It’s the first official weekend of the Sydney Comedy Festival, The Lion King roars into the Capitol Theatre, and a blockbuster Sydney AFL Derby is set to fire up the city.
One of our favourite events returns this week as the Sydney Comedy Festival kicks off a huge five-week run of laughter across the city. You can check out our round-up of the best-value shows here.
It’s also time for the highly anticipated return of The Lion King at the Capitol Theatre, one of the world’s most beloved musicals, which will bring incredible stagecraft and a host of talented performers to Sydney this Saturday.
There’s also a packed lineup of unique events happening across the city: from ALT: GAMES in Parramatta to a high-energy Red Bull dance competition in Darling Harbour, plus a massive vintage clothing pop-up taking over Carriageworks.
Read on to discover the very best things to do in Sydney this weekend, or, if you’re planning ahead, dive into our top picks for April events and get the next few weeks sorted too.
Things to do in Sydney this weekend
Sydney Events
1. Sydney Comedy Festival
Get ready for five weeks of non-stop laughter as the 22nd annual Sydney Comedy Festival takes over the city with a host of international and emerging comedy legends. This year, Sydney Comedy Festival has been extended will be extended, running from April 13 to May 17, meaning there’s even more time to hit the town and check out some of the local, national and international talents that are guaranteed to make your belly ache with laughter.
Celebrate opening weekend and drop by Comedy Gala on the Green at Tumablong Park (tickets start at $49.90), or if you’re looking for a family-friendly event, pack a picnic blanket and head to Great Laugh in the Park, which costs just $15 for adults and $12 for children.
Where: Citywide.
When: April 13-May 17.
Price: Ticket prices vary, with some shows free.
2. ALT: GAMES Festival
ALT: GAMES returns to Sydney from 18–19 April as a major celebration of the gaming industry, bringing together international leaders and local talent for showcases, talks, and workshops. Huge industry leaders will drop by Parramatta, including Shuhei Yoshida, the former president of Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Australian video game writer Alanah Pearce.
The program spans ALT: Play, an all-ages expo of indie games from Australia and New Zealand; ALT: Ex, an experimental showcase created by emerging Western Sydney creatives through game jam sessions; ALT: Sessions, offering career insights and workshops; and ALT: Features, a series of talks from global industry leaders. The festival aims to spotlight the gaming industry, representing it as an important cultural and creative medium, while also bringing passionate players under one roof. You can find out more about the event here.
Where: Events at Parramatta Town Hall and PHIVE.
When: April 18 & 19.
Price: Tickets vary from free to $20
3. Asia Live 2026
Haymarket is often lit up with neon street signs and bursts of colour (especially around Dixon Street); however, Asia Live is taking this to a whole new level. Large-scale installations will illuminate the streets, inviting visitors on a stunning cultural journey through Asia through various displays. The Sanctuary of Asia will feature iconic cultural symbols such as the Japanese Maneki Neko lucky cat, Indonesia’s Barong, Korea’s Magpie on Tiger, Singapore’s Merlion, and many more. The Flowers of Asia will represent different regions of the continent through huge floral symbolism, creating the perfect Insta-worthy shot.
Plan the perfect evening out before or after you explore Asia Live with our guide to Chinatown here.
Where: Dixon Street, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: April 3-April 19.
Price: Free.
4. Second Life Markets
Second Life Markets return to Sydney on Sunday, April 19, with over 120 stalls taking over Carriageworks. As second-hand shopping continues to be a trend that everyone can get behind, these markets are not to be missed, arriving at the perfect time to upgrade your wardrobe as we approach winter. There will also be local DJs, a lineup of food trucks, drinks, and plenty of curated vintage finds to spend the day sifting through.
Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
When: April 19, 9:30am-4pm.
Price: Tickets from $6.
5. AFL Sydney Derby
This Friday, a huge AFL Sydney Derby will take place at Sydney Cricket Ground, as the Sydney Swans take on the Greater Western Giants in Round 6 of the 2026 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. With Sydney sitting on top of the AFL ladder, they’re tipped to take the points, but the Giants shouldn’t be written off. Whether you’re donning orange or red and white this Friday, head down to Moore Park and enjoy the very Aussie sport.
Where: 4 Driver Ave, Moore Park NSW 2021.
When: April 17, 7:50pm.
Price: Tickets from $62.
6. Red Bull Dance Your Style Qualifier Australia
Australia has a complicated relationship with dance competitions (thank you, RayGun), but this weekend is all about celebrating the best dancers in Sydney.
This Saturday, the Red Bull Dance Your Style Qualifier comes to Darling Harbour, taking place at the Pier St Underpass. The competition features one-on-one street battles with no judges or planned choreography. The best part? The audience is the judge. You can decide who takes the win. There are no rules on style either: you’ll see everything from hip hop and house to popping, locking, voguing, krump, and afro. Pop down to the free event and watch Sydney’s best show off their moves.
Where: Pier St Underpass, Darling Harbour, Sydney.
When: April 18 at 12pm.
Price: Free.
7. Schweppes All Aged Stakes Day
Schweppes All Aged Stakes Day marks the final chapter of the 2026 Sydney Autumn Racing Carnival, celebrating heritage, style and the end of a huge season. Dress up fancy and enjoy snacks from some of Sydney’s top street vendors, plus a huge selection of beverages to sip on as you cheer on your favourite jockey. There’s even a post-race concert featuring Daft Punk Discovery, a tribute to the iconic French electronic music duo.
Where: Alison Road, Randwick, NSW 2031.
When: April 18, 11am-6pm.
Price: Tickets from $34.
Where to eat and sip
8. Maybe Sammy Festival
Get ready to sip your way around the globe at the Maybe Sammy Festival this week, as 25 of the world’s best bars take over Sydney. Now in its fourth year, the festival boasts a powerhouse lineup, with international heavyweights like Tres Monos from Buenos Aires, Alquímico (Cartagena), Connaught Bar (London), Locale Firenze (Florence), and New York’s Sip & Guzzle all touching down. Each venue ranks among the 2025 World’s Best Bars, so expect nothing but the absolute best in your glass.
Where: Hosted at various bars across Sydney.
When: April 14-19.
Price: Most events are walk-in only and require a $26 token per person upon arrival, which can be redeemed for drinks.
9. Drink free daiquiris at Razz Room
Odd Culture (the hospo group behind Sydney institutions like Pleasure Club and Old Fitz Hotel) has opened another location in the heart of the CBD, and this underground bar is all about daiquiris and disco. Featuring two distinct spaces, an upper bar and a sunken dancefloor, the venue is perfect for both post-work drinks and having a boogie later on.
They’ll be shouting free daiquiris to the first 100 guests who visit across opening weekend, kicking off on Friday, so drop everything and head to York Street from 4pm to claim your cocktail.
Where: 18-20 York St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Opens Friday, April 17, at 4pm.
Price: Free daiquiris up for grabs.
What’s on in Theatre
10. The Lion King
In very exciting news for Sydney’s theatre fanatics, blockbuster musical The Lion King will return to the Harbour City this weekend. The original Australian production of The Lion King premiered at the Capitol Theatre in Sydney in October 2003, returning for a second run 10 years later in 2013, and now back again to the iconic venue 13 years later. The musical, which has won six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, will officially open on April 18 for a strictly limited (but highly anticipated) season. The cast will star Aphiwe Nyezi as Simba, Emily Nkomo as Nala, Nick Afoa as Mufasa and Buyi Zama as Rafiki.
Click here to find out more about the upcoming production.
Where: Capitol Theatre, 13 Campbell St, Haymarket NSW 2000.
When: April 18-August 9, 2026.
Price: From $165.
11. Anastasia
Anastasia has played to sold-out audiences on Broadway since its premiere in 2017, and has appeared across Europe, Latin America, Japan and North America. More than 15 major international awards later, it’s finally coming Down Under, set to transform the Lyric Theatre from April 7.
The story follows Anya, a resilient young woman on a journey to uncover the mystery of her past as she is pursued by an army officer determined to silence her. Centred on themes of romance, family and home, the production is based on the wildly popular animated film, which was released in 1997. 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 7- July 19.
Price: Tickets from $69.90.
12. Handa Opera The Phantom of the Opera
Handa Opera is celebrating two anniversaries this year. 2026 marks Opera Australia’s 70th season, and to celebrate, they’ll be putting on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s global phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera, 40 years after it debuted on the West End. Taking place at Fleet Steps at Mrs Macquarie’s Point, Handa Opera is one of the most anticipated theatre events in Sydney’s calendar, thanks to its stunning backdrop, one-of-a-kind customisable floating stage, and a spectacular fireworks display over Sydney Harbour that lights up the night sky during each performance. For more on the 2026 Handa Opera extravaganza, click here.
Where: Fleet Steps, Mrs Macquaries Point, Sydney.
When: March 27-May 3, 2026.
Price: From $108 plus $9.80 booking fee.
13. 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.
Directed by Damien Ryan and staged with live music, the production offers a deeply personal and emotionally charged plea for empathy and hope. Performances kick off on April 13 and will run until June 21.
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.
14. The River
Miranda Otto returns to the stage with Sydney Theatre Company in The River, a haunting and intimate drama by acclaimed playwright Jez Butterworth. Set in a remote cliffside cabin, the play follows a fisherman (Ewen Leslie) and a woman whose romantic weekend begins to unravel as unsettling truths emerge.
Directed by Margaret Thanos and co-starring Andrea Demetriades, the production blends poetry and mystery to explore love, intimacy, and human connection.
Where: Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: April 13-May 16.
Price: Tickets from $59.
15. Cluedo The Play
Cluedo, the iconic whodunnit that has long captivated audiences on the tabletop and on screen (including the 1985 film from Paramount Pictures), has now arrived on stage in Sydney. When six intriguing guests gather at Boddy Manor, secrets unravel, and murder is on the menu, with the audience invited to piece together the mystery. Packed with sharp wit, twists, and theatrical flair, Cluedo delivers a laugh-out-loud night of suspense that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Where: 108 King St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Playing until May 10.
Price: Tickets from $69.90.
16. My Brilliant Career
Playing at the Roslyn Packer Theatre from March 21 to May 3, My Brilliant Career offers a bold new take on Miles Franklin’s classic novel, featuring a live soundtrack that fuses pub rock, contemporary pop, and the spirited sounds of a bush band. One of Melbourne’s most in-demand tickets of 2024, this production will have its Sydney premiere in March, starring the talented Kala Gare as Sybylla Melvyn, the intelligent and ambitious young woman who refuses to conform to the idea that her greatest achievement should be finding a wealthy husband.
Where: 22 Hickson Rd, Walsh Bay NSW 2000.
When: March 21-May 3, 2026.
Price: From $85 per adult, Under 30s tickets for $55.
17. The Prom at Teatro at the Italian Forum
Broadway smash hit production The Prom has made its way to Leichhardt’s Teatro, a 300-seat, up-and-coming arts hub located in the Italian Forum. The Prom follows a group of four eccentric Broadway stars who are on the hunt for a new stage. When they hear of trouble brewing around a small-town prom, they decide to put a spotlight on the issue (as well as themselves) as they champion a student who wants to take her girlfriend to prom. When they clash with conservative parents, their mission evolves into a heartfelt effort that ultimately unites the community through love and acceptance.
You can read our review of The Prom here.
Where: Teatro at the Italian Forum, Norton St, Leichhardt NSW 2040.
When: Running until April 26, 2026.
Price: Tickets from $85 (plus booking fee).
Gigs and Concerts
18. Above & Beyond at Hordern Pavilion
Electronic music trio Above & Beyond return to Sydney this Friday, taking over Hordern Pavilion with their signature blend of euphoric melodies and driving beats. Back for their first Sydney show since 2022, the group will deliver a soaring set featuring fan favourites like “We’re All We Need” and “Sun & Moon”.
As part of their Bigger Than All Of Us tour, expect a night of emotionally charged anthems, immersive visuals, and the kind of collective energy that defines an Above & Beyond live experience.
Where: Hordern Pavilion, 1 Driver Ave, Moore Park NSW 2021.
When: April 17, doors open 7:30pm.
Price: Tickets from $132.50.
19. Everything Everything at Metro Theatre
British rockers Everything Everything are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their critically acclaimed album, ‘Get to Heaven’, with a big Aussie tour, stopping at Sydney’s Metro Theatre this Saturday. They’ll be joined by Hayden Thorpe from Wild Beasts, who will open the show at 8pm, before bringing their own unique sound and falsetto belts to the stage.
Where: Metro Theatre, G2/624 George St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: April 18, doors open 7pm.
Price: From $81.
Family-friendly Fun
20. Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires at Australian Museum
Looking for a bloody good time these school holidays? The Australian Museum has you covered, thanks to its globally acclaimed, award-winning new exhibition, dedicated entirely to bloodsuckers. Bloodsuckers: Nature’s Vampires is an immersive exhibition all about the bats, birds and mites that want to suck your blood. Featuring more than 100 objects, specimens, large-scale models, digital interactives and installations, Bloodsuckers will offer an experience where science, pop culture and curiosity converge.
While it might test the nerves of the more squeamish visitors, the exhibition’s true draw is how it brings wildlife lovers face-to-face with nature’s most sophisticated micro-predators, leaving them with a surprising new appreciation for the tiny but highly evolved creatures.
Where: Australian Museum, 1 William St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010.
When: Opens April 2, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets from $28, children’s (4-15 years old) tickets from $15.
21. Kids go free at Featherdale Wildlife Park
Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park’s biggest family promotion of the year is back, offering free entry for kids (aged 3-15) with every full-paying adult. It’s the perfect budget-friendly day out during the school holidays and the Easter long weekend, with over 2000 Australian native animals just waiting to be discovered. The incredible wildlife park invites you to explore its seven acres of Australian bushland, and maybe even join one of their intimate animal encounters, from snapping selfies with quokkas to feeding the little penguins.
Where: Featherdale Wildlife Park, 217 Kildare Rd, Doonside NSW 2767.
When: Kids go free all month long in April.
Price: Adult tickets start at $49.
22. Entertainment Quarter’s Sydney Family Easter Show
Not to be mistaken with the larger Sydney Royal Easter Show, the Ingenia Holiday Parks Family Easter Show takes place at the Entertainment Quarter until April 19, making it one of the longest-running Easter shows in Sydney. The show transforms the EQ into a vibrant Easter playground, offering live entertainment, showbags, rides, Easter egg hunts and hands-on activities for all ages.
The Ingenia Holiday Parks Family Easter Show is significantly cheaper than the Sydney Royal Easter Show, with tickets starting at $30 per adult and $15 per child (in comparison to $47 early bird adult passes to the Royal Easter Show and $29 tickets for children). If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly Easter Day out, which still includes all the usual Easter fun, this is a great, affordable option.
You can purchase your tickets to the event through the official link here.
Where: The Showring, Entertainment Quarter, Moore Park.
When: April 2-19.
Price: Tickets start at $30 per adult and $15 per child.
Art Exhibitions and Events
23. Biennale of Sydney 25th Anniversary
One of Australia’s leading contemporary art events, the Biennale of Sydney is back for a major milestone: its 25th anniversary. Renowned for providing a platform for bold ideas and boundary-pushing art, the Biennale is a celebration of creativity, showcasing innovative works from artists around the world. It is celebrated 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. This year, the Biennale will expand its reach across five major exhibition sites: 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, giving access to the exhibition to visitors all over Sydney.
You can read our official guide to the Biennale of Sydney here.
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.
24. 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. Described as “provocative and deeply relevant”, the exhibition encourages audiences to engage with Banky’s art and consider the questions that he poses to society. Running from the beginning of April until the end of March, this multi-sensory exhibition is not one to miss.
Where: 155 George St, The Rocks, 2000.
When: April 3- May 31.
Price: From $42 per person.
25. The Hooligans
White Rabbit Gallery is home to one of the world’s most significant collections of contemporary Chinese art. Its bold new exhibition, The Hooligans, runs until May, pushing boundaries with striking and unconventional works. The gallery introduced the concept as an exploration of the term “Hooligans,” explaining: “Rabble-rousers, riffraff, scoundrels, and criminals. Troublemakers, wanderers, deviants, misfits. They’ve gone by many names — but to the Chinese state, they were once known simply as The Hooligans.“
The Hooligans explores how Chinese artists learned to think beyond imposed boundaries in the face of relentless restrictions, using a variety of media to celebrate speaking up, daring to defy and refusing to cooperate. Exhibitions at White Rabbit Gallery are free to enter, so if you’re looking to peruse a gallery without breaking the bank, White Rabbit should be top of your list.
Where: White Rabbit Art Gallery, 30 Balfour Street, Chippendale, NSW 2000.
When: Friday, 19 December-May 17, 2026.
Price: Free entry.
26. Data Dreams: Art and AI
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.
Where: Galleries Level 3, MCA, 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: November 21, 2025- April 27, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets are $35, Concession $28. Under 18s go free. You can buy your tickets here.
27. Ocean Photographer of the Year Exhibition
The premier exhibition of the Ocean Photographer of the Year is currently on at the Australian National Maritime Museum, showcasing a striking collection of winning and finalist images from over 15,000 global entries. Featuring 112 breathtaking images that celebrate the beauty of our ocean and highlight the importance of marine conservation, the exhibition raises awareness about the climate crisis affecting 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: Running until May 3, 2026.
Price: Special exhibition tickets start at $25 per adult.
28. 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.
The Key’s Under The Mat is the current talk of the art world, marking Mike Hewson’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: Running until August 23, 2026.
Price: Free.
29. Event Horizon
Conceptual artist Michaela Gleave brings a transcendental display of works to Woolloomooloo’s Artspace with her first major solo Australian exhibition. Using light, sound, performance, and chromatic experiments, she explores the nature of reality and highlights questions of movement, time, and bodily experience. In physics, an ‘event horizon’ is the boundary around a black hole, marking a threshold beyond which information cannot return to an external observer.
Using energy fields and physical materials such as mist, sound waves, atmospheric conditions, glitter, recycled timber, and inflatable objects, Michaela invites visitors to heighten their awareness of their own process of perception and to explore new ways of seeing and feeling.
Where: Artspace, 43–51 Cowper Wharf Roadway, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011.
When: March 6-June 7.
Price: Free.
