UPDATED: September 21
We’ve got a busy weekend ahead in Sydney, with plenty of food festival fun, big-budget musicals and more intimate Fringe festival shows. Here are our top picks.
Pop down to the Shire to check out CronullaFest, a spring foodie festival featuring over 50 food trucks and vendors, or head to Carriageworks for the annual Australian Native Food Festival, celebrating Indigenous ingredients with market stalls, live cooking demonstrations and more.
For those after a budget-friendly weekend, Sydney is not short on free exhibitions, including a major retrospective of iconic Australian photographer Max Dupain, the White Rabbit Gallery’s Black Myth and the striking Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition.
Read on for our full list of the best things to do in Sydney this weekend, spanning gigs, theatre, wellness, festivals and much more.
Things to do in Sydney this weekend
Our top picks
Sydney Fringe Festival
The Sydney Fringe Festival is so much more than a mix of theatre, visual arts, music and comedy. This open-format, relentlessly inclusive arts festival is an outsized celebration of creativity, expression and storytelling.
On our radar this weekend is Barnaby: A Country Musical, a sing-song comedy about the life of politician Barnaby Joyce (expect to hear his commentary on gay marriage, divorce and Johhy Depp’s dogs). There’s also plenty of pop-up comedy shows across the city, including a Best of the Fest round-up at Newtown Hotel, and 100% Dark Comedy at Erskineville Town Hall.
Where: Across the city.
When: September 1-30.
Price: Ticket prices vary by event.
Australian Native Food Festival
Curated by proud Weilwan woman, North West NSW local and Indigiearth founder Sharon Winsor, the Australian Native Food Festival is returning to Carriageworks for a celebration of native ingredients and Indigenous food culture. Expect vibrant market stalls, live cooking demonstrations and special appearances from some familiar faces, all showcasing the rich knowledge, traditions and culinary excellence of First Nations Australia.
Where: Carriageworks, 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
When: September 26-27.
Price: Free entry.
CronullaFest
South Sydney’s favourite spring community festival is back, returning to Cronulla for one night and two days. Taking over Cronulla Park and Cronulla Street, visitors can expect amusement rides, food trucks, market stalls, and family entertainment, kicking off on Friday at 5pm.
The festival will feature over 50 food trucks and vendors, from local favourites to festival classics, with flavours from across the world.
Where: Cronulla Park and Cronulla Street, NSW 2230.
When: September 25-27.
Price: Free entry.
Paper Daisy Spring Festival
Sydney’s biggest paper daisy display will take centre stage at the Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan this spring. The six-week celebration of flowers, family fun, live music and food will unfold against a spectacular sea of pink and white, created from approximately one million paper daisy seeds grown each year for the blooming display. Plenty of food and drink options will be available, from burgers and coffee to ice cream and gozleme, plus lawn games, free crafts, and even a bookable painting experience.
Where: Australian Botanic Garden Mount Annan, 362 Narellan Rd, Mount Annan NSW 2567.
When: September 4-October 11.
Price: Free.
Barangaroo You Wellness Month
Barangaroo is encouraging Sydneysiders to put themselves first this month with the return of Barangaroo You Wellness Month, bringing a program of free and low-cost movement, mindfulness and wellness experiences to the bustling, urban suburb.
The weekend program features Yoga on Country, offering free weekly yoga sessions on Stargazer Lawn, and Barangaroo Bootcamp, a free HYROX-style outdoor training session at Hickson Park every Saturday. For something a little more relaxing, Cedar & Salt is bringing a wood-fired, Nordic-inspired sauna and cold plunge experience to Barangaroo, with sessions starting from $30. You can check out the full program here.
Where: Locations across Barangaroo, including Barangaroo Reserve, Barangaroo South and Marrinawi Cove.
When: September 1-30.
Price: Prices range per event, with the majority being low-cost or free.
What’s on in Theatre
My Fair Lady
Opera Australia celebrates 70 years of My Fair Lady since its glorious Broadway debut this September. Catch the beloved story of Eliza Doolittle’s transformation from Cockney flower girl to society lady, featuring charming classics including ‘Wouldn’t It Be Loverly?’ and ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’.
Where: Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: September 10-October 31.
Price: Tickets from $89.
The Elevator
Sharp, funny and fearless new Australian comedy The Elevator will make its world premiere this week. This no-fluff office satire is a whirlwind of laughs and truth bombs as CEO Margot returns from mat leave, ready to face the fallout from her company’s PR nightmare.
Where: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli NSW 2061.
When: September 18-October 18.
Price: Tickets from $90.
The Lion King
The blockbuster musical The Lion King continues its run in 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: Until October 4, 2026.
Price: From $165.
Fiddler on the Roof
The beloved 1964 musical is running until October 3 at the Theatre Royal, following its sold-out season in London, where it set the record for the best-selling musical of all time at the Barbican Theatre and won three Olivier Awards, including Best Musical Revival.
The story is set in the tiny village of Anatevka in 1905, where milkman Tevye (Troy Sussman) lives his life by their proud traditions. For his five daughters, this means a visit from the matchmaker, played by Sigrid Thornton. As each daughter challenges his beliefs, against the backdrop of a changing world, Tevye struggles to embrace the unfamiliar as anti-semitic pressures increase in the region.
You can read our review of the show here.
Where: Theatre Royal, 108 King St, Sydney 2000.
When: Until October 3.
Price: Adult tickets from $89.
Art Exhibitions
Brett Whiteley: Coming Home
The Brett Whiteley Studio has officially reopened after two years of renovations. Located in the celebrated artist’s final home and studio in Surry Hills, the gallery offers an intimate and unfiltered encounter with the life and practice of Brett Whiteley.
The studio has reopened with a new exhibition, titled Brett Whiteley: Coming Home, showcasing ambitious works produced by the artist in the 1970s. Offering an array of 80 paintings, drawings, sculptures, ceramics, prints, photographs and sketchbooks, the works showcase the energy and variety of Whiteley’s practice following his return to Australia after a decade of living and working abroad.
Where: Brett Whiteley Studio, 2 Raper St, Surry Hills, NSW 2010.
When: Open Thursday to Sunday, 10am-4pm.
Price: Free entry.
Margaret Olley: Australian Intimiste
The National Art School is celebrating the legacy of one of its own, displaying more than 60 of Margaret Olley’s artworks. The exhibition is drawn from public and private collections of the beloved artist’s work from throughout her six-decade career since graduating from the NAS.
Also featured is a selection of works by her National Art School friends, teachers and peers, including Jean Bellette, Margaret Cilento, Douglas Dundas, Russell Drysdale, Frank Medworth, David Strachan and Tony Tuckson among
others. It also includes Sir William Dobell’s famous 1948 Archibald Prize-winning portrait of Olley.
Where: National Art School, 156 Forbes St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010
When: Until October 24, 2026
Price: Free
Avatar: Forms of Vishnu
This ambitious exhibition is the largest presentation of South and Southeast Asian art shown at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in over 20 years, and the first Australian exhibition devoted to the Hindu deity Vishnu. It brings together more than 200 works, both historical and contemporary, ranging from ancient sculptures, textiles, and paintings to photography and installation.
Some of the extraordinary works in the exhibition include a sixth-century Cambodian sculpture of a horse-headed avatar of Vishu, paintings from 1594 illustrating India’s great Ramayana and Mahabharata epics, and new pieces made especially for the exhibition, including a pair of large paintings by Desmond Lazaro.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Until October 5, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets from $35.
Definitive Dupain at State Library of NSW
This free exhibition at the beautiful 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.
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
The Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year exhibition offers a breathtaking glimpse into the natural world, capturing extraordinary moments from a critically endangered sawfish gliding among sea turtles to royal penguins stopped in their tracks by a colossal elephant seal.
The free annual exhibition celebrates the talents of professional, emerging and junior photographers, showcasing remarkable images captured across Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea. The exhibition is on display at the Australian Museum until February 14.
Where: Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Darlinghurst NSW 2010.
When: September 12-February 14.
Price: Free.
Black Myth
Sydney’s White Rabbit Gallery, which showcases one of the world’s most significant collections of Chinese contemporary art, is located on a hidden backstreet in Chippendale. The gallery presents two exhibitions each year, and its current exhibition, titled Black Myth, will show until November 8.
Black Myth draws inspiration from the viral Chinese video game, Black Myth: Wukong, which is a modern retelling of the legendary novel Journey to the West. An epic fantasy, teeming with spirits, demons, ghosts, mythical beasts, gods, and immortals, it follows the monk Tang Sanzang and his three unlikely disciples as they undertake a pilgrimage from China to India.
The best part? Entry to White Rabbit Art Gallery is completely free.
Where: White Rabbit Art Gallery, 30 Balfour St, Chippendale NSW 2008.
When: Until November 8, 2026.
Price: Free.
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 (one 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 celebrate cultural pride and survival instead.
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art, 140 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: Until October 19.
Price: Tickets from $28.
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 time for Sydney to get up close with the human body.
Where: 155 George St, The Rocks NSW 2000.
When: September 17-April 4.
Price: Tickets from $37.
Near at Hand: Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial 2026
Featuring 11 contemporary artists from across Australia, the Dobell Australian Drawing Biennial is the country’s leading exhibition dedicated to contemporary drawing.
Titled Near at Hand, the exhibition explores drawing as an intimate art form, showcasing personal mark-making, inner imaginings and up-close observations of the everyday. Artists make use of a range of materials, from pastel and pencil to watercolour, light and thread, showcasing the evolving possibilities of one of the world’s oldest art forms.
Where: Art Gallery of New South Wales, Naala Nura, Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: September 12-March 7.
Price: Free.
Where to Eat and Sip
Japan StrEAT Party
A four-day celebration of Japanese food, drink, culture and entertainment will sweep through Carriageworks this week, perfect for everyone from sushi and anime lovers to those who are simply curious to explore a different side of Japan. Peruse the stalls, enjoy live performances and take part in traditional and contemporary cultural experiences, which will be staged throughout the precinct.
Where: Carriageworks; 245 Wilson St, Eveleigh NSW 2015.
When: September 24-27.
Price: Free entry.
The White Horse Lunch Special
Surry Hills icon The White Horse has launched a new lunch menu that packs six dishes into an impressively good-value $55 feast. Available from Friday to Sunday between 12pm and 3pm, it’s the perfect excuse to round up your friends and settle in for a leisurely weekend lunch.
We tried the menu and still can’t stop thinking about the W.A. rock lobster stuffed pappardelle. Described as “somewhere between pasta and a dumpling”, the lobster is enclosed with the pasta, rather than tossed through it. It sits in a savoury, buttery miso broth made with brown fish stock, daikon, kombu and white soy, finished with lobster bisque foam and prawn oil. If that doesn’t make you book a table, I don’t know what will.
Where: 381 Crown St, Surry Hills NSW 2010.
When: Available from Friday to Sunday between 12pm and 3pm.
Price: $55 per person.
Check out The Heritage Room
A sleek new wine bar and private dining room has opened in Martin Place this week, bringing old-world elegance, rare Tuscan wines and plenty of Italian flair to the CBD. Just a stone’s throw from their first city venue, the opulent Rovollo, The Heritage Room is serving rare Tuscan wines alongside cured meats, cheeses and its signature short rib and fondue schiacciata, from lunch through to late.
Behind the bar is one of Australia’s top sommeliers (ex-LuMi, The International, Fratelli Paradiso), while a purpose-built private dining room offers a polished setting for corporate lunches, celebrations and group dining. Be among the first to experience this chic new addition to the city this weekend.
Where: 25 Martin Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday: 12 pm- midnight; Sunday- Monday: Closed.
Gigs and Concerts
Honky Tonk Fest
Bondi Diggers Club will host a full afternoon of live music, line dancing, DJs, cold drinks and a mechanical bull this Saturday. Overlooking Sydney’s most iconic beach, Honky Tonk Fest is the ultimate country day out, where cowboy boots are encouraged and hats expected. Who wouldn’t want to spend their Saturday celebrating country by the coast?
Where: Bondi Golf and Diggers Club, 5 Military Rd, North Bondi NSW 2026.
When: September 26, 2pm-9pm.
Price: Tickets from $25.
Macy Gray at Enmore Theatre
Soul queen Macy Gray is back Down Under for her largest ever tour of Australia and New Zealand. With over 25 million records sold worldwide, a Grammy Award, two BRIT Awards, and 10 studio albums spanning more than two decades, Macy Gray is one of the greatest R&B and soul artists of her generation. Don’t miss your chance to see the American singer bring their signature grooves to the Enmore Theatre.
Where: Enmore Theatre, 118-132 Enmore Rd, Newtown NSW 2042.
When: September 25, 8pm.
Price: Tickets from $89.
