Updated November 2
- Here’s everything you need to know about what’s happening around Sydney this weekend.
- From major events and exhibitions to live music, theatre, food and drink.
- Use our guide to plan your perfect weekend in the Harbour City.
Sydney is gearing up for a huge weekend, with an incredible line-up of events set to take over the city. From major cultural openings and affordable art fairs to free beer giveaways and big sports showdowns, there’s plenty to get out and explore.
IT’S FINALLY HERE! Western Sydney is getting ready to make history with the opening of the $915 million Powerhouse Parramatta, celebrating with a multi-week opening festival this month, which officially kicks off on Saturday.
There’s also plenty to get excited about on stage, with the Australian Ballet bringing the acclaimed Copland Dance Episodes to the Sydney Opera House for its Australian debut, and the hilarious Snowflake serving up some festive-season family drama at Ensemble Theatre.
And if you’re looking for an excuse to get out and about, you can catch a free beer at Felons Manly’s new brewery on Friday, or head to a free gig from the incredible Ben Lee at the Made in the Inner West festival on Saturday.
Read on to check out our top picks for the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.
Things to do this weekend
Our top picks
Powerhouse Parramatta Opening Festival
After four years in the making, the $915 million Powerhouse Parramatta is ready to open, marking New South Wales’ biggest cultural investment since the Sydney Opera House. To celebrate the milestone for Western Sydney, the museum will launch with a multi-week festival featuring 179 events, 65 per cent of which are completely free.
The jam-packed program includes talks with veteran NASA astronauts, rooftop parties and rides aboard steam trains and vintage buses between Parramatta and Riverstone stations and Powerhouse Parramatta.
Where: Powerhouse Parramatta, 34/47 Phillip St, Parramatta NSW 2150.
When: November 7-29.
Price: 65 per cent of the opening program is free.
Made in the Inner West Festival
A brand-new festival kicks off in Sydney’s Inner West this weekend, with celebrations across 13 of the city’s best breweries. Expect live music, food, markets, and pop-ups over 10 days of fun, plus collaborations between some of Sydney’s favourite brands and breweries.
On Saturday, Inner West local and musician Ben Lee will perform four gigs across four venues on the iconic Inner West Ale Trail. The free, one-day progressive music showcase will feature a handpicked lineup of Inner West artists, curated by Lee, with stops at Heaps Normal, Sauce and Mixtape before wrapping up at Young Henrys.
Where: 13 breweries across the Inner West.
When: November 6-15.
Price: Free.
Affordable Art Fair
The Affordable Art Fair returns to Carriageworks, presenting a showcase of contemporary work created by talented artists from all over Australia.
Over four days, the internationally celebrated fair will showcase an exciting line up of exhibitors exciting line up of exhibitors showcasing thousands of original works by emerging and established artists, all available to take home on the same day.
The best part? Every piece of art is priced between $100 and $1000, so if you’re keen to invest in some incredible work, but don’t want to break the bank, this is the place to go.
Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
When: November 6- November 9.
Price: Tickets from $24.46.
Grab a free beer at Felons Manly Brewery’s first pour
This Friday, Felons Manly will pour the first beer brewed at its new Manly Wharf brewery, marking the occasion with a community celebration. At 3pm, Manly MP James Griffin, Northern Beaches mayor Sue Heins and surfing champion Layne Beachley AO will pour the first beers brewed on site, starting with Felons’ award-winning Crisp Lager.
The celebrations will continue until 7pm, with Felons shouting the community a beer. It’s your chance to be among the first to try a freshly brewed Felons beer straight from its new state-of-the-art brewery.
Where: Manly Wharf, E Esplanade, Manly NSW 2095.
When: November 6, 3pm-7pm.
Price: Free.
Sporting events
Rugby League World Cup Semi-Final
Sydney will host an exciting Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) Semi-Final double-header on Sunday, as two men’s and two women’s teams battle for a coveted spot in the RLWC 2026 finals.
The games will take place at Allianz Stadium on Sunday, November 8, with tickets from $39 for adults and $109 for families. The competing teams battling it out for the win are Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Cook Islands, England, Samoa, Lebanon, Tonga, PNG and France.
Where: Allianz Stadium, 40/44 Driver Ave, Moore Park NSW 2021.
When: November 8, 2026.
Five Diamonds Ladies Day
The Sydney Everest Carnival gallops towards its grand finale at Rosehill Gardens this weekend with Five Diamonds Ladies Day. Running from midday into the evening, the event promises a full day of racing, food, drinks and trackside glamour.
Catch the namesake Group 3 Five Diamonds race for five-year-old horses, sip cocktails at pop-up bars and tuck into exceptional food, all while soaking up the fashion-forward looks on display.
Where: Rosehill Gardens, James Ruse Drive, Rosehill NSW 2142.
When: November 7.
Price: Tickets from $35.
What’s on in theatre
SIX the Musical
Six the Musical transforms Henry VIII’s six wives into pop icons, remixing 500 years of history into an electrifying 80-minute concert. A global hit from the West End to Broadway, this riotous celebration of the women wronged by the infamous king is fit for royalty.
You can read our review of SIX The Musical here.
Where: Theatre Royal, 108 King St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: October 9-December 20.
Price: Tickets start at $69.50.
Australian Ballet, Copland Dance Episodes
Described as “joyous modern ballet”, Copland Dance Episodes is set to take over the Sydney Opera House in an exhilarating celebration of colour, music and movement.
Created by Tony Award-winning choreographer and New York City Ballet resident choreographer Justin Peck, the production brings 30 dancers together in a dazzling display of precision and harmony. Making its exclusive Australian premiere, the ballet will also mark its first performances outside New York.
Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House,
When: November 6-21.
Price: Tickets from $91.
FUCCBOIS: LIVE IN CONCERT
Following acclaimed runs at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Adelaide Fringe, alongside performances at Edinburgh Fringe and London’s Soho Theatre, FUCCBOIS: LIVE IN CONCERT is making its way to Sydney.
Blending original music, comedy and high-energy choreography, this irreverent show serves up a dose of boyband nostalgia while taking aim at modern dating culture, masculinity and the messy world of situationships.
Where: Darling Quarter Theatre, Shop 3/1-25 Harbour St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: October 27-November 14.
Price: Tickets from $40.
Snowflake
Mike Bartlett’s Snowflake is bringing festive chaos to Kirribilli’s Ensemble Theatre, with an intimate, bittersweet and laugh-out-loud comedy about generational divides, family tensions and the political differences that can turn Christmas dinner into a battleground.
The promo tells us to “Expect awkward silences, uncomfortable truths, and more tension than a family game of Monopoly”, this laugh-out-loud show combines plenty of comedy with relatable family awkwardness, and is not one to miss in the build-up to festive season.
Where: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli NSW 2061.
When: October 30-November 21.
Price: Tickets start from $46.
Gigs and concerts
Daniel Caesar
Canadian singer-songwriter Daniel Caesar will fill Afterpay Arena with his soulful voice and heart-tugging lyrics as he brings his Son of Spergy tour to Sydney. Across two nights, he’ll treat fans to songs from his newest album (which debuted at number four on the Billboard 200), plus some of his older, iconic songs, like “Best Part” and “Always”.
Where: Afterpay Arena, 19 Edwin Flack Ave, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127.
When: November 6 and 5.
Price: Tickets from $203.80
Where to eat and sip
High Tea at Crown Sydney
This spring, Vista’Mare is giving the quintessential British high tea an Italian makeover. Set in Crown Sydney’s waterfront lobby, the experience comes courtesy of the two-hatted team behind a’Mare, with a menu that brings a taste of Italy to the afternoon ritual.
Expect savoury bites such as spanner crab maritozzo, prosciutto croquettes and King salmon vol-au-vents, before moving on to an indulgent line-up of sweets. Think Brontë pistachio bignè, Piedmont hazelnut Baci di Dama and Amalfi lemon tart, alongside warm scones served with whipped cream and seasonal jam.
Where: 1 Barangaroo Avenue, Barangaroo, NSW 2000.
When: Available Saturdays and Sundays from 11am-3:30pm.
Price: High tea: $79pp, Sparkling high tea: $99pp, Champagne high tea: $109pp.
SRG Hospitality’s The Spring Club
As we head into the end of the year, SRG Hospitality is launching the Spring Club, Taittinger Champagne at $99 a bottle and fresh oysters at $3 each, across nine venues: Riva, Ripples Rose Bay, Akti, Ripples Chowder Bay, Ripples Little Manly, Sails, Summer Salt, The James, and The Fenwick.
Where: Across nine of SRG Hospitality’s venues.
When: October 6-November 15.
Price: $99 bottles of Taittinger Champagne, $3 oysters.
Art exhibitions and events
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)
The 11-metre-high walls of the industrial Bay 17 at Carriageworks have been transformed into a colourful, magical, imaginative world of vibrant landscapes, brilliant blue swimming pools and glorious mountain ranges.
The exhibition is David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away), an immersive production years in the making. After drawing sell-out crowds around the world, it will make its Australian debut on October 22, allowing Sydneysiders to experience the world through Hockney’s eyes and celebrate his legacy.
You can find out more about the experience here.
Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson Street, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
When: October 22-January 24.
Price: Tickets from $39.90.
Nolan: Origins at Art Gallery of NSW
This October, the Art Gallery of NSW will showcase around 100 major works by leading 20th-century Australian artist, Sidney Nolan. Featuring his iconic 1946–47 series depicting bushranger Ned Kelly, the exhibition explores how Nolan shaped and questioned ideas of ‘Australia’ through his depictions of St Kilda, the Wimmera, K’gari, Central Australia and north-eastern Victoria.
You can find out more about the exhibition here.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Naala Nura Building, Lower Level 2.
When: October 3, 2026- February 7, 2027.
Price: Tickets from $35.
Robyn Kahukiwa: My Ancestors Are Always With Me
A new exhibition celebrating the work of Sydney-born Māori painter Robyn Kahukiwa opens at the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia this week, marking the first Australian exhibition dedicated to the artist following her recent passing.
The exhibition offers a timely opportunity to explore Kahukiwa’s bold, uncompromising work, which challenged representations of Māori identity, culture and political struggle, with a particular focus on the experiences and status of Māori women.
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: October 14, 2026-February 7, 2027.
Price: From $35; under-18s go free.
Brett Whiteley: Coming Home
The Brett Whiteley Studio in Surry Hills recently underwent a two-year renovation and has now opened to the public with an incredible new exhibition, titled Brett Whiteley: Coming Home.
Upstairs, Whiteley’s studio remains an intimate time capsule, a look into his workspace, his famous graffitied walls and his extensive collection of books and trinkets. Downstairs, the new opening exhibition brings together some of his most celebrated works, from the 1976 Self-portrait in the Studio to the monumental 16-metre-wide Alchemy.
Where: Brett Whiteley Studio, 2 Raper Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010.
When: Open Thursday to Sunday, 10am-4pm.
Price: Free.
Black Myth at White Rabbit Gallery
White Rabbit Gallery’s latest free exhibition, Black Myth, opened to the public on June 25, marking the gallery’s 33rd exhibition. The exhibition draws on the viral Chinese video game Black Myth: Wukong, which is a contemporary retelling of the classic novel Journey to the West.
The Assistant Curator at White Rabbit Gallery, Meng-Yu, tells us that the exhibition “poses the question: what role does myth still play in an age driven by technology and rapid urban development?”
Where: White Rabbit Gallery, 30 Balfour St, Chippendale NSW 2008.
When: June 25-November 15, Wednesday to Sunday, 10am-5pm.
Price: Free.
Body Worlds: The Anatomy of Happiness
Want to discover the fascinating facts behind the human body? This globally acclaimed exhibition explores how the body works, bringing real specimens and interactive displays to Sydney for an educational experience that’s as fascinating as it is fun.
Seen in more than 175 cities by over 58 million visitors, it’s finally Sydney’s turn to get up close with the human body at Body World: The Anatomy of Happiness.
Where: 155 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: September 17-April 4.
Price: Tickets from $37.
Definitive Dupain at State Library of NSW
This exhibition at the State Library of NSW is the first major retrospective of Australia’s most famous photographer, Max Dupain. Drawing from his complete body of work, visitors can discover 200 images and original prints on display, from his most iconic photographs (including Sunbaker) through to unseen works and experimental gems.
The images will be shown alongside Dupain’s own words, offering a rare insight into the man behind the lens and his creative philosophy.
Where: Galleries, State Library, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: August 24, 2026-July 18, 2027.
Price: Free.
Mervyn Bishop: Close Up at State Library of NSW
Another one of Australia’s most important photographers, Mervyn Bishop: Close Up celebrates the historic moments and pivotal people he famously captured, while exploring the private influences that shaped his groundbreaking career as Australia’s first Aboriginal press photographer.
His body of work chronicles both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia, and has featured in dozens of incredible exhibitions over several decades.
Where: Exhibition Galleries, State Library, 1 Shakespeare Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: October 18, 2025-February 7, 2027.
Price: Free.
British Film Festival
The British Film Festival returns to Sydney cinemas this weekend, bringing a stellar line-up of dramas, documentaries, romantic comedies and more to the big screen.
Among the most talked-about titles on the festival circuit is romantic comedy Wicker, starring acclaimed British actress Olivia Colman alongside Alexander Skarsgård. Also on the program is the visceral historical drama The Uprising, featuring Andrew Garfield, and Savage House, a darkly comic cautionary tale starring Richard E. Grant and Claire Foy.
You can check out the full program here.
Where: Palace Moore Park Cinema, Palace Central Cinema Sydney, Palace Norton Street Cinema.
When: October 28- November 29.
Price: Tickets start at $29 for adults.
