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What’s On in Sydney: Your Ultimate Guide for May & Beyond
Here's what's on in Sydney this month.
This month in Sydney (May 2026), we’re easing into crisp mornings and bright, sunlit days. From long-lunch jazz in Potts Point and harbour-front boat parties to cult taco pop-ups in Manly, sunset concerts by the fish markets and immersive nights at the Opera House, this really feels like the sweet spot of the season. Now is the time to plan a ferry ride at golden hour, lock in an early CBD dinner before curtain call or pencil in a breezy coastal detour north.
Read on for tickets, dates and timings.
In This Guide
Editor’s Picks:
Over 100,000 Plush Flowers Have Landed in Sydney
Prepare to step into a surreal sea of colour as artist Cj Hendry has transformed The Domain into a whimsical greenhouse filled with 100,000 hand-crafted plush blooms. Like something out of a picture book, the installation is designed to feel otherworldly and larger-than-life. Better yet, it’s also free to visit and will see you taking home your very own flower, too. It’s part art, part daydream, and a seriously photogenic escape from reality.
Where: The Domain Sydney
When: 15 – 17 May 2026, 10am – 6pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Art lovers; Exhibitions; Free events; Outdoor enthusiasts; Families
Need To Know: Visitors can take home a plush flower
Make a Date With the Archibald Prize Before August
If you only make it to one exhibition this year, make it the Archibald. Australia’s most anticipated annual art event is back at the Art Gallery of NSW until 16 August, and it never gets old. This year’s show brings together the full trio — the Archibald Prize for portraiture, the Wynne Prize for landscape painting and figurative sculpture, and the Sulman Prize for subject and genre painting.
One ticket covers all three, and the sheer range of what Australian and New Zealand artists are doing with portraiture right now is worth the trip alone. Don’t skip Young Archie on the ground floor either, it’s a free display of work by artists aged 5 to 18 is one of the most joyful rooms in the building. While you’re there, vote for your favourite portrait in the ANZ People’s Choice award for a chance to win $2,000.
Sitchu Tip: Midweek visitors get 2-for-1 tickets on Wednesday nights from 5pm to 10pm. From $30 for adults.
Where: Art Gallery Rd, Sydney NSW 2000
When: Daily 10am – 5pm, Wednesdays 10am – 10pm. Until 16 August 2026
Cost: From $30 adults (weekdays); $32 adults (weekends and public holidays). Concession $27/$29. Youth (12-17) $10. Children under 12 free. Family (2 adults + up to 3 youth) $70. 2-for-1 tickets on Wednesday nights 5pm – 10pm.
Best For: Art lovers; Exhibitions; Families; Cultural experiences; Weekend plans
Need To Know: One ticket covers all three prizes — Archibald, Wynne and Sulman.
The Wine-Filled First Birthday We Can Really Get Behind
Paddington tapas bar Caness is turning one, and they’re celebrating the way any good Spanish venue should… with food, wine and an open door. On Sunday May 24th, four Sydney chefs are taking over the kitchen to serve $15 loaded bocadillos alongside the OG halva Basque cheesecake and mussel crisps. There’ll also be cellar wines by the glass, $12 Spanish beers, signature G&Ts and a live jazz duo. Oh, and the first 50 guests to buy a bocadillo score a free glass of sparkling, so don’t dilly dally!
Where: Caness, 348 Oxford Street, Paddington NSW 2021
When: Sunday 24 May 2025, 12pm–4pm
Cost: Free entry. Bocadillos $15 each. House wines by the glass and Spanish beers from $12.
Best For: Food & drink lovers; Community events; Group catch-ups; Locals; Weekend plans
Need To Know: Walk-ins only — no bookings taken for this event. The first 50 guests to purchase a bocadillo receive a complimentary glass of sparkling. A dollar from select sales is donated to OzHarvest.
The Free Thursday Night Plans You’ve Been Looking For
Clear your Thursday nights until September. Jazz Sessions in The Rocks is back for its third year! Returning to The Rocks Square every Thursday from 7th May through to 24th September with a lineup of Australia’s most exciting contemporary jazz artists, curated in partnership with SIMA. It’s free, it’s open air, and it’s set against one of Sydney’s most beautiful backdrops, with cobblestone laneways, historic sandstone and harbour air included.
There’s no tickets or bookings required, just show up. Pisa Slice will be on hand with a $10 pizza and soft drink combo, and the pop-up bar is pouring espresso martinis, spicy mango margaritas and mulled wine.
Where: The Rocks Square, The Rocks, Sydney
When: very Thursday, 7 May – 24 September, 6:30pm–8:15pm
Cost: Free
Best For: Free events, Live music fans, Couples, Group catch-ups, Outdoor enthusiasts
Need To Know: No tickets or bookings required — just show up. Food and drinks available on site, including a $10 pizza and soft drink combo from Pisa Slice.
Tickets available here.
Festivals & Major Events
Seas The Day Surf Festival
The world’s largest female participation surf festival returns to Kingscliff in Northern NSW, turning the Tweed Coast into a saltwater pilgrimage worth plotting from Sydney. Across two days, the program moves through women-led surf competitions, beachside talks, art, yoga, ice baths, breathwork and creative sessions, gathering boardriders, beginners and ocean lovers in one coastal line-up made for a winter weekend away.
Where: Kingscliff Beach, NSW
When: Saturday 20th to Sunday 21st June
Cost: Free
Best For: Surf girls; saltwater culture; and a coastal road trip
Sydney Zoo’s Magical Winter Night Event Is Back
One of Sydney’s most beloved winter events is back and bigger than ever. GLOW at Sydney Zoo is debuting a brand new reimagined after-dark trail, transforming the zoo into a completely different world once the sun goes down. Now in its fifth year, the 2026 edition brings expanded light installations, immersive soundscapes and rare glimpses of the zoo after hours. Beyond the trail there’s food and drink offerings throughout, plus a carnival-style entertainment precinct at the entry that’s free and open to everyone!
Tickets available here.
Where: Sydney Zoo, Bungarribee
When: 8 May – 14 June 2026
Cost: From $35 (adults, midweek); from $19.99 (kids)
Best For: Families, Kids, Couples, Outdoor enthusiasts, Weekend plans
Need To Know: Book early — this event sells out. A carnival-style entertainment precinct at the entry is free and open to all.
Eat & Drink
The Gin and Jazz Event We’re Adding to the Diary
Potts Point favourite The Apollo is giving the people what they want with the return of its beloved Gin & Jazz series. Taking over the dining room on the last Sunday of every month from March to September, this long lunch pairs live sets with flowing cocktails from Four Pillars Gin and the restaurant’s signature Greek feast. Settle in for the set menu or dive into the à la carte and banquet options, depending on your appetite. As history has shown, this will be a buzzy affair that will see you ending the weekend on a high note!
Bookings made here.
Where: 44 Macleay St, Potts Point NSW 2011
When: Last Sunday of every month, March to September 2026
Cost: $95pp for the Gin & Jazz menu with welcome cocktail
Best For: Date night, Foodies, Group dining, Long lunch
Need To Know: Live jazz by Arthur Washington & Band and Soundcliff Jazz Trio, with Four Pillars Gin cocktails alongside The Apollo’s Greek feast, with à la carte and banquet options also available.
This is Your Sign to Plan Ahead for Newcastle Food Month
Sydney, consider this your excuse for a coastal detour. Across April, Newcastle transforms into a month-long celebration of eating well, drinking beautifully and backing local talent. Think $30 Plate Dates — signature dish and drink pairings across dozens of venues — alongside chef-led long lunches, seafood feasts, winemaker collaborations and one-off dinners that sell out fast.
It’s generous, flavour-forward and refreshingly unpretentious, stretching from beachside tables to inner-city wine bars. Time it with a long weekend, book the train north and make a night of it — Newcastle’s dining scene has never looked better.
April 2026
Art, Culture & Performance
This Paddington Pub Is Making Mondays Magical
After a year of sell-out events and growing waitlists, Paddo Inn is turning its cult-favourite experiences into a monthly Monday night ritual. Launching next month, Paddo Nights Inn blends wine, Italian bites and expert-led sessions in an intimate format designed for a relaxed midweek night out. Upcoming sessions are centred around tarot and astrology.
This sounds like a goodie! Bookings made here.
Where: Paddo Inn, 338 Oxford St, Paddington NSW 2021
When: Monday May 11th
Cost: $60pp
Best for: Unique experiences, Girls’ night, Date night, Intimate events
Need to know: This is a new monthly series and includes wine, Italian bites and an expert-led experience; bookings are essential.
Markets & Shopping:
Kirribilli’s Chicest Treasure Hunt Is Back
Mark your calendar because Kirribilli Markets are back this March with two much-loved editions.Explore artisan-made finds in the Burton Street Tunnel and a curated mix of fashion, accessories and creative treasures across the Green and Gravel areas, with everything from vintage gems and pre-loved pieces to antiques, collectables and homewares. Be warned… this is the kind of treasure hunt that rewards an early start and an empty bag!
Where: Kirribilli Markets, Burton Street Tunnel, Green & Gravel areas, Kirribilli
When: Saturday May 3rd (Art, Design & Fashion Market)
Cost: Free entry
Best For: Markets, Fashion finds, Vintage lovers, Weekend plans
Need To Know: The Art, Design & Fashion Market focuses on artisan-made pieces and creative labels, while the General & Fashion Market features vintage, pre-loved style, antiques and homewares. Arrive early for the best finds.
Outdoor & Active
Self-Care Sessions in Balmain & Rozelle: Sydney’s Inner West Wellness Circuit to Treat Yourself to this Month
Balmain and Rozelle have self-assuredly become two of Sydney’s most compelling wellness villages: places where movement, recovery and whole-body care sit at the centre of everyday life. The mix is both diverse and beautifully complementary: high-energy studios, therapeutic spaces, grounding rituals and next-level recovery tools, all within a few leafy streets.
Start with Soul Agenda Yoga & Pilates, where community and connection shape every class. The schedule moves from breath-led meditation to Pilates, vinyasa and strength work, with teachers who hold space with warmth and depth. For deep rest, City Cave Balmain is a must-do for float therapy, an infrared sauna, and therapeutic massage in a serene environment designed for nervous system support and everyday recovery.
The Studio Rozelle brings a different energy, one formed by reformer, mat, physio, strength, prenatal movement, and Over 50s classes — all under one light-filled roof. It’s functional, thoughtful and grounded in real clinical expertise. Just up the road, CalmBar Rozelle delivers Sydney’s most intentional contrast-therapy experience. Ice baths, sauna, breathwork and coaching are woven into sessions that feel purposeful and transformative.
For those craving a full sensory reset, Nature’s Energy Balmain sets the benchmark. This award-winning bathhouse blends magnesium pools, sauna, steam, red-light therapy, spa rituals and healing therapies in a stunningly renovated space. Rounding out the circuit is Beattie Street Health Studio, a calm sanctuary led by Dr Melinda Webb, where acupuncture, naturopathy, bodywork and neuroscience-backed practices encourage long-term change from the inside out.
Balmain and Rozelle are now among the most exciting wellness destinations in Sydney, an Inner West haven where wellbeing can be explored through movement, heat, rest, community, and care. Make moves to get amongst it this month in Sydney.
Take a Spin on One of Sydney’s Electric Picnic Boats
Soak up some spring sun on your very own environmentally friendly picnic boat — no boat licence needed! Set sail from The Spit in Mosman with up to seven friends (pups included), load up a picnic and take in the sparkling Sydney harbour views. Sounds like the perfect spring day out if you ask us!
Where: D’Albora Marina, Mosman (departing from The Spit)
When: Available seasonally
Cost: From $149
Best For: Harbour days, Group outings, Dog-friendly plans, Outdoor activities
Need To Know: No boat licence required. Each electric picnic boat accommodates up to seven people, with dogs welcome on board.
Free Things To Do:
Coming Soon:
Bastille Festival Is Back At The Rocks
Bonjour, Sydney! Your favourite winter tradition is coming back. Bastille Festival returns to Circular Quay and The Rocks from July 17-20th, bringing four days of French food, wine, music and culture to the harbour’s edge. Think molten raclette, champagne, regional French wines, live cabaret, street performers and over 110 free performances, all spilling across the cobblestones of one of Sydney’s most iconic precincts. The French do winter better than anyone, and this is your proof.
Where: Circular Quay and The Rocks, Sydney
When: Thursday 17 July, 12pm–10pm; Friday 18 July, 10am–11pm; Saturday 19 July, 10am–11pm; Sunday 20 July, 10am–8pm
Cost: General admission is free. Food, drink and select experiences are at additional cost.
Best For: Free events; Festivals; Food & drink lovers; Wine lovers; Live music fans
Need To Know: Serious wine enthusiasts can purchase tickets for the Bastille Wine Walk, a 1.4-kilometre tasting trail exploring eight French wine regions, which includes a glass to take home, tastings, express bar access, and a passport to be stamped at each location.
What’s On This Month: FAQs
Sydney’s April calendar is stacked, from the Maybe Cocktail Festival bringing 25 of the world’s best bars to the city, to free lunch pop-ups at Sydney Place. There’s also a luxe Easter seafood buffet at Hyatt Regency and a family-friendly Dinosaur Safari at Sydney Zoo. For something different, you can even enter to win a four-day escape to Victoria’s Heartland.
Food lovers are well covered with the return of Gin & Jazz at The Apollo, pairing live music with Greek feasts and cocktails. Newcastle Food Month is also worth planning a trip for, with $30 Plate Dates and chef-led events across April. Closer to home, The Jackson’s summer series offers a high-end harbour dining and drinks experience.
Don’t miss Ancient Feelings, a striking bronze sculpture by Thomas J Price now on display at Barangaroo. Paddo Inn’s new monthly experiences blend wine, Italian bites and astrology or tarot sessions for something more interactive. Moonlight Cinema also continues to deliver open-air film experiences with a crowd-curated program.
The Maybe Cocktail Festival is a standout, with guest shifts, collaborations and parties across the city. Pamela Anderson’s live in-conversation event also offers a rare on-stage appearance from the global icon. Meanwhile, Gin & Jazz at The Apollo delivers live music in a relaxed long lunch format.
Sydney Zoo’s Dinosaur Safari is a must for families, with interactive installations and activities included in entry. Moonlight Cinema also caters to families with early screenings and a relaxed outdoor setting. For something hands-on, Kirribilli Markets offer a lively weekend outing with plenty to explore.
Head to Sydney Place for free lunch pop-ups featuring top local eateries throughout April. Public art lovers can visit Ancient Feelings at Barangaroo, a large-scale sculpture set against the harbour. Looking ahead, a giant plush flower installation by Cj Hendry will transform The Domain into a colourful, immersive (and free) experience.
Mane Land is set to take over Hordern Pavilion, bringing together top stylists, cult hair brands and immersive beauty experiences. Expect live demos, product launches and hands-on sessions in a high-energy setting. It’s shaping up to be a standout for beauty lovers and anyone keen to refresh their look.
Looking for more fun things to do in Sydney? We have plenty to keep you entertained. From Sydney’s best new degustation menus and best bottomless brunches to the best Mexican restaurants in town and where to go for a dreamy Sydney staycation, here’s all you need for a weekend in the city.
Our Sitchu editors work hard to deliver you the best products, events and venues that we hope you will love, each one is selected independently. Sitchu may receive an affiliate commission when you follow some links.
