Western Sydney is welcoming a major new cultural institution as Powerhouse Parramatta opens its doors on Saturday, November 7. To celebrate, it's hosting a three-week festival of talks, workshops, live music, performances, culinary experiences and exhibitions. Running from Saturday, November 7 to Sunday, November 29, the Opening Festival features 179 events, with around 65 percent of the program free. Five exhibitions will also open, covering everything from aerospace to First Nations knowledge and the cultural history of shopping malls. Powerhouse Parramatta joins Powerhouse Ultimo, Powerhouse Castle Hill and Sydney Observatory as part of Australia's largest museum group. Developed with Western Sydney communities, the new institution brings together arts, design, science and technology, drawing on a collection of more than 500,000 objects of national and international significance. The museum is the largest cultural infrastructure project in Australia since the Sydney Opera House. [caption id="attachment_1156303" align="alignnone" width="1920"] James Turrell, Shangri La (Over the Hump) 2026[/caption] Five Exhibitions to Explore The five opening exhibitions cover some decidedly different territory. Task Eternal explores aviation, outer space and humanity's ambition to leave Earth and return. The exhibition features a NASA Moon rock, original drawings by Leonardo da Vinci and a historic Qantas aircraft, alongside more than 850 extraordinary objects. It also includes Shangri La (Over the Hump), an immersive installation by internationally acclaimed artist James Turrell that has never been exhibited in Australia before, following its sole previous presentation in Shanghai in 2017. The Dark is an immersive exhibition designed for children aged four to ten, inviting them to step into a mysterious world of crystal tunnels, forests and giants. Filled with unexpected surprises, the experience uses storytelling, discovery and imagination to give young audiences a hands-on introduction to the objects, ideas and stories explored across the museum. The Mall traces the history, evolution and cultural significance of shopping centres, including Western Sydney's influence on their development. More than 1,350 objects explore how malls have shaped fashion, culture and everyday life, from Steve Jobs' iconic Levi's jeans to the original prototypes of David Beckham's Predator football boots. [caption id="attachment_1156305" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Es Devlin's Forest of Us[/caption] Overflow is a First Nations-led exhibition grounded in the living principles of Water Country. Through films by Kamilaroi filmmaker Ivan Sen, it documents the work of seven First Nations-led organisations caring for waterways across NSW, with stories spanning species protection, flood mitigation, sea sovereignty, water monitoring, language revitalisation and cultural water rights. Es Devlin: The Turning is the first major Australian exhibition by the British artist and set designer, known for creating large-scale stages for stadium tours and designing ceremonies for major global events. It features five major immersive installations, including Forest of Us, a mirror maze inspired by the visual similarity between the structure of trees and the bronchioles of our lungs. General museum entry and four of the five exhibitions are free, while Task Eternal costs $30 for adults and $20 for concession holders. Tickets to James Turrell's Shangri La (Over the Hump) are $40 for adults and $30 for concession holders, and include access to the entire museum, including Task Eternal and all other exhibitions. Visitors aged 16 and under can explore all five exhibitions for free. [caption id="attachment_1156620" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Off Earth collaborator, artist and engineer Xin Liu[/caption] Talks Worth Booking Most talks cost $15 for a standard ticket, with free entry for children aged 16 and under. On Sunday, November 8, Off Earth brings together space architect Melodie Yashar, artist and engineer Xin Liu, Metakosmos CEO Kiriti Rambhatla and artist Tavares Strachan to discuss what it will take for humans to live beyond our planet. Later, Pushing the Edge features record-breaking aviator Dick Smith, astronaut and polar explorer Eric Philips, pilot Gaby Kennard and rocket entrepreneur Adam Gilmour sharing stories of risk, setbacks and split-second decisions. First Nations knowledge and the future of Water Country are the focus of Caring for Water Country, a conversation on Sunday, November 8. Wiradyuri journalist Rae Johnston joins Kamilaroi filmmaker Ivan Sen and representatives from the seven First Nations-led organisations featured in Overflow to discuss caring for waterways, the work behind the exhibition's films and what protecting Water Country means for the future. Taking place on Saturday, November 7, Es Devlin & Gus Casely-Hayford | In Conversation will explore how art can bring diverse communities together and invite audiences to help shape the work itself. Devlin joins V&A East Director Dr Gus Casely-Hayford OBE to discuss how collections and large-scale installations can encourage people to contribute through shared experiences, creative activities and participation. [caption id="attachment_1154691" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Food by Sunday Kitchen[/caption] Food: From Cultural Conversations to Cooking Demonstrations, Tastings and a Communal Dinner On Tuesday, November 10, Food Culture explores the people, ideas and influences shaping what Australia eats, with a day of keynote talks, panel discussions and cooking demonstrations, alongside tastings. Maggie Beer AO speaks with Julie Gibbs about her career championing Australian produce and regional food culture. Later, Gamilaroi Elder, cookbook author and Yaama Barrgay Catering founder Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo OAM joins Sharon Winsor, a Ngemba Weilwan woman and founder of native food and botanicals venture Indigiearth, to discuss First Nations food sovereignty, cultural knowledge and the role food plays in strengthening identity and community. Each session costs $15. Chef, regenerative farmer and co-founder of Chat Thai and Boon Luck Farm, Palisa Anderson brings her soil-to-plate philosophy to a live cooking demonstration as part of the Food Culture series. Hosted by Joanna Savill, Palisa Anderson | Demonstration will see Anderson prepare a signature Thai dish, with a tasting for audiences, drawing on her work across sustainable farming, hospitality and contemporary Thai-Australian cuisine. Other culinary icons that will be part of Food Culture include Stephanie Alexander, Neil Perry, Giovanni Pilu and more. Learn from the best cooks and chefs in a series of cooking demonstrations and tastings to celebrate Family DINEasties, a new series featuring eight longstanding, family-run eateries across Western Sydney, presented in collaboration with SBS Food. On Saturday, November 7, join Western Sydney's most respected chefs and stars of Family DINEasties, Ben Nguyen (Hải Âu Làng Nướng, Canley Vale) and David Chan (Sun Ming, Hurstville) for a live Vietnamese and Cantonese cooking demonstration. They will share their techniques, flavours and family stories behind their signature dishes that guests can taste. Still hungry for more knowledge and food? On 8 November, Karima Hazim and Sivine Tabbouch, the mother-daughter duo behind Sunday Kitchen explores intergenerational knowledge, migration histories and community networks that sustain Lebanese food traditions in Western Sydney. In two separate live events, watch and taste as they prepare dishes including foul medammas, chickpea fatteh and kibbeh nayeh. Food writer and cookbook author Nik Sharma, who features in Netflix's In the Test Kitchen, joins the program on Saturday, November 28, for Flavour Science | Public Talk, a lecture, tasting and Q&A exploring how science and culture shape the way we cook and experience food. Hosted by food writer Nick Jordan, this lecture provides an insight into Sharma's approach to recipe development, flavour science and the cultural influences that inform his work. Born in Mumbai and now based in Los Angeles, Sharma draws on flavour science, migration and identity in his approach to cooking. To round out the day, guests can join an exclusive shared-style dinner featuring dishes curated by Sharma. Tickets for the talk cost $30 and $50 for the dinner. There's plenty on the menu beyond the festival, too. Sydney restaurateur and chef Simon Sandall is behind three new dining and drinking destinations at Powerhouse Parramatta: Simara, a signature restaurant overlooking the Parramatta River; Folded, an all-day café serving stone-baked puff bread, jaffles, folded panuozzo and focaccia; and the hidden Green Bar. All three open with the museum on Saturday, November 7, with bookings now available for Simara. [caption id="attachment_1156619" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Priya Ragu[/caption] Live Music and Performances One of the festival's major installations is Come Home Again, a large-scale work by Es Devlin featuring hand-drawn depictions of endangered species from NSW and live choral performances. The musical program includes Western Sydney choir River City Voices, intercultural singer collective Barayagal, and Noqu Vanua, a vocal ensemble led by Sydney Chamber Opera. The installation runs across 11 evenings, with performances at 7.30pm on selected dates between November 7 and 27. Entry is free. Music highlights include an unmissable performance by Tamil-Swiss singer-songwriter Priya Ragu, whose sound draws on R&B, soul, hip hop and Tamil music traditions. Since the release of Ragu's breakout single 'Good Love 2.0', she has established herself as one of the leading voices in a new generation of global artists redefining the boundaries of pop music. Her performance takes place on Saturday, November 14, 7–10pm, with tickets at $30. The free rooftop music series runs November 7–27, with performances on selected days. The lineup includes Country Always on Saturday, November 7, an all-female, First Nations acoustic program headlined by Becca Hatch and curated by ARIA Award winning artist and rapper Nooky and, and Music in Exile on Saturday, November 14, featuring musicians with lived experience of migration. The wider performance program also includes a live performance and installation Sampai, Tak Sampai, A Magical Hot Start, a new, avant-garde opera by Australian artist Justene Williams and the National Poetry Slam featuring a special guest performance from acclaimed US poet and writer Olivia Gatwood. [caption id="attachment_1156351" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Sampai, Tak Sampai[/caption] Free Workshops and Family Activities At Dharug Language Exchange on Saturday, November 7, Dharug educator Jasmine Seymour leads a gathering focused on language and cultural phrases connected to the river foreshore. Participants will learn and echo words acknowledging the surrounding place and environment. The 11–11.30am session is free. A Swell of Stars brings together workshops and performances inspired by S. Shakthidharan's memoir Gather Up Your World in One Long Breath. The program explores celestial stories, mythologies and changing seasons through shared creative activities. Its free, all-ages wearable art workshop runs daily from November 7 to 28, between 10am and 4pm, inviting participants to make creations inspired by stars, galaxies, gods and demons with costume designer Keerthi Subramanyam. The workshop is drop-in, so bookings aren't required. On Sunday, November 22, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation is taking over the museum and bringing together some of the ABC's most loved personalities, programs and experiences. The free, full day program includes live broadcasts, conversations, performances, screenings and family-friendly activities featuring ABC icons like Chris Bath, Craig Reucassel, Play School, Bananas in Pyjamas and more. [caption id="attachment_1154694" align="alignnone" width="1920"] Powerhouse Parramatta[/caption] Planning Your Visit There are plenty of options for getting to Powerhouse Parramatta, which is located at 34 Phillip Street, Parramatta, NSW 2150. During the Opening Festival, the museum is open 10am–5pm Monday to Wednesday and until 9pm Thursday to Sunday. There's no on-site parking, but paid car parks are available nearby. Parramatta Station is about a ten-minute walk away, while Parramatta Wharf is around a seven-minute walk from the museum. The train from Central to Parramatta takes around 30 minutes, while driving via toll roads takes about the same amount of time. The ferry from Circular Quay takes approximately one hour and 20 minutes. The festival runs from Saturday, November 7 to Sunday, November 29. General museum entry and four exhibitions are free, while some talks, performances, workshops and food events require paid tickets. Check individual listings for event dates, times, prices and booking requirements before visiting, as some sessions have limited places. Visit the Powerhouse website to explore the full program and book tickets. Images: Supplied