Darling Square Moon Festival Lights Up Haymarket Until 4 October
Darling Square Moon Festival brings lanterns, workshops, live music and mooncakes to Haymarket until 4 October 2026.
Location: Sydney CBD
Cockle Bay Christmas Spectacular Returns To Darling Harbour
The free Cockle Bay Christmas Spectacular returns to Darling Harbour on 5 December 2026 with Santa by water, live music and fireworks.
Sydney Opera House Opens Studio For Forced Entertainment Workshop
Sydney Opera House will host a three-hour Forced Entertainment workshop on 25 September, with a Table Top Shakespeare performance included subject to availability.
Sydney’s Secret Glasshouses Open For Rare Plant Tours
Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is opening its restricted glasshouses for five small-group tours featuring rare tropical plants.
Taste Of Country Turns Bush Tucker Into A Sydney Garden Lunch
Taste of Country pairs a First Nations bush-food tour at Cadi Jam Ora with a $105 shared lunch at Botanic House.
Enis Bešlagić Brings Bosnian Stories To The Sydney Opera House
Enis Bešlagić brings his Bosnian-language autobiographical comedy show to the Sydney Opera House on 2 September 2026.
Qixi Festival Brings Ancient Love Story to Sydney’s Darling Harbour
Discover the ancient love story of the Weaver Girl and Cowherd at the Chinese Garden of Friendship on 19 August. A free constellation activity leaflet is available while stocks last.
Padel Invitational Brings World’s Fastest-Growing Sport to Sydney Opera House
The Padel Invitational presented by UBS brings world-class professional padel to the Sydney Opera House for the first time on 15-16 August, headlined by former world No.1s and Australian sporting legends.
Sydney Light Rail CBD Shutdown – 35-Min Walk for Commuters
L2 and L3 light rail services will stop running through the CBD on 15–16 August 2026, leaving a 35-minute walk as one alternative. L1 will be fully replaced by buses. Plan ahead and check the Trip Planner.
Climate Cartoonist Leads Free Zine Workshop at Royal Botanic Garden
Join cartoonist Jess Harwood for a free two-hour workshop creating a nature-inspired zine, with a guided garden walk, no drawing skills needed, on 25 July.
Free Watercolour Bookmark Workshop at Chinese Garden for Friendship Day
On Thursday 30 July 2026, the Chinese Garden of Friendship hosts a drop-in watercolour bookmark workshop for International Friendship Day. Included with garden entry, no bookings — and you can bring a friend for free.
National Tree Day at Botanic Garden: Walk and Take Home a Tree
On 26 July, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney hosts a guided walk exploring ancient conifers for National Tree Day. Tickets $55; each participant receives a young tree to plant at home.
Fridays at The Rocks Markets Return With Food and Crafts in Historic Laneways
Every Friday from 10am to 3pm, The Rocks Markets bring street food, artisan treats and handmade gifts to Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood. Free entry, steps from Circular Quay.
Sydney Royal Botanic Garden Workshop -A Silk Scarf Dyed by the Garden Itself
Learn to dye a silk scarf using plants from the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney at a hands-on winter workshop led by artist and herbalist Alacoque Dash on 18 July 2026.
Free Winter School Holiday Crafts at Darling Harbour 2026
Free drop-in craft workshops at Darling Harbour let kids make snowmen, snowflakes, slime and snow globes on 4–5 July 2026, with no bookings required.
Moods, Moments, Memories: AWI 102nd Exhibition Opens
AWI’s 102nd exhibition ‘Moods, Moments, Memories’ opens at Royal Botanic Garden Sydney 13–28 June, featuring Australian and international watercolourists.
Sydney to Host World-First Global Wellness Day
Sydney becomes the first city worldwide to host Global Wellness Day on 13 June with a free, ticketed harbourfront session featuring Barry Du Bois and sound baths on Bennelong Lawn.
Opera House Forecourt to Allow 7,000 Fans and Midnight Music
The NSW Government will allow amplified music until midnight and increase Forecourt capacity to 7,000, ending a “Sydney sport” of noise complaints from nearby residents.
Vivid Drone Show Grounded After 89 Crash Into Darling Harbour
Cockle Bay worker Robert heard the crash from 10 metres away as 89 drones plummeted into the water and wharf during Vivid Sydney’s Star-Bound show on 25 May. No one was hurt, but the festival cancelled subsequent drone performances pending a safety investigation.
Vivid Sydney spans 6.5km across three waterfront precincts
The Vivid Light Walk stretches 6.5km through three harbour precincts this year, with 43 installations running nightly until 13 June. More than 80% of the program is free.