Sydney Open, the city’s biggest architecture and design event, is heading west this August, unlocking some of Parramatta’s most significant buildings and hidden spaces for one day only.
Since 1997, Sydney Open has welcomed more than 110,000 visitors inside some of the city’s most architecturally significant buildings, many of which are rarely open to the public.
The event, which is presented by Museums of History NSW, allows ticketholders to explore significant buildings that they’ve probably wandered past plenty of times, but have never ventured into. Now in its 22nd year, Sydney Open has welcomed more than 110,000 people to over 500 buildings and spaces.
While the usual Sydney Open returns in 2026, this August marks a first for the event as it heads west, bringing its program to Parramatta for the very first time.
Taking place on Saturday 29 August 2026, the inaugural event will celebrate the architecture, heritage and civic ambition of the suburb, featuring a diverse program of buildings and experiences across the CBD and surrounds.
But why Parramatta?
Annette Pitman, the CEO of Museums of History NSW, shared that the western Sydney suburb “has an extraordinary architectural story”.
She continued, “From deep histories and early colonial landmarks to bold civic and cultural spaces that speak to the future of Western Sydney. Parramatta Open is an opportunity to explore the city in new ways and celebrate the buildings, people and stories that make it so unique.”
Some of the buildings that will be available to tour include the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Government House, Australia’s oldest surviving public building; Parramatta Square, a major civic development that reshaped the city centre; and PHIVE, the award-winning landmark now widely known as Parramatta’s living room.
The other buildings featured in the program include:
- Brigid Shelly Building, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta
- Elizabeth Farm
- Hambledon Cottage
- Leigh Memorial Church
- Harrisford House
- NSW Lancer Barracks and Museum
- Parramatta Aquatic Centre
- Parramatta Female Factory
- Parramatta Town Hall
- St John’s Anglican Cathedral
- St Patrick’s Cathedral
- St Patrick’s Cemetery Mortuary Chapel
- Sydney West Trial Courts
- The Dairy and Rangers Cottages
Planning your day
With 16 buildings ready to be explored, but just one day to pack it all in, it’s important to head into Parramatta Open with a good game plan.
On the day, you can head to any of the participating buildings to pick up your wristband, which will give you entry to all the featured spaces.
When you collect your wristband, you’ll also receive a Parramatta Open map showing the location of every participating building, making it easy to plan your route between sites. A digital version of the map will also be available on the event website closer to the day.
The Parramatta Open is designed to be walkable, but you can also hop on the Parramatta Light Rail if your feet get tired.
You can also make a wishlist of buildings that you want to check out on the Parramatta Open website here, to help you narrow down your top picks.
You could be one of the first to go inside Powerhouse Parramatta
Sydney Open’s expansion to Parramatta comes at a fitting time, with the city recently completing construction on a new architectural landmark: Powerhouse Parramatta.
The $1.4 billion building enlisted more than 50 Australian designers to create everything from furniture and retail spaces to exhibition displays, making the building itself one of the country’s largest showcases of contemporary Australian design. It’s also the largest cultural infrastructure project in NSW since the Sydney Opera House.
While the museum is not yet open to the public and won’t form part of the official Sydney Open program, Museums of History NSW is offering a rare opportunity to be the first to explore the building, on an exclusive guided tour.
Buy your Parramatta Open tickets before 12pm on Friday, August 14, and you’ll receive one entry into the Powerhouse Parramatta Golden Ticket competition draw. The winner will receive one tour spot for every Parramatta Open ticket purchased in their order, but note that tour attendees must be 18 years or older.
Tickets are now on sale and cost $35 for adults, $30 for concession, $25 for students and are free with a ticket purchase for children under 16. You can get yours here.
