It’s a blockbuster weekend in Sydney, with two of the city’s biggest annual festivals drawing to a close and plenty of new events kicking off.
It’s your final chance to catch both Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Film Festival before they wrap up for another year, with the city’s streets, theatres and landmarks still teeming with light installations, live music, thought-provoking talks and acclaimed films from around the world. The Biennale of Sydney also comes to a close on Sunday, coinciding with the Makers and Shakers Market and making Rozelle one of the top Sydney suburbs to explore this weekend.
Sports fans can also get swept up in World Cup fever as Australia begins its campaign, with live sites and pubs across the city gearing up to screen the tournament. The Socceroos play their first game against Turkiye on Sunday, so get down to a fan zone or a local pub to cheer them on.
Food and wine lovers can spend the weekend grazing their way through Mould x Pinot Palooza, where artisan cheese, premium Pinot Noir and even the world’s “mouldiest” cheese will be on offer.
The city’s theatre scene is also in top form, with the official opening of the iconic rock musical Hair injecting a burst of peace, love and 1960s counterculture into the weekend. Meanwhile, audience favourites The Lion King and Anastasia, along with Bell Shakespeare’s sharp new satire Mackenzie, continue their successful Sydney seasons.
Whether you’re looking for cinema, sport, food, music or culture, here are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.
Things to do in Sydney this weekend
Our top picks
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup may be taking place on the other side of the world, but soccer fans will be able to catch all the action around Sydney, with the NSW government set to announce live sites across the city. Follow the Socceroos as they chase glory in North America at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, where all of three of their group stage games will be screened.
Local pubs throughout Sydney will also be screening all the action. Australia’s first game is against Turkiye this Sunday, with venues like the Sackville Hotel, Cheers Bar, The Erko and Coogee Bay Hotel gearing up to show the big weekend of sport.
Where: Tumbalong Park and throughout the city.
When: FIFA World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19. The Socceroos will play at 2pm, Sunday June 14.
Price: Free.
LAST CHANCE: Sydney Film Festival
The 73rd Sydney Film Festival lands with 248 films from 81 countries across 12 days, which is a lot to get your head around! It opens at the State Theatre on June 3 and runs across the city until this Sunday. You can check out our official guide and round-up here.
The Cannes contingent is strong this year, with 19 films coming from that festival. And then there’s the new strand Sartorial: Fashion on Film, featuring seven films on the fashion-cinema relationship, including Marc by Sofia, Sofia Coppola’s first doco on Marc Jacobs. SFF ticket holders can unlock exclusive offers at venues including PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Adobe Bistro Bar, Gildas and Midden, making this the final week to take advantage of these special deals.
Where: Across the city.
When: June 3-14.
Price: Tickets start at $27.50.
LAST CHANCE: Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney 2026 is officially entering its final week, so now’s the time to make the most of it. Wander the spectacular Light Walk, stretching from Circular Quay to Walsh Bay, and be sure to stop by Vivid Fire Kitchen, which has found a new home this year at Barangaroo Reserve.
The Vivid Live music and ideas program at the Opera House continues, and some of the best have been saved until last, including Matt Corby and Gretta Ray at Tumbalong Nights, Porter Robinson at Carriageworks and Roxane Gay: In Conversation at City Recital Hall.
Where: Citywide but centred around Circular Quay, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour.
When: May 22-June 13.
Price: Varies, but over 80 per cent is free.
Mould X Pinot Palooza
Combining one of the world’s best pairings under one roof, Mould X Pinot Palooza will bring some of the world’s best cheeses and wines to Hordern Pavilion this weekend. MOULD will bring over 50 varieties of Australian artisan cheese to the table, while Pinot Palooza will match them with 50+ expressions of Pinot Noir from Australia, New Zealand and beyond.
Among the festival’s highlights is the world’s “mouldiest” cheese, which attendees will be able to taste for themselves, as well as giant cheese wheels, melting raclette and curated wine pours.
Where: Hordern Pavilion, 1 Driver Ave, Moore Park NSW 2021.
When: June 12 (5pm-9pm) and June 13 (11am-3pm and 4-8pm)
Price: Tickets from $59.
The Makers and Shakers Market
The Makers and Shakers Market celebrates its 10th birthday this June, with a huge winter weekend market set to take over White Bay Cruise Terminal in Rozelle. The curated indoor market will feature over 140 Australian-made stalls, bringing together some of the country’s best independent makers, designers, artists and food producers inside one of Sydney’s most unique harbourside venues.
The market also coincides with the final weekend of the Biennale of Sydney, with a free shuttle bus operating between the Power Station and the Terminal throughout the weekend, making it easy for visitors to experience both locations in a single day.
Where: White Bay Cruise Terminal, 2041 James Craig Road, Rozelle.
When: June 13 and 14, 10am-4pm.
Price: Entry: $6.
Theatre and performances
Hair
If you love all things ’60s (bell-bottoms, fringe, long hair and a free-spirited attitude), head to Theatre Royal this Saturday to see a Hair take to the stage.
Back for a strictly limited season, this iconic tribal rock musical brings the vibrant counterculture of New York’s hippie movement to life on stage. Exploring themes of identity, community, social change, and the pursuit of peace, Hair remains as powerful and relevant today as it was when it first captivated audiences.
Where: Theatre Royal, 108 King St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: June 6-July 12.
Price: Preview performance tickets start at $69.
Mackenzie
What if Macbeth wasn’t a Scottish king consumed by ambition, but a Disney Channel-style 13-year-old child star desperate to be famous? That’s the gloriously chaotic premise behind Mackenzie, the new play from acclaimed Australian playwright, Yve Blake, which premieres with Bell Shakespeare on June 11.
Described as a dark, camp and satirical reimagining of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Blake tells us that the production will transport the audience to the “golden era of Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.” Think Hannah Montana, High School Musical and Jojo Siwa colliding with one of Shakespeare’s bloodiest tragedies. You can check out our interview with Blake here.
Where: The Neilson Nutshell, 13A Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000.
When: June 6-July 18.
Price: Adult tickets from $94, Under 18/Under 35 A-reserve tickets from $45 for Tuesday-Thursday performances.
Sheltering by Bangarra Dance Company
For two weeks only, Australia’s leading First Nations dance company will present a program of three powerful works: Keeping Grounded, Brown Boys, and Sheoak, which honour the past while looking to the future.
Under artistic director Frances Rings, Sheltering draws together these three works, which reflect not only different eras of Bangarra’s 36-year legacy but also remind us of the spirit at the heart of Indigenous worldviews and the enduring connections between people, land, and spirit.
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House.
When: June 3 to 13.
Price: From $64.
The Lion King
In very exciting news for Sydney’s theatre fanatics, blockbuster musical The Lion King has returned to the Harbour City. The original Australian production of The Lion King premiered at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney in October 2003, returned for a second run in 2013, and is now back at the iconic venue 13 years later.
You can read our review of the stunning show here.
Where: Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket NSW 2000.
When: April 18-August 9, 2026.
Price: From $165.
Tootsie
Another Broadway musical to make its highly anticipated Australian premiere at Teatro at the Italian Forum is the feel-good Tootsie, described by The New York Post as “Broadway’s funniest new musical”.
Based on the 1982 film, Tootsie tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a brilliant but notoriously difficult actor whose bad reputation is preventing him from finding work in New York City. In an effort to fund his own play, he dresses in drag and adopts a female persona, Dorothy Michaels, to audition for a role in a Broadway musical.
The story then centres on the challenges of maintaining this charade while he falls in love with his co-star, Julie Nichols.
Where: 23 Norton St, Leichhardt NSW 2040.
When: May 26-June 21.
Price: Tickets start at $75.
Anastasia
Since its Broadway debut in 2017, Anastasia has captivated sold-out audiences and collected more than 15 major international awards, and it has now finally made its debut Down Under.
Rising star Georgina Hopson will lead the cast as Anya, alongside international stage sensation Robert Tripolino as Dmitry. Showbiz legend Rhonda Burchmore will take to the stage as Countess Lily, with Australian theatre royalty Nancye Hayes AM as the Dowager Empress.
Where: Sydney Lyric Theatre, Pyrmont.
When: April-July 19.
Price: Tickets from $69.90.
LAST CHANCE: 84 Charing Cross Road
Adapted from Helene Hanff’s beloved non-fiction book, 84 Charing Cross Road comes to life on stage at Ensemble Theatre for a limited season. The story follows a sharp-tongued New York writer and a reserved London bookseller who begin a correspondence over their shared love of rare books, only to discover an unexpected lifelong friendship.
Where: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli NSW 2061.
When: May 1-June 13.
Price: Adult tickets start at $95.
An Iliad
A weary, sharp-tongued poet (played by international star David Wenham) takes the stage at Wharf 1 Theatre to retell the story of the Trojan War, a tale he has carried across centuries of human conflict.
In Lisa Peterson and Denis O’Hare’s powerful adaptation of Homer’s epic, the ancient myth is reimagined as an intimate, urgent reflection on war, division, and humanity’s enduring cycles of violence.
Where: Wharf 1 Theatre, The Wharf, Wharf 4/5/15 Hickson Rd, Dawes Point NSW 2000.
When: April 13-June 21, 2026.
Price: Tickets from $79.
Art galleries and museums
Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir
One of Australia’s most exciting young Indigenous artists of today, Tony Albert’s new exhibition at the MCA brings together his work across sculpture, photography, installation, painting, and assemblage alongside major new commissions.
Tony Albert: Not a Souvenir introduces a new word to us (one that the artist himself coined): Aboriginalia. It refers to the mass-produced kitsch featuring stereotypical and often racist depictions of Aboriginal peoples. Albert (Girramay, Kuku Yalanji, Yidindji people) has been amassing a huge collection of these uncomfortable souvenirs since he was a child, and his new exhibition reclaims the kitsch to instead celebrate cultural pride and survival.
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: May 21-October 19.
Price: Tickets from $28.
Treasures of the Viking Age: The Galloway Hoard
Discover mysterious and unique Viking-age treasures at this fascinating exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum. This display offers a rare glimpse into the Galloway Hoard, a collection of Viking-age objects buried around AD 900. Containing over five kilograms of silver, gold and other materials, this exhibition explores who buried the hoard, their stories, the world of Viking-age Europe, and the cutting-edge conservation and research now revealing its secrets.
Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, 2 Murray St, Darling Hbr, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: May 28-October 11, 2026.
Price: Tickets from $35.
The Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes Exhibition
Presented by the Art Gallery of New South Wales, the Archibald Prize, Wynne Prize and Sulman Prize offer a vivid snapshot of contemporary Australian art and culture. The Archibald Prize, the country’s most prestigious portrait award, recognises outstanding depictions of notable figures from the worlds of music, journalism, media, stage and screen.
One of the country’s most anticipated exhibitions, this year’s annual showcase runs until August 16. You can explore the winning works and discover the stories behind the artists, subjects and portraits here.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Naala Nura building, lower level 2.
When: May 9-August 16.
Price: Adult tickets start at $30.
LAST CHANCE: Biennale of Sydney 25th Anniversary
Renowned for providing a platform for bold ideas and boundary-pushing art, the Biennale of Sydney is a celebration of creativity, showcasing innovative works from artists around the world. It is renowned for commissioning and presenting extraordinary works from Australia and across the globe, having showcased more than 2400 national and international artists from over 130 countries.
Its 25th edition is titled Rememory and is inspired by celebrated author Toni Morrison, exploring the intersection of memory and history as a means of revisiting, reconstructing, and reclaiming histories that have been erased or repressed.
Where: White Bay Power Station, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Chau Chak Wing Museum at the University of Sydney, Campbelltown Arts Centre, and Penrith Regional Gallery.
When: March 14-June 14, 2026.
Harry Potter: The Exhibition
The highly anticipated tour of Harry Potter: The Exhibition is currently showing at Paddington Pavilion in Sydney Olympic Park, and it’s an absolute must-see for all Potterheads.
Visitors can step behind the scenes of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts universes, exploring iconic moments, characters, settings and creatures alongside authentic props, original costumes and immersive galleries inspired by the films and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. This exhibition is definitely a must-visit for witches, wizards and devoted Muggles alike.
Where: Paddington Pavilion at Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127.
When: Opens May 14 until October 2026.
Price: Tickets start at $33.
Banksy Limitless
This immersive exhibition is making its way over from London after a successful debut, bringing the voice of one of the most influential figures in contemporary culture Down Under.
Banksy Limitless is an immersive art exhibition presenting a bold journey through the street-art icon’s ideas, imagery and legacy. Running from the beginning of April until the end of August, this multi-sensory exhibition is not one to miss.
Where: 155 George St, The Rocks, 2000.
When: April 3- August 30.
Price: From $42 per person.
Sistine Chapel Exhibition: Revelations
This exhibition will use monumental projections to recreate the interior of the Sistine Chapel in a purpose-built structure outside the landmark St Mary’s Cathedral.
Sistine Chapel Exhibition: Revelations is part of the growing trend of “immersive experiences”, using cutting-edge digital technology to project ultra-high resolution images of the world’s most recognised artworks to audiences, while the priceless pieces stay safely under lock and key.
Where: St Mary’s Cathedral forecourt, College St, Sydney
When: Until July 19, 2026
Price: From $50.
Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat
New Zealand-born, Sydney-based artist Mike Hewson has transformed 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.
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: Running until August 23, 2026.
Price: Free.
Gigs and concerts
Pseudo Echo
The “Funky Town” hitmakers bring their legendary sound and electrifying energy to The Factory Theatre. The tour is off the back of the release of their new album, Machine Remixes, featuring innovative reinterpretations of their classic hits from the 80s.
Where: Factory Theatre.
When: June 12, 2026.
Price: From $59.
Porter Robinson
Genre-defying electronic artist Porter Robinson will make his Carriageworks debut as part of Vivid Sydney Live this weekend, bringing his signature blend of euphoric dance music and deeply personal storytelling to the stage. He’ll be joined by Australian electronic heavyweight Golden Features, whose dark, cinematic sound has cemented him as one of the country’s most acclaimed producers and performers.
Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
When: June 13 at 5:30pm.
Price: From $99.
Where to eat and sip
$39 steak frites lunch special at 20 Chapel
Pop down to 20 Chapel in Marrickville on Friday, and you can secure a $39 steak frites, featuring a 250g Blackmore Wagyu eye of round steak, crispy fries and a choice of black pepper and curry leaf sauce or mushroom, onion and marsala sauce. Widely regarded as one of the best steak restaurants in Sydney, this deal offers the ideal, budget-friendly way to try their fire-cooked produce.
Where: 20 Chapel St, Marrickville NSW 2204.
When: Available every Friday, 12pm-3pm.
Price: $39 for steak frites.
Save up to 50% off at SRG venues
This June, Sydney Restaurant Group is rolling out up to 50% off dining across its portfolio of Sydney venues. Running for two months, the promotion will see restaurants including Ripples Chowder Bay, Ormeggio at The Spit and NOI Petersham offering discounted set menus, with many venues also welcoming diners to BYO.
From Balmain and Summer Hill to Manly and Cronulla, SRG runs some of the most iconic (and aesthetic) restaurants across the city. Venues including Ripples Little Manly, Summer Salt and Ormeggio at The Spit have become favourites for their waterfront settings, breezy coastal interiors and unmistakable European summer energy. You can find out more here.
Where: Available at select Sydney Restaurant Group venues.
When: Throughout June.
Price: Save up to 50% off with set menus at SRG.
