Whether you’re hunting down festive Easter events across Sydney, checking out the new exhibition at the Australian Museum, or taking advantage of Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park’s biggest promotion of the year, there’s no shortage of ways to fill your long weekend.
This long weekend, Sydney comes alive from Thursday evening through to Monday, with a packed lineup of Easter-themed events taking over the city. Top of our list is the iconic Sydney Royal Easter Show, which will kick off on Thursday, bringing all things country to Sydney Showground. From wood chopping competitions and thrilling carnival rides to adorable dog shows, this unmissable annual event is always a staple in our Sydney Easter calendar.
The Phantom of the Opera continues its run on its iconic floating stage on the harbour, after opening last week to rave reviews from critics. It’s also your last chance to catch Bell Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar at the Sydney Opera House, which wraps up on April 5.
This Friday also marks the opening of the new immersive exhibition, Banksy Limitless, in The Rocks. Showcasing over 250 artworks, the globally acclaimed exhibition (fresh from a successful London debut) brings Banksy’s well-known imagery to audiences Down Under.
Continue for our curated list of Sydney’s biggest events, must-see shows and can’t-miss exhibitions happening this weekend.
Things to do in Sydney this weekend
Sydney Staples
1. 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.
2. 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 this Friday 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.
3. 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 for the whole month of April.
Price: Adult tickets start at $49.
4. Alliance Française French Film Festival
After the successful return of Tropfest, Sydney has once again proven its appetite for bold, unique cinema, making the arrival of the 37th Alliance Française French Film Festival all the more exciting. Last year, the festival had a record-breaking 199,000 admissions, reflecting the passion of French filmmakers and the cultural importance of the AFFFF.
You can also catch plenty of French cinema across Sydney during the festival, which includes Hayden Orpheum Picture Palace, Roseville Cinema, Palace Moore Park and United Cinemas Warriewood, all screening featured films.
Where: Taking place at cinemas across Sydney.
When: March 3- April 8.
Easter Highlights
5. Sydney Royal Easter Show
Australia’s largest and most exciting annual ticketed event for families, the Sydney Royal Easter Show, returns to Sydney Showground in Olympic Park from April 2 to April 13. Since its inception in 1823, the Sydney Royal Easter Show has served as a form of edutainment for people of all ages, highlighting the very best of NSW agriculture and primary industries.
The show is typically fashioned as a celebration of modern Australian culture, informed by rural traditions while also blending in elements of an amusement park and fair, interactive animal shows, and showcases for award-winning local produce. Plus, who could forget the iconic woodchopping competitions, huge variety of showbags, fireworks display and cow milking stations?!
Where: Sydney Showground, Grand Parade, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127.
When: April 2-April 13, 2026.
Price: Tickets start at $47 for adults, $29 for children.
6. 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 from April 2 to April 19. 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.
7. The Easter Egg Crack at The Grounds of Alexandria
Have you ever seen a one-tonne chocolate Easter Egg before? This is the norm at The Grounds of Alexandria, which hosts an annual “Easter Egg Crack Eggs-travaganza”, which sees Sydney’s largest chocolate egg smashed and shared by a huge team. The eggs-ceptional event will also feature a lively kids’ DJ, family-friendly entertainment and even a visit from the Easter Bunny. The Grounds of Alexandria is known for putting up spectacular displays, so don’t miss out on this exciting Easter event.
Where: The Grounds of Alexandria, 7a/2 Huntley St, Alexandria NSW 2015.
When: April 5, 5pm-8:30pm.
Price: Tickets from $15 plus booking fee.
8. The School (Holiday) Disco
Celebrate the start of the school holiday in style at this completely free, family-friendly event. Darling Harbour will host the ultimate day-to-evening disco, featuring K-Pop dance classes, DJ sets, live music and even an Easter Bunny appearance. There will also be a parents’ dance competition, allowing you to show off your moves and embarrass your kids. The event is free and unticketed: all you need are your dancing shoes and plenty of energy.
Where: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour.
When: April 4, 3pm-7pm.
Price: Free.
9. Easter Dog Show at Forrester’s
Popular Surry Hills bar Forrester’s brings back their annual Easter Dog Show this Saturday, with a lineup of activities, entertainment and quality time for guests to share with their furry friends. Perfect for dog parents (and dog lovers), the event kicks off with the pup parade at 2pm, where guests are encouraged to dress their pooches up in their cutest, funniest or most creative Easter outfits. There will also be a doggie Easter treat hunt in Phylli’s Garden, where pups can sniff out hidden goodies and toys.
Where: 336 Riley Street, Surry Hills.
When: April 4, 2pm-5pm.
Price: Free entry.
What’s on in Theatre?
10. Handa Opera 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.
11. LAST CHANCE: Julius Caesar at the Sydney Opera House
This contemporary staging of Julius Caesar marks Bell Shakespeare’s first production of 2026, featuring a seasoned ensemble cast, an innovative creative team and an intriguing setting of Eastern Europe in the 1990s. Playing at the iconic Sydney Opera House until April 5, this production is bound to stir feelings of awe and fear, as Brutus and Cassius hatch their conspiracy to put an end to Julius Caesar’s growing influence.
Artistic Director Peter Evans shared his excitement about the production, stating, “Shakespeare’s text delves into the art of persuasion and the results of political violence, looking at the dangers of political rhetoric and how it can inspire chaos and civil war. This play is always timely, and you can’t help but see reflections in political systems around the world today.”
Where: Bennelong Point, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: March 7- April 5, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets start at $59.
12. 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).
13. 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.
Art Exhibitions and Events
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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. You can check out our review of the incredible exhibition 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.
17. ສູ້ສູ້ Sou Sou by Mechelle Bounpraseuth
This new interactive exhibition will bring plenty of colour to the Art Gallery of NSW’s Naala Nura building, as Mechelle Bounpraseuth displays her hand-built, glossy ceramics. The exhibition will feature newly commissioned works and large-scale ceramic sculptures paying homage to the family dinner table, with a special emphasis on fruit, especially the rare kind from her Lao parents’ homeland. Its title, ສູ້ສູ້ Sou Sou, is a Lao phrase of encouragement meaning ‘you can do it!’ or ‘stay strong!’, in reference to the exhibition’s emphasis on the role of young people in the continuation of culture.
Where: Art Gallery of NSW, Naala Nura building, Lower Level 2.
When: March 14, 2026- February 2027.
Price: Free.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. 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.
Gigs and Concerts
22. Earth, Wind & Fire
Forget September, Earth, Wind & Fire will be performing in Sydney this Sunday, marking their first visit since 2012. The band, formed in 1969, is famous for its vibrant fusion of soul, funk, R&B, jazz and disco that delights people of all generations. This concert is guaranteed to get people moving, as they play funky dance hits like “September,” “Let’s Groove,” and “Boogie Wonderland”.
Where: TikTok Entertainment Centre, 2/14 Darling Dr, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: April 5.
Price: Tickets from $169.70.
23. The Pogues
Celtic punk rockers The Pogues are returning to Sydney 14 years after their last performance in Australia to celebrate the 40th anniversary of their classic 1985 record Rum Sodomy & The Lash. Founding band members James Fearnley, Jem Finer, and Spider Stacy will be joined by a variety of guest musicians, including the Bad Seeds’ Jim Sclavunos, and they’ll be playing the record in its entirety, plus B-sides, extended version tracks, and a special selection of their most iconic material.
Where: Sydney Opera House Concert Hall
When: April 5 and 6.
Price: Tickets from $119.90.
24. LAST CHANCE: Sunset Sessions at Cockatoo Island
Cockatoo Island will host its final Sunset Session this April, wrapping up a summer-long series that has brought live music to the Biloela Lawn every Saturday since January. Settle in on a picnic blanket and soak up laid-back performances as the sun dips behind the harbour, with sweeping views of the water and city skyline as your backdrop. Tickets cost $38 per person, with children 12 and under welcome for free with a paying adult. To get to the famous island, hop on the F3 and F8 public ferries from Circular Quay or Barangaroo.
Where: Cockatoo Island.
When: Saturdays from January 10 until April 4, 2026.
Price: Adult tickets: $38 per person.
