International Convention Centre

In case you missed it, last year was a big one for Ali Wong. The Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian shot even further into prominence when the dark comedy Beef was released in April 2023 to widespread acclaim, and she’s only continued to fly since then.Wong spent the rest of the year taking her stand-up show Ali Wong: Live all around the United States to rave reviews. Now, some of us Sydneysiders will soon be lucky enough to see her in real life. That’s right: on Friday, July 19 and Saturday, July 20, Ali Wong will be right here in the Emerald City – performing her trademark brand of stand-up at the International Convention Centre (ICC). Initially, just the one date was announced – but the appetite from Sydneysiders encouraged the comedian to add an extra Sydney show to her tour. Wong is arriving in the Harbour City following a three-night stint in Melbourne, and will head up the coast to Brisbane after her Sydney shows. Tickets start from $149 and range up to $339 – check out what’s available here. In the meantime, study up by watching one of Wong’s three Netflix specials, the first of which came out back in 2016. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, travel inspo and activity ideas, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED READS:Keen for a laugh? These are the best places to see comedy in Sydney Meet the cast of Sydney's exclusive return season of Hamilton Check out the best shows to see on Sydney's stages this month  

Whether you’re mad for cosplay, a gaming wizard or in love with the artistry of anime and manga, the return of SMASH! is sure to excite Japanese pop-culture fans. The weekend program includes panel discussions, film screenings, music and dance performances, art demonstrations and creative workshops. They’ve invited a host of industry pros who’ll be talking shop and answering audience questions. Meet prolific singers and voice actors, well-known cosplayers, and the creators behind your favourite animations and anime stories. The weekend wouldn’t be complete without a cosplay competition. You can rock your outfit in the background or show off your stuff on the Cosplay Catwalk. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.  

If the latest series of The Summit has got you inspired to up your outdoor game, we’ve got news for you. Bear Grylls – the globally-renowned adventurer, award-winning TV host and author – will return to Sydney in January 2025, with a show named after his life motto: “courage, kindness . . . and never give up!” The Never Give Up tour will pop up in Sydney for one night only on Wednesday, January 29 – and it’s set to be a pretty darn inspiring evening. After finding fame as one of the youngest people to climb Mount Everest at age 23, only 18 months after breaking his back in a parachuting accident, Grylls has gone on to become one of the most well-known adventurers in the world.  The real-life action man will be starting his Aussie tour in Perth on January 23, before heading to Melbourne for a show on January 28. Grylls will be appearing on stage at Sydney’s International Convention Centre (ICC) on Wednesday, January 29 2025, before finishing his stint down under in Brisbane on February 1. “I’m really proud to be bringing my live show to theatres across Australia in January. The clear goal is to encourage that spirit of adventure in us, all of us. This tour feels like the right moment to be doing this, where we need to foster the spirit of courage, kindness and never giving up in all of us,” said Grylls. Pre-sale for tickets has already begun, and general sale starts on Thursday, May 9 from 10am. Tickets start at $89 per person, and you can score yours over here.    Stay in the