Public listings checked 25/10/2026. Dates use each event’s local time. Check organiser details before travelling.
Explore the region
Find things to do across Sydney, including inner-city neighbourhoods, beaches and destinations such as Parramatta and Penrith. The Blue Mountains, Central Coast and Wollongong are separate trips.
Listings across Balmain, Chatswood, Cronulla, Darling Harbour, Darlinghurst, Glebe, Liverpool, Marrickville, Paddington, Parramatta, Penrith, Surry Hills, Sydney, Sydney Olympic Park, The Rocks.
Free things to do
81 matching events listed in the next 60 days. Admission prices are shown where supplied.
Explore five decades of extraordinary photography by one of Australia's most important and influential photojournalists, Lorrie Graham.
Recently acquired by the State Library, Graham's complete photographic archive comprises more than 100,000 images and negatives created between 1975 and 2025. Together, they document her remarkable career and distinctive visual storytelling.
Curated by Graham herself, this major retrospective brings together significant events, remarkable people and everyday moments, alongside intimate interviews in which Graham shares personal reflections on her career and the stories behind her photographs.
In this milestone year, their dynamic program reflects on the evolution of this much-loved Library and its extraordinary collections — revealing stories that will surprise, delight and make you think!
See what two centuries of collecting looks like in the Amaze Gallery.
This major exhibition brings together some of the Library's most valuable and internationally significant objects alongside surprising, lesser-known gems. It reveals the breadth and interconnected nature of the collection, pairing items that speak to one another or deepen our understanding of familiar stories.
Find engaging and interactive digital experiences across the buildings, exploring the history of the Library, the collection, and the people who shaped it.
A self-curated digital timeline, in the galleries, features more than 250 stories, revealing passionate characters, bold architectural visions, remarkable collecting feats and even the occasional brazen crime.
New interpretations of key colonial works in the Paintings Galleries invite you to see familiar subjects through a fresh lens. Newly acquired works foreground First Nations voices, perspectives and experiences. View striking portraits of proud First Nations women Deborah Cheetham Fraillon AO and Dr Lynette Riley AO, alongside paintings by First Nations artists Fay Clayton Moseley and Robert Campbell Jr — presented in this space for the first time.
Definitive Dupain is the first major retrospective to explore the complete body of work of Max Dupain (1911–1992), Australia's most famous photographer. Presented alongside a major publication of the same name, the exhibition draws from the State Library of NSW's extraordinary archive of more than 250,000 commercial and personal negatives and prints to present the most comprehensive portrait yet of Dupain and his remarkable 60-year career.
Featuring almost 200 images and original prints personally selected by Dupain for magazine and book publishers, the exhibition reveals the extraordinary breadth of his work. From iconic images such as Sunbaker to studio portraiture, experimental photography, architecture, advertising, fashion, wartime work, nature and intimate personal photographs, Dupain's diverse and creative output helped shape Australia's visual identity in the mid- to late 20th century.
Developed over five years by curator Avryl Whitnall, the exhibition reveals previously unseen works and experimental gems she discovered in the archive.
Alongside the images — arranged chronologically — Dupain's words feature throughout the exhibition, offering a rare insight into the man behind the lens, his creative philosophy and the distinctive way he viewed his craft.
See nature in a whole new light in The 2026 Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year, a South Australian Museum exhibition. For over two decades, this beloved annual exhibition has celebrated the natural world around us, showcasing spectacular flora, fauna and landscapes found throughout Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea.
From the mysterious ocean floor to majestic mountain tops and fiery outback panoramas, this bioregion is home to wildlife and environments unlike any other. Be inspired by this amazing collection of 100 photographs that showcase the unique natural heritage of this region, stretching back more than 80 million years.
The incredible works on display provoke a deeper connection with the natural world, offering an intimate insight into the delicate diversity of the environment and a reckoning with the changing climate that threatens its irreplaceable beauty.
The 2026 judging panel consists of Jake Wilton, Mieke Boynton and Ross Gudgeon.
A rare glimpse behind the lens of one of Australia's most important photographers.
Mervyn Bishop is one of Australias most important photographers. His extraordinary archive of more than 200,000 images makes a landmark addition to the State Library of NSW's collection.
Mervyn Bishop: Close Up celebrates the historic moments and pivotal people he famously captured, while exploring the private influences that shaped his groundbreaking career.
This intimate exhibition offers a rare glimpse of the man behind the lens and honours the enduring legacy of Australia's first Aboriginal press photographer.
The Library would like to thank Mervyn Bishop and his family for trusting us with their stories.
Please be aware that this exhibition includes names and photographs of people who are now deceased.
Step into the whimsical world of beloved author and illustrator Pamela Allen at the State Library of NSW.
With timeless classics like Mr Archimedes' Bath, Mr McGee and Alexander's Outing, Pamela Allen has captured the hearts of readers for more than 40 years.
Her much-loved stories come to life in this playful, interactive exhibition for the whole family. Play in Mr McGee's tree, flip through giant pages of Bertie and the Bear, and make a splash with the animals from Who Sank the Boat? Pop on a favourite character's hat and discover cosy reading nooks and secret hidey-holes along the way.
Allen's deceptively simple stories — full of rhythm, repetition and irresistible illustrations — continue to delight readers young and old, with 31 of her titles still in print today. See how her distinctive visual style evolved through early character sketches, original watercolours, and rarely seen artworks from lesser-known books, drawn from her remarkable archive held in the Library's collection.
A journey through the landscapes and stories of iconic Australian artist Sidney Nolan.
Experience the astounding creativity and poetic power of Sidney Nolan's art in this in-depth survey of the artist's formative years in Australia. From indelible visions of the outlaw Ned Kelly to epic portrayals of Central Australia, Nolan redefined perceptions of place and nation in Australia's cultural imagination.
Including his famous series of paintings on bushranger Ned Kelly (1946–47), the exhibition brings together over 150 major works produced before Nolan relocated to the United Kingdom in 1953 – years in which he forged a reputation as one of this country's most distinctive modernist artists.
Nolan: Origins examines the artist's engagement with the places he painted as he evolved his singular, enigmatic visual language, including St Kilda, Wimmera, K'gari (also known as Fraser Island), Central Australia and the landscapes of Ned Kelly's story in north-eastern Victoria.
The exhibition also tells of how Nolan interrogated the idea of 'Australia', invoking a sense of place through myths, histories, people and creatures imbued with his own personal inner meanings.
Bundle with an Australian Art Stories Tour or lunch at Crafted by Matt Moran or MOD Dining for the most immersive experience at Art Gallery of New South Wales.
After almost 20 years, the Willoughby Art Prize returns in 2026 as the Willoughby Emerging Art Prize, celebrating the next generation of Australian artists and contemporary creative practice.
Originally established in 1983 and paused in 2007 during the construction of The Concourse, the prize marks a renewed commitment by Willoughby City Council to supporting emerging artists. The exhibition brings together a diverse selection of works across a range of disciplines, showcasing fresh perspectives, creative talent and the exciting practices shaping Australia's emerging art scene.
With a total prize pool of AUD15,000, generously supported by the Civic Place Trust, the prize includes AUD10,000 for First Prize and AUD5,000 for Second Prize. The 2026 prize is judged by artists and curators Consuelo Cavaniglia and Monica Rani Rudhar.
Come and discover the finalists, explore new artistic perspectives and celebrate the return of this much-loved Willoughby arts initiative.
This October, The Dry Dock will be celebrating spring and Champagne, with Lallier taking over the venue's by-the-glass and bottle pour for the month. With World Champagne Day occuring in October, it's a lovely opportunity to enjoy premium Champagne at a particularly accessible price.
Champagne is already a big part of the experience at The Dry Dock, with the month-long Lallier offer joining one of Sydney's most extensive pub wine lists, with more than 500 wines and 49 available by the glass.
Join them for their Grandparents' Day Harbour View Long Lunch on Sydney Harbour and show all the Grandparents and grandparent figures in your life just how much you appreciate everything they do.
With a 3-course à la carte lunch, a discounted Children's Menu for kids under 16 years, and up to three spectacular hours on Sydney Harbour, everyone will be captivated, sated and celebrated!
Departing from Darling Harbour King St Wharf one and Circular Quay Wharf six.
Get ready for the return of Pasifika Summer at Macquarie Mall!
Join them for an unforgettable journey to the Pacific Islands, featuring an exciting mainstage lineup with live music, traditional dances, fashion shows, and stunning fire-twirling performances. This year, we're also bringing a variety of activities, workshops, vibrant markets, and fantastic giveaways.
Don't miss out on this incredible celebration of Pasifika culture.
Sydney’s favourite outdoor Latin dance event returns, bringing together the city’s best Latin dance schools, top DJs, live music, and an incredible community!
Every Friday night, Palm Grove will become the destination for Sydney's Latin Dance lovers to unite and dance the night away as the sun goes down.
Free for everyone to enjoy, the DJ will spin those Latin beats to get everyone moving, from salsa, bachata to mambo and every style in between. Live music and bands will bring the energy each week.
Every week is fresh, exciting, and unique! Expect new performers, different dance schools, and a brand-new atmosphere every time. Everyone is welcome, whether you're a seasoned dancer, a student, or stepping onto the dance floor for the first time. The focus is social fun, no heels or sequins required!
Whether its date night or catchups with friends, Darling Harbour provides all the ingredients for a great night out.
