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Saddle Club Saloon X Mary's
Photograph: Gregory Fonne | Saddle Club Saloon X Mary's
Photograph: Gregory Fonne

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.

Sculpture by the Sea, the world’s largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition, is back in Sydney, transforming the clifftop trail into a spectacular outdoor gallery of more than 100 sculptures. It's on until November 2 and the exhibition welcomes people of all accessibility levels, with free private tours for people with disability available. Come on down!

North Sydney is getting a country-western makeover this Thursday, as cult-favourite Inner West line-dancing club Saddle Club teams up with Mary’s for a honky-tonk saloon at VicX. Expect guided line dancing, burgers and chips, drinks and dessert, with tickets at $40 including food and a drink. Get your tickets here.

After stellar reviews and sold-out shows in Melbourne, global smash-hit musical Six the Musical is back in Sydney at Theatre Royal – with a fierce new line-up of ex-wives. As our reviewer puts it, if you’ve never seen 'Six' before, then this is your sign to book yourself a ticket today.

Head to the Art Gallery of NSW this week to see Nolan: Origins, a blockbuster retrospective celebrating one of Australia’s most iconic artists. With more than 150 works on show, including all 27 paintings from his legendary Ned Kelly series, it’s a must for art lovers. Plus, every Wednesday night, the AGNSW stays open late for Art After Hours, with free after-hours access to exhibitions, plus guided tours, drinks, dinner, films, talks and more.

Some of the world’s most extraordinary nature photography is on display in Sydney, from a sawfish and sea turtle encounter to dramatic wildlife and otherworldly landscapes. The 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition showcases the best images from more than 2,000 entries from around the world – it's on now at the Australian Museum, and it's free.

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.

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 Open

  • Things to do
  • Walks and tours
  • Sydney
Sydney Open
Sydney Open
Photograph: Supplied | Museums of History NSW
Sydney’s flagship architecture event is back for 2026, opening the doors to our city’s historically significant and architecturally inspiring spaces for one day only: Sunday, November 1. It’s the best day of the year for lovers of architecture, design, history, photography and storytelling to experience – plus those who simply enjoy a good stickybeak behind the scenes. Every year, thousands of ticketholders jump at the chance to explore these heritage spaces, skyhigh office towers, inspired hospo fit-outs, luxury hotels and civic buildings. Presented by Museums of History NSW, Sydney Open is a once-a-year opportunity to visit many spaces that are generally off-limits to the public, packed with opportunities to learn and hear stories from the architects, designers and people behind the scenes at these spaces, and take as many photos as you can.  This year’s program, ‘built for the curious’, so far includes City Recital Hall, City of Sydney Fire Station, The Mint, Prefecture 48, Clarence Place, Sydney Masonic Centre, Machine Hall, Hinchcliff House, Royal Automobile Club of Australia, and Kimpton Margot.  Plus, the second drop of buildings – which has just been announced – includes The Lands by Capella, Grace House, Deutsche Bank Place, Judge's House, Kimpton Margot, King + Kent, Machine Hall, The Press and many more. The day is designed so you can choose your own architectural adventures. Your ticket gives you an all-access pass, unlocking the doors to over 40 buildings and...
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Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi

  • Art
  • Sculpture and installations
  • Bondi
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi
Sculpture by the Sea, Bondi
Photograph: Charlotte Curd
Sculpture by the Sea, the world’s largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition, is back in Sydney until November 2 for its 30th anniversary. Founded by David Handley as a one-day event in 1997, it has since grown into a major cultural fixture, attracting more than 12 million visitors. “It was intended to be a gift to the people of Sydney and add to the sense of community,” says David. This year’s exhibition stretches for 2km along the coast from Bondi to Tamarama and features more than 100 works by artists from Australia and around the world, set against the backdrop of Sydney’s spectacular coastline. “It brings us joy, makes us laugh and makes us reflect,” says Allegra Spender, Federal Member for Wentworth. Keep an eye out for Surface Breach by Andre Braun, a striking white hand that appears to push its way out of the rugged rocks, as though something is reaching up from beneath the earth. Another personal favourite is The Guardians by Ulan and Rachel, a sculptural tree with long, dangling roots that catch the sunlight and create an almost otherworldly silhouette. Then there’s Judy Witherdin’s Phatyma, a riot of multicoloured mosaic that brings a vivid splash of colour to the coastal landscape. While many works spark joy and laughter, others invite us to stop, pause and reflect. Love by Stephanie Quirk is an aerial skywriting artwork created in response to the community following the tragic December 14 Bondi attack. Four times during the exhibition, the word ‘Love’ will be...
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Ghost Festival

  • Things to do
  • Fairs and festivals
  • The Rocks
Ghost Festival
Ghost Festival
Photograph: Supplied
When it comes to the spookiest time of year, Aussies have really ramped up their adoption of Halloween traditions, with costumes and trick-or-treating baskets at the ready. So it’s no wonder Sydney’s Ghost Festival is such a hit  – this year, the annual fest is taking over The Rocks from Thursday, October 29 to Sunday, November 1. Bringing a huge Halloween playground for Sydneysiders to make the most of, it’s cemented itself as the go-to fright-filled celebration for one (unofficial) long weekend. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure set-up for all kinds of Halloween heads, from thrillseekers to not-so-brave partygoers.  No matter what ghoulish activity tickles your fancy, you’ll have the chance to check out a bunch of cool things at this free-entry fest
 Hit up the outdoor Audible Ghost Cinema at Cadmans Cottage to catch some goosebump-raising movie screenings. With the likes of Smile, The Shining, Hocus Pocus and Monsters Inc. on the line-up, you’re in for a real scare – but make sure to keep an eye out on your surroundings, because the real terror might just creep up on you.  For those keen on the treats, you can sip your way through themed cocktails at CASA Murder Bar, a hidden vintage speakeasy tucked away in one of the city’s most haunted laneways in Foundation Park. There’ll be 12 exclusive creations brewing at the 1930’s-inspired spot, paired with live retro music. Ready to boogie? The Poliakov Vodka Main Stage and its accompanying Poliakov Vodka Haunted Woods at First...
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David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)

  • Art
  • Digital and interactive
  • Eveleigh
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)
Photograph: Jacquie Manning
The late, great David Hockney (July 9, 1937 – June 11, 2026) passed away earlier this year, but his art is very much alive. You might know the British artist for his sun-drenched Los Angeles swimming pools, including A Bigger Splash (1967), or Portrait of an Artist (Pool with Two Figures) (1972), which fetched a whopping $90.3 million at auction in 2018. Or, perhaps you’ve seen his portrait of pop star Harry Styles that he painted in just two days, or his vibrant digital landscapes that he created on an iPad. Or maybe you just dig the fact that Hockney wore yellow Crocs when he met King Charles.  Now, Sydneysiders can step right into Hockney’s colourful, endlessly curious world as his acclaimed immersive experience, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away), makes its Australian debut at Carriageworks. Running until January 24, 2027, this spectacular 360-degree production transforms the vast Bay 17 into a kaleidoscope of colour, movement, sound and light. Created by London’s Lightroom, the experience has captivated audiences from Seoul to Singapore since premiering in London in 2023. Bigger & Closer takes you inside Hockney’s artistic imagination, tracing six decades of creative experimentation. Narrated by Hockney himself and accompanied by an original score by composer Nico Muhly, it reveals the stories, ideas and happy accidents behind his extraordinary body of work. Journey through the San Gabriel Mountains, cruise along California’s Mulholland Drive...
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Chinatown Night Market

  • Shopping
  • Markets
  • Haymarket
Chinatown Night Market
Chinatown Night Market
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...

Six the Musical

  • Musicals
  • Sydney
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Six the Musical
Six the Musical
Photograph: Getty Images | James D. Morgan
You should know the premise by now – divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived all set to a fiery, feminist live band. Henry VIII’s six ex-wives reclaim their stories and their thrones in the worldwide sensation that is Six the Musical. This is the fourth time in (wouldn’t you know it) six years that the queens have graced Sydney stages, the second at the Theatre Royal. So has Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss’ Tony- and Grammy-nominated electrifying pop-concert hit lost some of its glam? The short answer is “No Way”. What is the plot of Six? What started as an Edinburgh Fringe hit went on to capture the hearts of the West End, Broadway, and beyond. At its core, Six retains those fringey roots in its tight 80-minute, one-set, one-act pop-concert musical in what is a song-cycle of the Tudor Queens turned Pop Princesses who remix five hundred years of history to win their crowns. Who had it the worst under Henry’s reign? Who deserves the most sympathy? And is it all about his-story or is it time for a bit of herstory? The beauty of Six is that it’s a star vehicle for female and gender diverse talents. Thankfully, the creative team have offered up six of the best to fangirl over, from young veterans of the stage through to mainstage debuts: Sarah Murr as Catherine of Aragon, Mia Paris Scalise as Anne Boleyn, Cara Bessey as Jane Seymour, Kadesa Honeyhill as Anna of Cleves, Angela Brischetto as Katherine Howard, and Lorinda May Merrypor as Catherine Parr. Alongside them...
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A Room with a View

  • Surry Hills
A Room with a View
A Room with a View
Photograph: Supplied | Belvoir St Theatre
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...
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Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Darlinghurst
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Photograph: © Georgina Steytler
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...
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Monty Python's Spamalot

  • Musicals
  • Darling Harbour
Monty Python's Spamalot
Monty Python's Spamalot
Eugene Hyland
Ever since Graham Chapman galloped across the silver screen as King Arthur (with the help of one trusty sidekick and an even trustier coconut) the world has loved Monty Python and the Holy Grail. In 2004, original Python Eric Idle turned the show into a glittering stage musical called Spamalot and the rest, as they say, is history. With three Tony Awards in its saddlebag and global fans made among lovers of classic Python and musical theatre alike, this particular production originated with a sell-out season this year at Planet Royale in Perth. Now, it's galloping into NSW for a limited Sydney season. This time it features the likes of legendary Aussie actor and comedian Stephen Curry (The Castle) as King Arthur and celebrated theatre star Marney MacQueen as the Lady of the Lake. You'll find its first stop at Pyrmont's Sydney Event Centre from October 15-18, before it gallops to Rooty Hill's Coliseum Theatre from October 22-25. Expect plenty of love for the all-time comedic chops of Monty Python and The Holy Grail, reinforced by squires packing coconut shells and sight gags, as well as big Broadway numbers and a bunch of (non-threatening) audience participation. On second thought... let's not go to Camelot... It's a silly place.  You can get tickets for Monty Python's Spamalot here for the Sydney Event Centre (Oct 15-18) and here for Rooty Hill's Coliseum Theatre (Oct 22-25).
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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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