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...
Hello! Welcome to your weekly wrap of what’s on.
Get up close with the colourful world of David Hockney at Carriageworks, where giant projections, sound and light bring six decades of the British artist’s work to life. Narrated by Hockney himself, this immersive experience called Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) is a pretty spectacular way to get to know one of the art world’s great originals.
The Sydney International Women’s Jazz Festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary with a stellar line-up of Australian and international jazz artists across Sydney until October 31. Catch intimate gigs, boundary-pushing collaborations and world-class live performances before the festival wraps up for another year. Check out the line-up here.
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!
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.
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.
