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A band playing at Buddy's Bar Newtown
Photograph: Sam Brumby
Photograph: Sam Brumby

Things to do in Sydney this week

Wondering what to do across Sydney? Our list will guide you in the right direction

Avril Treasure
Written by Avril Treasure
Editor, Time Out Sydney
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Hello! Welcome to your weekly wrap of what’s on.

On the weekend, I went to the Westpac OpenAir Cinema (you know, the one on the harbour?) and saw the new Leo flick, and it was awesome. There is nothing quite like watching a film with the Opera House and the city’s twinkling lights as a backdrop, and it made me feel proud of our beautiful city. You’ve got to go. My tip? Get down early to reserve your seat, or book one of the packages so you’re guaranteed a good pozzie.

Been a while since your last show? On now at Hayes Theatre is an ode to Barbra Streisand, which our reviewer says is a “must-see.” Check out our write-up of Barbra here, and you can explore our full guide to all the shows on in Sydney here.

The spectacular new $836 million Sydney Fish Market is finally open. I went down early last Monday morning and consider me impressed. Find out everything you need to know, including what to eat, here – and go check it out this week.

Now in its third year, Paddo Collective Live Music & Art Week has kicked off, running until February 8. There are lots of fun and artsy events happening among the colourful streets and venues of Paddo, including Saint Cloche, Paddo Inn, The London, Wine Library, Tequila Mockingbird and The Paddington. From disco nights to $15 Margs and a historic walking tour exploring Paddington’s past, it’s all going down. Find out more here.

Sydney Restaurant Group – the team behind waterfront faves Akti, Summer Salt, Sails on Lavender Bay and more – is celebrating 25 years this January. And they’re going all out, offering killer deals across all 17 venues from now until January 29. Highlights include $25 mains at Ripples Little Manly at lunch from Monday to Thursday; a caviar bump paired with a glass of Veuve Clicquot for $25 at Akti; and a five-course tribute menu for Aqua Dining on Jan 12 at Sails on Lavender Bay, plus loads more. Find out more here.

For a culture hit, check out two fabulous exhibitions at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. First up is Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat, a giant interactive playground for the young (and young at heart). It’s free – bring your swimmers. Next up is Ron Mueck’s Encounter – a stunning sculptural exploration of the human condition.

Booking a catch-up? Sydney's best restaurants and best new restaurants are a good place to start. Or, head to one of Sydney's best bars.

Plus, summer is in full swing – so you can wash away your worries at one of Sydney’s best beaches, get your sweat on with a pretty bushwalk, or pack drinks and snacks and throw out a rug at one of our fave picnic spots.

Scroll on for our full list of the best things to do in Sydney this week.


Mapping out your weekend? These are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox.

The best things to do in Sydney

DigiPark

  • Things to do
  • Sydney
DigiPark
DigiPark
Photograph: Supplied
Sydney’s immersive art scene is on the up and up, with Balloon Story, Museum of Illusions and Mike Hewson’s The Key’s Under the Mat all alive and kicking in the Harbour City. Now, there’s more. Landing right in the middle of the CBD, DigiPark is a brand-new digital playground that blends science, art, education and entertainment into one futuristic, all-ages experience. Fresh from huge success across Asia, this is the first DigiPark to open in Australia, bringing 19 interactive attractions to Level 5 of Westfield Sydney, just steps from the centre’s ever-busy food precinct. Highlights include the Space & Time Cube, a trippy 3D holographic tunnel that pulls you into a swirling world of light and colour, and the Orbital Cinema (7D) – a flying adventure powered by a massive 180-degree curved screen, motion seats and special effects like wind, vibration and water spray (no VR headset required). There’s also a 3D Figurine Creator Studio, where you can scan yourself and walk away as a custom mini digital avatar, plus dreamy installations like Wandering Planet, Cosmic Space and the Holographic Studio, which blur the line between reality and the virtual world. According to DigiPark’s Head of Sales and Marketing, Jacques Wong, the venue is designed to hook everyone from curious kids to culture-hungry adults – with VR, holograms, kinetic light art, digital play and 3D printing all under one roof. Open seven days a week from 10am to 10pm, DigiPark welcomes all ages (kids under 12...
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Barbra

  • Musicals
  • Elizabeth Bay
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Barbra
Barbra
Photograph: Supplied | John McRae
The only artist with No.1 albums in six consecutive decades. More than 150 million records sold worldwide. Eleven Billboard No.1 albums. An EGOT winner consisting of two Academy Awards, ten Grammys, five Emmys, a (special) Tony Award, as well as nine Golden Globes. And now, a dedicated Hayes Theatre concert dedicated to her career. It’s the one, and only, Barbara Joan “Barbra” Streisand. If you’re in the theatre world, it’s impossible not to know her name. Outside of the stage, Barbra made her indelible mark in the music industry with her transformative voice and iconic sound. She’s an artist that’s crossed numerous genres and forms, which makes a Hayes Theatre tribute concert to her a perfect remedy for success. And ‘success’ is the most accurate word to use for Barbra: The Greatest Star. What type of show is Barbra: The Greatest Star? Barbra takes audiences on a melodic journey through the multitude of hits from Streisand’s career in an intimate evening of the “Best of Babs”. The song cycle journeys from roles she originated in on Broadway (Funny Girl), her numerous albums, iconic film roles (Yentl, Hello, Dolly!, A Star is Born), as well as her other star-studded collaborations with artists such as Celine Dion, Donna Summer and Neil Diamond. There’s enough Streisand here to make you fall in love with her all over again, or give you a crash course in Babs. Who are the cast and crew of Barbra? Directed by Brittanie Shipway (Once On This Island; The Pirates of Penzance)...
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Westpac OpenAir Cinema

  • Film
  • Outdoor cinema
  • Sydney
Westpac OpenAir Cinema
Westpac OpenAir Cinema
Photograph: Westpac OpenAir/Chris Grundy
Somebody pop the Champagne, because the world's most beautiful outdoor cinema will be back by the harbourside, running over 47 nights from January 9 to February 24 – and tickets are now on sale. Westpac OpenAir will once again take over Mrs Macquaries Point this summer, with panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge as its staggering backdrop.  The line-up features everything from old-school hits to cult classics and brand-new Aussie debuts, including films like Dirty Dancing, Marty Supreme, Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning, Hamnet and 10 Things I Hate About You. You can check out the full program here.  Meanwhile, there’s more than just iconic views and the latest blockbusters in store, with a bunch of excellent food and drink offerings available for every budget. Think fresh seafood and Spritzes at The Chandon Garden, a lush waterfront restaurant by acclaimed chef Danielle Alvarez called Summer House Dining, and a classy dining terrace for Westpac customers. A heads-up that you’ll need to book your spot in advance.Just after a sundowner? Then order a beer (or an entire bottle of Champagne, ice bucket and all) and settle in for a film screening projected on the huge 350-square-metre, three-storey-high screen that lights up as night falls over the harbour.  If you really want a run-up for the view, take a stroll through the Royal Botanic Gardens on your way to the cinema (but word to the wise, don't leave it too late, lest you be caught...
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Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940

  • Art
  • Paintings
  • Sydney
Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940
Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940
Photograph: Supplied | Anna Kucera
The Art Gallery of New South Wales’ newest exhibition – Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890-1940 – spotlights 50 trailblazing females who were among some of the first to draw attention to the fact that women can make some pretty bloody great art too.  The speedy rate of industrialisation in the 19th century meant a major shift in European society. Artists used it as a chance to reject traditional themes like religion, and instead focused on fresh ways to portray individuals (in a time where it felt like machines were going to rule the world). Meanwhile, women used it as their ticket to pull a seat up at the table. The focus of the exhibition is specifically on our very own Australian and New Zealander artists who made the journey to Europe to immerse themselves in the modernist movement. Gallery-goers can peruse works from historic names like Nora Heysen, Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington Smith, and also witness the work of some lesser-known but equally important creatives like CL Allport, Justine Kong Sing and Stella Marks. Featuring celebrated and rediscovered paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture and ceramics, the exhibition includes work by celebrated artists such as Nora Heysen, Margaret Preston and Grace Cossington Smith, alongside lesser-known but equally compelling figures such as CL Allport, Justine Kong Sing and Stella Marks. Dangerously Modern’s run in Sydney spans all the way to mid-February so a hot (art) girl summer awaits. You...
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Balloon Story

  • Things to do
  • Sydney Olympic Park
Balloon Story
Balloon Story
Photograph: Supplied
Sydney is stepping up its game when it comes to immersive experiences, with the Art Gallery of NSW’s Mike Hewson exhibition attracting global attention, Museum of Illusions landing with a splash in the CBD, and now, a huge new playground formed of 500,000 carefully curated balloons opening its doors at Sydney Olympic Park. Fresh from a record-breaking New York season that turned the Park Avenue Armory into a 30,000-square-foot fantasy universe, this joy-fuelled, art-meets-play exhibition has arrived in Sydney.Balloon Story is a fully immersive journey through time and imagination, where every room is built at cinematic scale using hundreds of thousands of biodegradable balloons. You’ll wander from prehistoric jungles and dinosaur-filled landscapes to ancient civilisations, underwater worlds and cosmic cities, all sculpted entirely from air and colour. For the Australian season, expect all-new local content too, with balloon-built tributes to some of our most iconic buildings, places and stories. Hailed overseas as “the most joyful exhibition of the year”, Balloon Story is designed to delight. It’s hugely photogenic and clearly engineered by people who take balloons very, very seriously (we’re talking an international team of creative directors, balloon engineers and immersive design pros). Keen? The team suggests that visitors allow around 60 to 90 minutes to explore the whole experience – though don’t be surprised if the kids hang around for longer trying to get the...
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Gatsby at the Green Light

  • Circuses
  • Sydney
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • Recommended
Gatsby at the Green Light
Gatsby at the Green Light
Photograph: Supplied | Daniel Boud
Jay Gatsby invites you into the decadent world of The Green Light, nestled inside The Studio theatre of the Sydney Opera House, where the roaring '20s is reborn for an evening of decadence, debauchery and delight. Gatsby at the Green Light is back by popular demand and, with an extended run until March 2026, there’s clearly a demand for cabaret with a touch of elegance and plenty of grandeur.  What type of show is Gatsby at the Green Light? Based on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic text, The Great Gatsby, director Craig Ilott once more takes audiences into an exploration of the liquor-fuelled parties, yearning and lust of the illusive figure, Jay Gatsby, in an evening of professional cabaret. Ilott doesn’t so much play out the story of The Great Gatsby, but instead takes the crux of it – one of greed, love, decadence and the unreachable American Dream – to showcase some of the best talents in cabaret, aerial acrobatics, tap and circus. Set inside the fictionalised bar, The Green Light, designer Stuart Couzens creates a world that feels like you’ve stepped back into a speakeasy bar of Fitzgerald’s America. The three-tiered seating elements of Green Light mean that audiences have the choice of sitting back in the rafters and overseeing the party (much like the host himself) or the middle of the space set far enough back to see all but not be so close as to feel the intimacy of the stage.  Those who want to hear the heartbeat of the waiter-come-dancers around you, feel the heat...
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Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Sydney
Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat
Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat
Art Gallery of New South Wales | Mim Stirling
If you've ever wondered what would happen if a kid's drawing of their wildest dream utopia suddenly came off the page and into real life, you're in luck, because that's pretty much what's happening right now beneath the Art Gallery of NSW.  Artist and professional disruptor Mike Hewson has taken over the weird subterranean world of The Tank with his one-of-a-kind new exhibition, Mike Hewson: The Key's Under the Mat, where for the first time ever, all the main lights in the normally pitch-dark Tank will be switched on, revealing a weird wonderland of interactive art pieces and play equipment that have to be seen to be believed. We're talking: A steam room with stained glass windows that you can actually sit in, a functioning sauna with bespoke church pews, five actual operating public barbeques that you can cook on, rushing water to play in (seriously, bring your swimmers), a working laundry,  and a free-to-use recording studio, plus a whole plethora of bright and delightful surprises that are all about getting community together, to do cool stuff, for free. Basically, break your imagination and delete all adult expectations. This is unlike anything we've ever seen.  Kids who aren't afraid of some risk are also one of Hewson's big targets with this show (although parents, rest easy, the floor is specially made out of recycled soft rubber that's rated for use in public playgrounds), with the space also home to a wild children's playground. Intrepid kidlets can test their...

Powerhouse Materials: Paper

  • Things to do
  • Exhibitions
  • Castle Hill
Powerhouse Materials: Paper
Powerhouse Materials: Paper
Photograph: Supplied | Powerhouse Museum
In a city where culture is constantly evolving, the Powerhouse Museum has no problem keeping up. Spanning four sites – including Sydney Observatory, Powerhouse Castle Hill, the heritage-listed Powerhouse Ultimo site currently undergoing a $300-million transformation and a brand-new Powerhouse Parramatta location set to open in late 2026 – it’s officially the largest museum group in Australia. Now, Powerhouse Castle Hill is taking centre stage with its latest instalment Powerhouse Materials – a new series of exhibitions and events that showcase the Powerhouse Collection (home to more than half a million objects!) through the lens of a guest curator and a chosen material. Actor and activist, Chloe Hayden was the first to curate a colourful and quirky exhibition focused on textiles, and now Andy Griffiths is in the hot seat. The second iteration continues to embody imagination and eccentricity with Powerhouse Materials: Paper. Curated by best-selling children’s author Andy Griffiths (the mind behind the Just! and Treehouse series), this exhibition dives deep into the world of paper. From November 22 to March 8, this free exhibition features a quirky collection of paper objects from the Powerhouse Collection, ranging from the ordinary to extraordinary. Every visitor will receive a self-guided activity book packed with drawing and story prompts developed in collaboration with Griffiths – perfect for sparking young imaginations, and giving older ones a blast from the past. For...
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Avatar’s Jake Scully at Madame Tussauds

  • Things to do
  • Darling Harbour
Avatar’s Jake Scully at Madame Tussauds
Avatar’s Jake Scully at Madame Tussauds
Photograph: Supplied | Madame Tussauds Sydney
If the recent release of ‘Avatar: Fire and Ash’ left you craving even more time on Pandora, we’ve got the perfect summer escape. A brand‑new Avatar experience has just arrived at Madame Tussauds Sydney, ready to whisk you away into another realm, even if it’s just for a little while. Come face‑to‑face with Jake Sully, brought to life as a life‑sized, hyper‑detailed figure inspired by Sam Worthington’s unforgettable performance. From his powerful stance to his signature Na’vi detailing, it feels almost too real. Meanwhile, a stunning Pandora‑inspired environment transports you deep into the Avatar universe, where vibrant alien flora is paired with immersive soundscapes, making it feel as though you’ve stepped straight into the film. This installation was created in close collaboration with Disney, Lightstorm Entertainment, and Wētā Workshop, promising an experience that’s as awe-inspiring as the franchise itself. With the summer school holidays in full swing, this is the ultimate family activity, especially on those rainy Sydney days, offering a magical journey into one of the world’s most beloved cinematic universes. And yes, it makes for the perfect Instagram post. Whether you’re snapping photos, filming TikToks, or capturing Reels, this experience offers an endless stream of share‑worthy content for fans and pop‑culture lovers alike. Located on Aquarium Wharf in Darling Harbour, the experience runs until Monday, February 9, 2026. Tickets start from $49, or guests can...
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Sunset Variations

  • Music
  • Millers Point
Sunset Variations
Sunset Variations
Photograph: Supplied | Powerhouse
Golden hour in Sydney is a magical time; when the glare of the day fades and the dropping sun coats the city in a buttery glow. And there’s one particular spot in Sydney that seems to catch the light perfectly – a fail-safe sunset spot with views across the Harbour, and one of the best places to stargaze when daylight disappears entirely. We’re talking about Sydney Observatory, and for five Fridays this summer, golden hour at this spot is ramping up to the next level – elevated by a series of three-hour live music sets programmed by the creative people behind Powerhouse. Sunset Variations will kick off on Friday, January 30 with an ambient Afrofuturist performance by Ethiopian Australian sound artist, NĆ«, to set the tone as the light disappears from the sky above the Harbour City.  Next up, on Friday, February 6, experimental electronic artist e fishpool will soundtrack sunset with a mesmeric performance. Friday, February 13 will welcome the cinematic compositions from the Aarti Jadu Ensemble, performing alongside Emma Ovenden and George Worthy. Then, on Friday, February 20, Luritja singer-songwriter and visual artist Keanu Nelson will take over the heritage site with a spell-binding performance as an ode to his Papunya roots. The series will come to a close with a powerful set from the Setwun: Celestial Bodies on Friday, February 27. The soulful, percussive showcase, led by composer and multi-instrumentalist DJ Josh Panakera-Molony, will blend jazz, groove and dance music...
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