workshops, performances and seriously good snacks.RELATED READ: These are the best public gardens you can visit in Sydney. Alongside the main drawcard (those pastel pink trees), this year's program includes a peaceful Zen Zone, guided shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) walks, daily origami workshops, Japanese tea ceremonies, cooking demonstrations, a high-energy ninja stunt show and appearances from gardening guru Costa Georgiadis and comedian Takashi Wakasugi. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, make a beeline for the Japanese Food Village – where you'll find everything from ramen, dumplings and curry to mochi, matcha treats, fluffy Japanese soufflé pancakes...

Festival of Dangerous Ideas

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • Sydney
  • Recommended
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Festival of Dangerous Ideas
Photograph: Supplied | Ken Leanfore
“An idea that is not dangerous is unworthy of being called an idea at all,” said that witty warrior of a wordsmith, Oscar Wilde. And given the tragedy of the inimitable Irish writer’s downfall, brought on by an unwise libel case that backfired spectacularly, few could have felt that withering wisdom more keenly. It’s fitting, then, that Sydney's Festival of Dangerous Ideas borrows the phrase for its sassy title. The celebration of system shaking bright minds returns to Sydney this August for its 13th iteration, with a newly-extended ten days of talks, films, art and excursions. Expect 115 sessions across 14 venues, including many of the city's most major cultural institutions, with the main festival weekend running all day on August 22-23 at Carriageworks. Presented by The Ethics Centre from August 20-30, expect a lineup that is *a lot*. The festival is all about celebrating those willing to bring down the house with the sort of stuff others fear to say, and what better guest than bestselling author Salman Rushdie, who returns to the festival for the first time in 12 years.  The rest of the program includes everything from a masterclass in punk from renowned actor and director John Cameron Mitchell to a visceral theatrical performance piece titled Exposure, that interrogates the body's relationship to systems of power. Alongside these, a total of 20 international speakers will explore the ideas influencing our current politics, culture, communities and identities.  If...
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National Science Week with Greater Sydney Parklands

  • Things to do
  • Pop-up locations
  • Centennial Park
National Science Week with Greater Sydney Parklands
National Science Week with Greater Sydney Parklands
Photograph: Supplied | Vinh Nguyen
Greater Sydney Parklands knows a thing or two about inspiring mini biologists, palaeontologists, physicists and geologists. Back by popular demand, Science in the Swamp returns to Centennial Park, and Science in the Scrub is popping back up in Western Sydney Parklands this August for National Science Week 2026.  Festivities kick off on Sunday, August 16 at Centennial Park for Science in the Swamp. UNSW is back this year (at both events), hosting the mega SciFest Village featuring slime-making, psychology experiments, astronomy and more. Little ones can chat to real-life scientists, take on challenges and engage in STEM activities. Everyone’s favourite dinosaur, Ginger (the life-sized Australovenator) and baby dinos, plus live creatures will be back at both events for some wild meet and greets. Carry the excitement over to Western Sydney Parklands on Sunday, August 23 for Science in the Scrub where you can explore marine science with the Australian National Maritime Museum Ocean Lab, witness the magic of liquid nitrogen in a live science show and investigate insects on the Bug Hunt Citizen Science Project. You can even set foot into the Indigenous Science Village where medicinal plants, bush tucker and seaweed harvesting offer a hands-on journey through culture and science. We haven’t even covered the tip of the iceberg with what’s on. Check out the full programs for Science in the Swamp and Science in the Scrub this National Science Week here. Both events run from from...
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The Garden

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Marrickville
The Garden
The Garden
Photograph: El Glanic
Beautiful things are blooming in Marrickville. Following the delightfully offbeat success of The Grocery Store – an exhibition of wonderfully inedible everyday goods – Voluptuary Ceramics is transforming its warehouse yet again, this time into an enchanting, otherworldly garden. Running until August 30, The Garden is an immersive exhibition featuring garden-inspired ceramics, sculptures, paintings, textiles and tactile objects by more than 50 Australian artists, designers and makers. Each artist has been busy as a proverbial bee in their own studio, cultivating creations of garden-themed artwork and now they'll come together to display and sell their wares. Think hand-felted wool creations of mushrooms and moss; detailed paintings of ferns, fungi and flowers; metal sculptures of butterflies and bees; and whimsical ceramic blooms. From bold and bright to intricate and delicate, The Garden invites you to wander and wonder at nature’s bounty – and perhaps take home a little piece of this wonderfully imagined world. The Garden is on at Voluptuary World, Marrickville from July 25 to August 30. Find out more via their Instagram page.  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. RECOMMENDED: The best markets in Sydney for farm-fresh produce or arts and crafts 25 fun (and delicious) things to do in Sydney for under $25  Have you had a bite at Eat Ozzo Marrickville yet?
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Unlock The Rocks

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • The Rocks
Unlock The Rocks
Unlock The Rocks
Photograph: Supplied | Como Italian
It may be tempting to hibernate inside this winter, but The Rocks is giving you every reason to rug up, head outside and savour the season. For the month of August, you can take part in a $25 cocktail and canapé trail available at not one, but 20 of The Rocks' finest bars and restaurants, catch some tempting happy hours, settle in for weekday lunch deals and check out the newest openings that have Sydney talking.  Here are just some of the deals and meals you have to add to your hitlist: $25 Cocktail and Canape Trail  Fortune of War: Salted Caramel Espresso Martini and caramelised popcorn Glenmore Hotel: Mini Martini and an oyster El Camino Cantina: Pocket Rocket Rita and taco MCA rooftop: Native Garibaldi and smoked trout Endeavour Tap Rooms: Spicy Mule and chicken wings  Happy hours  Mercantile Hotel: $11 pints Como Italian: three spritzes and light bites midweek from 4pm to 6pm The Garden: everything $7 everyday from 5pm to 6pm  Midweek lunch specials Luna Lu: $55 two-course express menu from Monday to Thursday, 12pm to 3pm The Orient and Mrs Jones: winter warmers specials – $19 chowder or $29 chicken pie  Hooked and Harvest: $10 seafood snack pack with a drink Izakaya Mitto: $15 express teriyaki chicken donburi  What’s new Grappa: focaccia and salumi with an Amante Spritz, $25 Cocktail and Canape Trail The Cut (from the crew behind Rockpool Bar & Grill): Pie and Pint experience The Tailor Room: Martini with olives or chips, $25 Cocktail and Canape Trail ...
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The Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium

  • Things to do
  • Darling Harbour
The Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
The Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience at Sea Life Sydney Aquarium
Photograph: Supplied | Kit Photography
Few things in life manage to bridge generational divides, and one of them is Animal Crossing. Whether you’re looking for activities these school holidays or feeling nostalgic for the hours spent catching fish on your Nintendo Switch, head to Darling Harbour from July 1 to August 23 to experience a dreamlike underwater world where your favourite virtual characters and the real marine world collide. Back by popular demand, the Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience returns with a fresh and even more immersive take, giving returning fans the perfect excuse to come back. Snap a pic with Isabelle, everyone's favourite secretary, or check out panels from Blathers about the aquarium’s real-world marine life. In between lessons, see if you can spot a washed-up Gulliver alongside giant cutouts of other island residents hiding around. You can also take part in a stamp rally inspired by the game. If you collect all the character stamps, you'll take home a postcard as a reward that’s worthy of a spot on the fridge.  Tickets start from $99 per family, with 30 per cent off until July 19. Plus, students save more than 50 per cent, with $24 tickets available weekdays anytime (outside school holidays) or every day after 3pm. The Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience at Sea Life runs for a limited time from July 1 to August 23, 2026. To learn more and get tickets, visit the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium website. To celebrate the return of The Animal Crossing: New Horizons experience, we're...
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Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)

  • Musicals
  • Sydney
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
Pride and Prejudice* (*sort of)
Photograph: Prudence Upton
Isobel McArthur’s Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of) strips away the intellectual exclusivity of Jane Austen’s classic, not only making it accessible to a wide variety of audiences, but also making clear the sort of tools that Austen herself was using in her original novel: gender, satire, romance, and – most of all – comedy. There’s no Colin Firth here – but there are plenty of karaoke songs to hum along to. What is the premise of Pride & Prejudice* (*sort of)? Told by the servants who work tirelessly behind the main characters within Austen’s work, we’re given a slapstick comedy version of Pride and Prejudice. Dressed in white gowns with Doc Martens poking out underneath, the five-strong cast clean their way through the audience with yellow rubber gloves and individualised accents from across Great Britain. The fourth wall is destroyed immediately – they want you to be a part of the story. After a rather disturbing entrance involving a plunger and a rather messy toilet, Elvis Costello’s ‘Everyday I Write the Book’ launches us into literary territory and the premise is set up. Though you may only know the main characters of Pride and Prejudice, there were unsung heroes helping to push the Bennet sisters along their journey towards love and stability. Now, it’s their turn to tell a version of the events, with a song or two along the way – it’s best not to reason about the artistic merits or reasoning behind this addition, just go with it. Perhaps the jumbled selection of songs...
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The Little Food Market

  • Things to do
  • Food and drink
  • Eveleigh
The Little Food Market
The Little Food Market
Photograph: Blake Walshe
If your idea of heaven is discovering a chilli oil you can’t live without, tasting a seriously funky blue cheese or finding a new favourite small-batch gin, The Little Food Market is calling your name. Making its Sydney debut at Carriageworks from August 21–23, this foodie fiesta brings together more than 180 of Australia’s best artisan food and drink producers. Expect everything from black garlic, and premium olive oils to pantry staples, handcrafted pastries, award-winning smallgoods and good-for-your-gut fermented foods. There’s plenty for gluten-free, plant-based and non-alcoholic options, too. The Feasting area is serving up dishes from some of Sydney’s most exciting kitchens. Tuck into crispy pumpkin fritti with hot honey and manchego (Attenzione Food & Wine); Constantinople-style pita souvlaki (Olympic Meats); Japanese ochazuke, bento boxes and yuzu cheesecake (Tento); woodfired pizza (Lucio Pizzeria); and Japanese onigiri (Mogu Mogu). Then there’s The Stage, hosted by Tawnya Bahr and Lucy Allon of Straight To The Source, where chefs, producers and food experts take over with free cooking demonstrations and tastings. Look out for pastry chef Christopher Thé (Hearthe) unveiling the latest iteration of his famous Strawberry Watermelon Cake – which you will get to sample later (yay!); chef George Calombaris championing Greek heritage and seasonal produce; writer Mike Bennie focusing on small batch wines; and Pepe Saya’s Melissa Altman and Pierre Issa who first...
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Parramatta Open

  • Things to do
  • Educational venues
  • Parramatta
Parramatta Open
Parramatta Open
Photograph: Supplied | Parramatta Open
This year, Sydney Open is heading west, offering access to 16 buildings and spaces across Parramatta. Go behind the scenes and explore new places usually off-limits to the public, until now. On Saturday, August 29, you can see if reality lives up to the hype as Parramatta opens the doors to some of its most interesting and hidden spots. For one day only, step inside Australia’s oldest surviving public building and UNESCO World Heritage site, Old Government House, or see adaptive reuse in action at the newly upgraded Parramatta Town Hall. You’ll also get to go behind the scenes of the Sydney West Trial Courts and explore the award-winning civic hub, PHIVE. If you love a good backstory, experts will be giving the inside scoop on everything from architectural insights to the colonial-era secrets of Sydney’s second European settlement after Sydney Cove. Presented by Museums of History NSW, MHNSW members get a 20 per cent discount and exclusive entry to a special members-only building, Harrisford House. Whether you’re a design lover or a history buff, this is your opportunity to discover the architecture, heritage and newest additions to Western Sydney’s beating heart, giving you the chance to see Parramatta in a whole new light. Plus, purchase your tickets before midday, August 14 for a chance to win a spot on an exclusive preview tour of the new Powerhouse Parramatta – one of the world’s most significant new museum projects, set to open in late 2026. Stay tuned: the winners...
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The Reset by Oura

  • Sport and fitness
  • The Rocks
The Reset by Oura
The Reset by Oura
Photograph: Supplied | Oura
It’s the secret every good runner knows: knowing how to rest properly takes your game to the next level. It’s a fact Oura Ring has down pat with its cutting-edge wellness tracking, and at this year’s Sydney Marathon, everyone is invited to get a moment of R&R amidst the electric race-day energy, whether you’re running, or cheering on.  The Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay is getting transformed into a tranquil recovery house: The Reset by Oura. Runners and supporters alike can pop in for a nervous system reset. All day, there will be sessions running every 20 minutes where you can settle in for an immersive live music and light journey in the recovery room that will have you walking out feeling like you’re floating on a cloud.  While you’re feeling all zen, you’ll also score a specially made AP Bakery croissant on the way out. If you’re loving the experience and the moment of peace, make sure you don’t miss the chance to try out the latest Oura Ring 5 on entry.  You can check out how the world’s smallest smart ring tracks more than 50 different health metrics, from sleep scores to the impact of recovery sessions, to create more space for wellbeing in your day-to-day in a super sleek and compact way.  Pop into The Reset by Oura on August 30 from 10am to 3.45pm at the OPT Arrivals Hall. Try your luck on the day in the drop-in queue or secure your spot by registering here.
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