It’s the final weekend of November, the forecast is sunshine, and Sydney is jam-packed full of events. Here are our top picks.
I can’t wait for my first outdoor cinema experience of the year, with Mov’In Bed Cinema up and running in Barangaroo this weekend. On Saturday, I’ll be heading to Liberty Hall for Sydney’s best day-to-night party, Summer Dance, which many see as the unofficial start of summer in the city. For my art fix, I’m keen to visit the MCA’s new exhibition, Data Dreams: Art and AI, a look into the impact of artificial intelligence on modern society. I’d also recommend a trip to Luna Park for Stranger Things fans, as Netflix brings Stranger Things: The Experience to Crystal Palace. There’s no better way to celebrate the release of the final season!
Read on to discover our full list of things to do in Sydney this weekend.
Sydney Staples
1. Mov’In Bed Cinema
What’s better than sinking into an outdoor bed with a drink in hand as the sun sets and the opening credits roll? Mov’In Bed Cinemas is back in Barangaroo, marking its ten-year milestone. They cement their difference among Sydney’s many outdoor cinemas by providing the option to book a cosy bed (pillows and all), so you can properly relax as you watch your chosen movie. This weekend, they’ll be showing the highly anticipated, brand-new movie Regretting You on Friday, Tron: Ares on Saturday and One Battle After Another on Sunday.
Where: Harbour Park, Barangaroo NSW 2021.
When: Launches Friday, November 28, 2025.
Price: Tickets range from $12 per person to $75 per person.
2. Summer Dance
Sydney’s signature day-to-night party is back this November, bringing world-class DJs plus local talent to the Liberty Hall Courts, one of the city’s funkiest venues. Fans of dance music can groove from 3pm to 3am, enjoy sets from a killer lineup featuring 1tbsp, 2touch, Bryson Hill, Club Angel, Crÿbaby and Ninajirachi. This popular event normally sells out, so grab your tickets here and get dancing this November.
Where: Day party at Liberty Hall Courts, After Dark at Liberty Hall.
When: November 29, 3pm-3am.
Price: From $59.90.
3. NSW Wine Cellar Door
Sip, savour and stock up at the NSW Wine Cellar Door event in The Rocks this weekend, and maybe even pick out a few bottles to pop open on Christmas Day. You’ll be able to taste wines from across NSW without leaving Sydney, with featured wineries including Lambs Valley Wine, PepperGreen Estate, Bonvilla Estate and Wollombi Wines. Visitors can choose to sample three wines per producer for $5, or enjoy wine by the glass from $10.
Where: The Rocks, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: November 29-30, open 10am-5pm.
Price: Free entry.
4. Stranger Things: The Experience at Luna Park
With the final season of Stranger Things landing on Netflix this Thursday, there’s no better way to gear up for the drop than Stranger Things: The Experience at Luna Park. In collaboration with Netflix, Luna Park transforms the Crystal Palace into an immersive Hawkins Lab, bringing the Upside Down to Sydney. Visitors are taken through six different rooms, facing challenges along the way to save Eleven. You’ll join forces with actors and other visitors, working in your designated team to stop the evil Dr Brenner and the terrifying demogorgons. Enjoy that signature Netflix magic, which shines through the intricate staging and jaw-dropping visual effects, perfectly paired with the nostalgic charm of Luna Park.
You can read our review of Stranger Things: The Experience here.
Where: Crystal Palace, Luna Park, Sydney. 1 Olympic Dr, Milsons Point NSW 2061
When: Sessions still available this Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Price: From $55.
5. Light Up the Cross Closing Party
Kings Cross (KX) Hotel is set to host the official closing party of Light Up the Cross this Saturday, celebrating the end of the month-long precinct activation, which saw more than 50 venues light up with street activations, creative collaborations and one-off experiences. From 6pm until late, locals, visitors and lovers of the Cross can join a full-venue takeover featuring DJs, roving entertainment and fun on the rooftop. To mark the occasion, KX hotel will offer a full bar selection, including cocktails, wine, spirits and, in true local fashion, $9 schooners all night. Attendees who register for a free ticket will also receive a complimentary drink on arrival between 6-7pm.
Where: 244-248 William St, Potts Point NSW 2011.
When: November 29, 6pm until late.
Price: You can register for a free ticket here.
6. Free Community Open Day in Darlinghurst
Darlinghurst’s Yirranma Place is throwing its doors open for a fun-filled community day this Saturday, celebrating food, care and community. Hospo legends will be rocking up, including Love, Tilly Devine, serving up Tilly Dogs on the building’s sunny rooftop, as well as Ciao Fabbrica’s tiramisu and scoops from Elato Gelato. The event will showcase the collective spirit of resident for-purpose organisations, including Two Good Co., Burraga Foundation, Equality Australia and Youth Action among others.
A festive highlight is Two Good Co.’s Christmas catering and build-your-own festival box stall, with everything from glazed ham and tiger prawns to antipasto platters, cheese and fruit-mince pies for you to curate your own spread with. All proceeds support Two Good Co.’s mission to employ, empower and inspire women rebuilding their lives through food. Start your Saturday on a positive note by supporting these incredible initiatives and social enterprises in Darlo.
Where: Yirranma Place, 262 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010.
When: Saturday, November 29, 10am-12pm.
Price: Entry is free, with registration available via Humanitix.
Where to eat and sip
7. $1 deals at Island Radio
To celebrate their first birthday, Wunderlich Lane’s Island Radio will be offering one hour of $1 upgrades between 5pm and 6pm every day this week. You can add on a chicken satay skewer and a mushroom spring roll to any dish for just $1 each, or add fried chicken to your Sinangag fried rice for $1. On the drinks side, you can get a wine upgrade, make your cocktail blue or grab a ‘snaquiri’ with any drinks order, also all for $1 each. Pop by the groovy Southeast Asian eatery this week and take advantage of these super cheap upgrades.
Where: Corner of Cleveland &, Baptist St, Redfern NSW 2016.
When: Every day this week, 5pm-6pm.
8. Toby’s Estate X Bailey’s pop-up
Toby’s Estate flagship café in Chippendale, crowned the best coffee in the world, is the perfect spot to visit this Thursday and Friday for their exciting adults-only pop-up with iconic cream liqueur, Baileys. The cocktail experience is called ‘Afternoon Flip’, inspired by the European ritual of an arvo espresso. They’ll feature Baileys-infused coffee cocktails, including a Baileys Matcha Coffee and a Baileys S’More. If you’re obsessed with coffee-based cocktails, this is the event for you.
Where: Toby’s Estate, 32-36 City Rd, Chippendale NSW 2008.
When: November 27 and 28, 4pm-7pm.
Price: Free entry.
Festive Fun
9. Martin Place Christmas Markets
The long-running Martin Place Christmas Markets will return to the heart of the CBD for four festive weeks this Thursday, featuring gourmet food, artisan shopping, fun-filled entertainment and, of course, the city’s iconic Christmas tree. There will be 56 stalls offering a variety of goods, meaning you can head there after work and get your Christmas shopping sorted. Enjoy live music, festive eats and an Instagrammable backdrop at the famous CBD market.
Where: Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Thursday, November 27 to Saturday, December 20, every day at 11am-9:30pm.
Price: Free entry.
10. Cronulla Christmas Market
The Cronulla Christmas Market returns to Don Lucas Reserve this November for two festive days of beachside fun. Located just steps away from the beach, the event will feature over 200 stalls, as well as live music and kids’ rides. One of the south’s most beloved Christmas events, it offers a spacious beachside setting and a huge variety of stalls, from handmade jewellery to gourmet bites, with the option to finish off your day with a dip in the ocean.
Where: Don Lucas Reserve, Cronulla.
When: November 29 and 30, 2025.
Price: Free entry.
11. Philippines Christmas ‘Pasko’ Festival
Tumbalong Park will host the biggest Filipino Christmas celebration in NSW this weekend, with two days of food and festivities. The fun-filled event is hosted by the Philippine Community Council of NSW (PCCNSW), bringing vibrant Filipino culture and traditions to the heart of Sydney. Expect continuous live entertainment, colourful parades, unique exhibitions, exciting games and more authentic Filipino food than you could ever imagine.
Where: 11 Harbour St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: November 29 & 30, 9am-8pm.
Price: Free.
Art Exhibitions and Galleries
12. Data Dreams: Art and AI at the MCA
The first of its kind in a major Australian Museum, the new exhibition at the MCA, Data Dreams: Art and AI, considers artificial intelligence and its impact on contemporary life through the work of 10 visionary artists. Presented as part of the Sydney International Art Series 2025-26, this Aussie premiere explores how AI is transforming the way we live, think and create, focusing on a range of concerns, including the relationship between technology and power, and how algorithms and datasets are influencing our worldviews and calling our perception of reality into question. Experience the immersive installations, AI-generated films, hallucinatory images and mind-expanding sculptures as you delve into the fascinating, but also frightening world of artificial intelligence.
Where: Galleries Level 3, MCA, 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: November 21, 2025 until April 27, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets are $35, Concession $28. Under 18s go free. You can buy your tickets here.
13. Ocean Photographer of the Year Exhibition
The premier exhibition of the Ocean Photographer of the Year opened at the Australian National Maritime Museum last week, showcasing a striking collection of winning and finalist images from over 15,000 global entries. Featuring 112 breathtaking images that celebrate our ocean’s beauty and spotlight the importance of marine conservation, the exhibition brings awareness to the climate crisis impacting our natural world. From tiny baby pufferfish to majestic humpback whales, the display aims to celebrate the brilliance and diversity of ocean life, with Sydney being the first city in the world to show the full collection of images on display.
Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray Street, Darling Harbour, NSW 2000.
When: From Thursday, November 6, 2025.
Price: Special exhibition tickets start at $25 per adult.
14. Ricky Swallow, Bent Forms
Who would’ve thought that what was missing from your shot of the Opera House was a giant bent stainless steel spoon? Ricky Swallow’s commission for the MCA’s Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace sees four huge spoons dotted across the lookout. They were created by Swallow from scaled-up wax prints of actual teaspoons, which he bent into various shapes. Head to the terrace and enjoy panoramic views of Sydney’s iconic harbour as you check out the wacky pieces of art by Swallow. If you loved Sculpture by the Sea, this exhibition is also worth a visit.
Where: Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace, MCA, 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: Showing until July 20, 2026.
Price: Admission from $20.
15. Dangerously Modern
This brand-new exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW celebrates the remarkable women artists who overcame social barriers to forge international careers beyond Australia. This exciting exhibition is the first to celebrate the vital role of Australian women in shaping international modernism, featuring iconic figures like Margaret Preston, Nora Heysen and Grace Cossington Smith, as well as the under-recognised Agnes Goodsir, Justine Kong Sing and Helen Stewart. The exhibition will show more than 200 works, expanding visitors’ understanding of modern art movements, including realism, impressionism, post-impressionism, cubism and abstraction.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: October 11- February 15, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets: $35, Youth: $18.
16. Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat
New Zealand-born, Sydney-based artist Mike Hewson is next in a long line of artists aching to take over The Art Gallery of NSW’s unique, subterranean Nelson Packer Tank space, turning the industrial bunker into a concrete jungle with a park, play space, construction site, and a communal area framed by sculptural works.
Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under The Mat opened last Saturday, and is the current talk of the art world. It marks the artist’s first solo presentation in an art museum, a platform to heighten his unique approach to what an all-ages playground looks like. Visitors are encouraged to meet, dwell, play, make, perform and explore while interacting with the park’s various features. You can even do a load of laundry or take a shower in the space!
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Sydney.
When: From October 4, 2025.
Price: Free.
What’s on in Theatre
17. Pretty Woman The Musical
One of the most loved rom-coms of all time is coming to the stage in Sydney this weekend. Based on the 1990 Hollywood film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, Pretty Woman: The Musical is written and directed by the same team who created the film: J.F. Lawton and Gerry Marshall. Bursting with glamour, charm and all the iconic moments you know and love, the musical hit will arrive at Theatre Royal Sydney this Sunday. ARIA-award winning pop star Samantha Jade will bring Vivian Ward to life, making her very exciting stage debut in the upcoming production. You can read our interview with her here.
When: From November 30, 2025 until January 4, 2026.
Where: Theatre Royal Sydney, 108 King St, Sydney NSW 2000.
Tickets: From $69 per person.
18. Romeo & Juliet
Bell Shakespeare, Australia’s national Shakespeare theatre company, is back at Sydney Opera House with Peter Evans’ critically acclaimed production of Romeo & Juliet. Madeline Li steps into the role of Juliet opposite Ryan Hodson’s Romeo, with the minimalist production already earning glowing reviews. Head to Sydney’s most iconic theatre space to catch this raw portrayal of Shakespeare’s greatest love story.
Where: The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Showing until Sunday, December 7, 2025.
Price: From $35.
19. Back to the Future: The Musical
When it opened in London, Back to the Future: The Musical quickly became a success story, scooping up the Best New Musical award at the Laurence Olivier and What’s On Stage awards. It also swiftly transferred to Broadway. Now, the musical is dazzling Sydneysiders at the Lyric Theatre, with breathtaking visuals and a real flying DeLorean.
The exciting cast lineup includes Tony Award-winning actor Roger Bart, who will reprise the role of Doc Brown, having impressed audiences in both the West End and Broadway. Starring opposite him as Marty McFly will be Axel Duffy, a rising star from Brisbane. You can read our review of the new production here.
Unfortunately, the show will close prematurely on January 25, 2026, and will not complete its tour of Australia as previously planned. Make sure to support the show and catch it at the Lyric this summer, before it packs up Down Under for good.
When: Friday, September 26, until Sunday, December 28, 2025.
Where: Sydney Lyric Theatre, 55 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009
Price: From $89.
20. The Book of Mormon
Regarded by many as one of the funniest (and most outrageous) musicals of all time, The Book of Mormon was written by the masterminds behind South Park, Trey Parker and Matt Stone. The musical tells the story of two young missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: “perfect” Elder Kevin Price and socially-awkward Elder Arnold Cunningham.
Kevin hopes his mission will take him to sunny Orlando, Florida, but instead, the mismatched pair are sent to a remote village in Uganda. The result is chaos, comedy and a lot of outrageous satire. We won’t spoil the show, but if you want to find out more, read our review here.
When: Showing until Sunday, January 25, 2026.
Where: Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell Street, Haymarket NSW 2000.
Tickets: From $69 per person.
READ MORE: The Book of Mormon is back in Sydney — here’s everything you need to know
