Whether you’re chasing live music under the stars, discovering new art exhibitions or soaking up the city’s best food and community gathering, these Sydney events are worth pencilling into your diary right now.
Things to do in Sydney this weekend
Editor’s Picks
This weekend is all about music. Those who were lucky enough to snag Laneway Tickets will have their ears blessed by American pop icon Chappell Roan, right in the heart of Centennial Park. However, if a Laneway Ticket isn’t in your budget, I’d recommend a more chilled vibe to enjoy at sunset, like Cockatoo Island’s Sunset Sessions, or Watson Bay Hotel’s Watson Unplugged with Mitch Dormer. Ok, so you won’t be screaming along to the lyrics of Good Luck, Babe!, but at least you can still soak up Sydney’s sunset while enjoying some live music.
Other exciting events on my radar include the launch of the Twilight at Taronga summer concert series, a new exhibition LOVING at Qtopia Sydney, North Sydney’s street party spectacular and Bondi’s annual Latin Fiesta. There’s a lot to do, see, and enjoy, so read on to discover our full list of things to do in Sydney this weekend.
Sydney Staples
1. Laneway Festival
It’s Sydney’s favourite festival’s 21st birthday, and to celebrate, they’ve invited all your favourite popstars to put on a show at sunny Centennial Park. Chappell Roan will headline Laneway Festival 2026, joined by music royalty Wolf Alice, Role Model, PinkPantheress, Wet Leg and cult Swedish rap duo Yung Lean and bladee. Unfortunately, tickets have sold out; however, if you’re desperate to sing along to the lyrics of Good Luck, Babe! with a real-life Chappell, you can still try your luck on resale platforms like Ticketek Marketplace.
Where: Centennial Park, Sydney.
When: February 8, 11:30am-10:30pm.
Price: Tickets started at $229.90.
2. Twilight at Taronga Summer Concert Series
The world’s most beautiful zoo knows how to throw a great event, and the Twilight at Taronga concert series is no exception. Set against the zoo’s stunning harbour backdrop, this annual summer ritual brings world-class live music to Sydney’s shores for five back-to-back weekends, kicking off this Friday.
Catch Australian indie band The Paper Kites on the 6th, followed by psych-folk heroes Cloud Control and rock mavens The Preatures on the 7th. If you’re after a family-friendly performance, take your little ones along to Emma Memma for Lil’Twilight, a dedicated kids’ concert bringing the best in children’s music to Taronga.
Where: Taronga Zoo, Bradleys Head Rd, Mosman NSW 2088.
When: February 6 until March 7.
Price: Tickets start at $67.15.
3. North Sydney Streets: CBD ‘After Dark’
We’re not going to lie, North Sydney, and in particular, the Victoria Cross precinct, often feels like a ghost town over the weekend. As soon as it hits 5pm on Friday, most corporate workers will head to a buzzier part of town. The North Sydney Council is trying to change this, hosting the North Sydney Streets CBD ‘After Dark’ celebration this Friday.
From 4pm to 9pm, North Sydney staple restaurants will spill onto the street, offering alfresco dining, live music, games, surprises, and freebies. Key local businesses include The Firehouse Hotel, Rafi, Two Good, The Terrace and more. There’ll even be roving magic with Adam Mada, roving circus with Beeswax and Bottlecaps and a variety of live music and spinning DJs to keep the good vibes going.
Where: Brett Whiteley Place, North Sydney, NSW 2060.
When: February 6, 4pm-9pm.
Price: Free.
4. Bondi Latin Fiesta
Head to Bondi Pavilion this Sunday for a joyous, vibrant celebration of Latin arts and culture, featuring high-energy performers, arts and crafts workshops, live music, dance and delicious bites. Music from a variety of talented Latin acts is scheduled throughout the day, from DJ sets by Dante Rivera to a guitar-strumming duet by Mestre Jeronimo and his daughter Marina da Silva. Feel Free Dance will lead Latin dance workshops and performances, with Bellydance Bondi firing things up with high-energy salsa. The family-friendly event will also feature kids’ face painting and craft workshops with Waverley Library in the Bondi Pavilion courtyard.
Where: Queen Elizabeth Dr, Bondi Beach NSW 2026.
When: February 8, 12pm-7pm.
Price: Free.
Gigs and Concerts
5. OneRepublic at Qudos Bank Arena
Grammy-nominated pop-rock band OneRepublic will take to the stage at Qudos Bank Arena this weekend, kicking off a highly anticipated month of music. The American six-piece is composed of lead vocalist Ryan Tedder, guitarists Zach Filkins and Drew Brown, keyboard player Brian Willett, bassist and cellist Brent Kutzle, and drummer Eddie Fisher. They’ll be sure to perform hit songs like Apologize, Counting Stars, and I Ain’t Worried as well as some newer releases in their repertoire, including their track with Kygo, Chasing Paradise.
Where: Qudos Bank Arena, 19 Edwin Flack Ave, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127.
When: February 6 at 7:30pm.
Price: Tickets from $121.00.
6. Sunset Sessions at Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island returns with its popular Sunset Sessions, running from January through April and showcasing a lineup of talented musicians on its Biloela Lawn stage every Saturday. You can enjoy the low-key performances from the comfort of your picnic blanket as the sun sets over the picturesque Sydney Harbour. Tickets cost $38 per person, with children 12 and under welcome for free with a paying adult. To get to the famous island, simply hop on the F3 and F8 public ferries from Circular Quay or Barangaroo.
This weekend will see performances from RnB and neo-soul singer PA777IENCE and transcendental vocalist Lucienne.
Where: Cockatoo Island.
When: Saturdays from January 10 until April 4, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets: $38 per person.
7. Sunset Variations Summer Music Series
Sunset Variations is back at Sydney Observatory, a Friday night live music series that brings together some incredible local talent to soundtrack Sydney’s golden hour. Offering sweeping views across the harbour, guests can arrive at sunset and settle onto the Observatory Lawn to enjoy genre-defying performances as the sky turns orange. This weekend, e fishpool will bring her richly layered synths and electronic sampling to the highest natural point in Sydney. Enjoy Mediterranean-inspired food by Aplenty and drinks by Lo-Fi Wines as you enjoy stunning views and gentle sounds from your picnic blanket.
Where: Sydney Observatory, 1003 Upper Fort St, Millers Point NSW 2000.
When: Every Friday evening from January 30 to February 27.
Price: $10 per ticket.
Food and Drink
8. Check out the new Sydney Fish Market
The new Sydney Fish Market opened its doors at Blackwattle Bay on January 19, and now that the original hype around the building may have died down slightly, February is the perfect month to head over to get your dreamy seafood fix. All your favourite retailers have made the move from the old market, including Claudio’s, Christie’s Seafood, GetFish and Peter’s, but there’s also plenty of new options, from gelateria Cow & The Moon, pizzeria La Dea Pizza and waterfront restaurants including Touch_wood, Tam Jiak by Ho Jiak and Hamsi Taverne.
Read our guide to the new Sydney Fish Market, which includes the new retailers, prices and our top tips.
Where: 1 Bridge Rd, Glebe NSW 2037.
When: Opening hours Sunday-Thursday: 7am-10pm, Friday and Saturday: 7am-12am.
9. Sol Coffee Club Tiramisu Pop-Up
Sol Coffee Club is a community-driven social collective that sets itself apart in Sydney’s social scene by being proudly not a run club. They host free pop-up events that bring people together in relaxed, welcoming spaces, specialising in coffee catch-ups, café takeovers, art nights and live music sessions.
This Saturday, they’re doing something different, hosting a tiramisu pop-up at Pick Me Up Studio in Darlington. They’ll be serving classic tiramisu alongside freshly brewed coffees and matcha, the perfect lunchtime sweet treat to enjoy while meeting new people, chatting, and connecting. Although the event is free, it does require an RSVP, which can be done by clicking here.
Where: Pick Me Up Studio, 38 Lander St, Darlington.
When: February 7, 11am-1pm.
Price: Free entry.
Art Exhibitions and Galleries
10. LOVING at Qtopia Sydney
Qtopia, regarded as the home of queer history and culture in Sydney, is launching a new exhibition this week in association with the European Union Delegation to Australia. Titled LOVING, the display will showcase a photograph collection capturing intimate moments of Queer love between the 1850s and 1950s by American collectors and married couple, Hugh Nini and Neal Treadwell.
The landmark exhibition draws from the extraordinary private collection of more than 4000 images of men in love, found at flea markets, auction houses, family albums and online collections from across the globe over a period of more than two decades. Mark the beginning of Mardi Gras in a meaningful way with a visit to this groundbreaking exhibition.
Where: The Loading Dock Theatre, 301 Forbes St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010.
When: From February 5, 2026.
Price: Tickets to Qtopia cost $15, concession is $10.
11. Super Nature
This free exhibition marks the start of the Art Gallery of NSW’s exciting 2026 calendar, exploring four thematic spaces: the intersections between people and the environment, the role of gardens as memorials, the wild nature that lives alongside (and sometimes within) us, plus the cultivation of nature for survival and sustenance.
Exciting new acquisitions will be shown for the first time, including four colourful paintings by Butcher Cherel Janangoo that tell of the medicinal properties of bush foods and their cultural significance to Gooniyandi people. New and exciting digital media will also be displayed, including teamLab’s computer-generated interactive animations Flowers and people – gold 2025 (pictured above), where flowers slowly bud, blossom, grow, and decay on digital screens.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Nalla Nura building, Lower level 2.
When: February 7, 2026, February 2027.
Price: Free.
12. The Hooligans
White Rabbit Art Gallery in Chippendale is home to one of the world’s most significant collections of contemporary Chinese art. It recently reopened with a bold new exhibition, titled The Hooligans, which will run until May next year. The new exhibition has been introduced by the gallery as exploring the term “Hooligans”, with its summary stating, “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.
13. Encounter by Ron Mueck
Internationally celebrated artist Ron Mueck returns to Australia with a major new exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW. Encounter is the largest exhibition by the artist ever to be presented in Australia, and comprises sculptures drawn from across the globe. If Mueck’s recent exhibition in Seoul is anything to go by, where 100,000 people visited in just 20 days, Encounter is set to draw huge numbers in Sydney. Of the 15 sculptures featured in the exhibition, nine are making their Australian debut, with one never-before-seen work, Havoc, commissioned especially for Sydney.
Mueck is known for his hyperrealistic sculptures, which range from minute to massive, conveying themes that explore our relationship with the world, including birth, death, alienation and togetherness. We had a first look at the exhibition last week, and you can check out our review of the incredible works here.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Naala Badu, Lower Level 2, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: December 6, 2025- April 12, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets: $35, Youth: $18.
14. 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.
15. 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 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.
16. Dangerously Modern
This exhibition at the Art Gallery of NSW celebrates the remarkable women artists who overcame social barriers to forge international careers beyond Australia. Dangerously Modern 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.
Dangerously Modern departs the Art Gallery of NSW on February 15, so be sure to catch it before it goes.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Running until February 15, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets: $35, Youth: $18.
17. 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.
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.
18. Bent Forms, Ricky Swallow
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.
What’s on in Theatre
19. Hänsel and Gretel
The Sydney Opera House is declaring this production of Hänsel and Gretel “an operatic feast” that is “grand, gripping and deliciously dark”. The whimsical production from acclaimed director Elijah Moshinsky is based on the original Grimms’ fairytale, packing in plenty of humour and heart to balance out its dark undertones. Perfect for people who are yet to see an opera, Hänsel and Gretel is a vibrant, surreal and enchanting production. You can read our review of the production here.
Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: January 27 to February 28, 2026.
Price: Tickets from $79.
20. Barbra: The Greatest Star
The Hayes Theatre in Potts Point is back with an exciting new tribute show, dedicated to the iconic Barbra Streisand. The show is a collaboration between powerhouse director and performer Brittanie Shipway and three other incredible vocalists, Tana Laga’aia, Laura Murphy and Stellar Perry, as well as a live three-piece band. Expect new perspectives on songs you love, a few surprises along the way and a show that celebrates Barbra Streisand’s legendary humour and ground-breaking impact on music and culture.
Where: Hayes Theatre, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point NSW 2011.
When: January 21- February 14, 2026.
Price: Tickets from $55.
21. Putting It Together
If you think a Stephen Sondheim revue is all clever lyrics, champagne wit and polished showbiz sophistication, Putting It Together will happily give you that, and then pull the rug out from under you. Now playing at the Foundry Theatre in Pyrmont, this glamorous cocktail-party musical revue is a dazzling celebration of Sondheim’s greatest work, brought to life by a cast that reads like a roll call of Australian stage royalty. Not convinced? Read our review of the show here for more on why you should see the show.
Where: 55 Pirrama Rd, Pyrmont NSW 2009.
When: 6 January-15 February 2026.
Price: Tickets from $69.90.
22. Madama Butterfly
Back by popular demand, this must-see production of Puccini’s famous opera features some of the world’s best singers as well as emerging Australian stars. Elaborate staging includes a real moat dotted with floating candles, Japanese paper screens and colourful costumes. The audience will be transported to Nagasaki, where they’ll follow the story of Cio-Cio San, a young woman who falls in love and marries Pinkerton, a US Navy lieutenant. In doing so, she gives up her family and life as she knows it, only to be brutally betrayed by Pinkerton, which leads to her ultimate demise.
Head to the iconic Sydney Opera House to witness a production that has earned its place as one of the most-loved and widely performed operas of all time.
Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Showing until March 25, 2026.
Price: From $79.
23. Gatsby at the Green Light
After the sell-out success of its premiere season, GATSBY at the Green Light will return for a sultry stint at the Sydney Opera House this weekend. Transforming the Studio into a 1920s-inspired club, the show revolves around cabaret, outlandish performances and all the glitz and glamour of the Roaring Twenties.
Despite being inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s iconic novel, the show doesn’t follow the storyline exactly; instead, it immerses audiences in the dazzling world of Gatsby’s legendary parties. Think debauchery, sensuality and opulence. The show will feature ARIA Award-nominated artist Odette, who will sing soulful tunes as performers spin, twirl and fly through the air. Canadian circus artist Spencer Craig, who specialises in aerial loop, will be hosting the show as charismatic yet mysterious Gatsby. Soaring by his side will be daring Caitlin Thomson-Moylan, who will play his eternal (but doomed) love Daisy.
Where: The Studio at Sydney Opera House.
When: From December 13, 2025, until March 28, 2026.
Price: From $59 plus booking fee.
