The Best Things to Do in Sydney This Weekend
Check out Rainbow Studios' vibrant new exhibition, catch a timeless musical, or tuck into sake spritzes and crispy quail at this Parramatta spot's new bottomless brunch.

The Best Things to Do in Sydney This Weekend
Weekends are precious. You want to make the most of those glorious days devoid of responsibility and overflowing with possibility. Luckily, Sydney's got plenty happening to make sure you don't spend the days indoors binge-watching Netflix and instead discovering new bars, absorbing art and feasting your way through food markets. Here are our picks for what's on in Sydney this weekend.
Image: Installation view of Nabilah Nordin's 'Corinthian Clump', 2023, presented as part of 'The National 4: Australian Art Now' at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Photo, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Mim Stirling
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Arts & Entertainment
Vivid Sydney at Hotel Hollywood
While the city shines brightly during Vivid Sydney, there's spectacular music and poetry most nights at this much-loved Hollywood Quarter pub.
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Arts & Entertainment
Aeden Lee at Paramount House
Head to this Surry Hills hotel for a dynamic art installation during Vivid Sydney's run — then stay for a drink nearby.
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Arts & Entertainment
Saint Omer
Inspired not only by a true story, but by filmmaker Alice Diop's obsession with it, this Oscar-shortlisted French legal drama is simply stunning.
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Arts & Entertainment
Vivid Sydney at the Ace Hotel Sydney
While the city shines brightly this winter, there's plenty to do at this vibe-heavy venue in the Hollywood Quarter.
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Food & Drink
Free Burgers for World Burger Day 2023
Buy a glass of Greasy Fingers wine, get a free burger at Marrickville Bowls and Donny’s, with 100 up for grabs at each venue.
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Arts & Entertainment
Renfield
Nicolas Cage's Dracula horror-comedy doesn't suck, but it'll make you wish it spent more time with Nicolas Cage as Dracula.
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Arts & Entertainment
The Little Mermaid
It isn't always better down where it's wetter, but Disney's latest live-action remake gets all afloat with Halle Bailey's perfect lead casting and stunning vocals.
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Food & Drink
Naturally at Darling Quarter
Expect bright lights, free live music and exclusive Vivid-only menus from your favourite venues in this harbourside locale.
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Food & Drink
Mode Kitchen & Bar Aperitivo
Two happy hours here will have one delicious drink in your hand, and a plate of Italo snacks in the other.
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Travel & Leisure
Million Paws Walk 2023
Grab your pooch, pop on your sneakers and help raise money for animals in need.
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Arts & Entertainment
Limbo
Simon Baker turns in a career-best performance in Ivan Sen's latest outback-set crime-thriller after the also-exceptional 'Mystery Road' and 'Goldstone'.
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Arts & Entertainment
John Farnham: Finding the Voice
This rousing biodoc steps through the Australian music icon's journey from 'Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)' to the anthemic power ballad that almost didn't happen — and beyond.
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Arts & Entertainment
Fast X
Jason Momoa has a ball getting villainous in this pedal-to-the-metal saga's new ride, which is otherwise at its best when it's all about ridiculous stunts.
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Food & Drink
Tokyo Lamington x Good Chemistry
The Ace Hotel's laneway cafe and wine bar is serving up a trio of lamingtons packed with native ingredients and a lamington-flavoured G&T.
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Food & Drink
Bar Subterranean by The Midnight Special
Newtown's The Midnight Special is setting up a Bob Dylan-inspired pop-up bar at the Sydney Opera House for Vivid Sydney.
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Arts & Entertainment
Archibald, Wynne and Sulman Prizes 2023
See the winners of this year's prizes, then vote for your favourites.
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Arts & Entertainment
Infinity Pool
Brandon Cronenberg's new body-horror nightmare turns a lavish island holiday into a hypnotic and piercing sci-fi stunner.
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Food & Drink
Jukebox Bottomless at Rekodo
Sip and spin your way through the weekend with Japanese-inspired bites and bottomless drinks at Rekōdo.
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Arts & Entertainment
Strobe
His name is Prince, and he's the star attraction at Golden Age's latest season of must-see music films.
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Arts & Entertainment
Sydney Writers' Festival 2023
Close to 300 writers and thinkers will take to the stage across 226 events, exploring this year's theme 'Stories for the Future'.
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Arts & Entertainment
Lightscape Sydney
Wander through 2.1 kilometres of light and colour at this stunning Vivid Sydney event.
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Arts & Entertainment
Written in the Stars
The biggest drone show ever to hit the Southern Hemisphere will light up Sydney Harbour for six nights during Vivid Sydney 2023.
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Arts & Entertainment
Pony
Hazel is up the duff, ready to party and wondering if she's cut out for motherhood — all the makings of a side-splitting piece of theatre.
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Arts & Entertainment
Bloom Tall
Head to Darlinghurst's Rainbow Studios this May to delight in a jungle of exceptional pieces by Sydney-based Kubi Vasak.
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Arts & Entertainment
Dance Together
Embrace the magic of meeting new people — and maybe even have a boogie — at this unusually illuminated Vivid event in Tumbalong Park.
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Arts & Entertainment
Dark Spectrum
This world-premiere light show will fill 900 metres of abandoned Wynyard railway tunnels with lasers.
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Arts & Entertainment
Wild Lights at Taronga Zoo 2023
Explore Taronga Zoo after dark and take in Sydney Harbour during Vivid.
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Arts & Entertainment
Tumbalong Nights 2023
Darling Harbour is hosting an exceptional lineup of free live music performances courtesy of Vivid Sydney.
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Arts & Entertainment
Night Walkers
Hop to it — you can get up close and personal with these supersized amphibians lighting up Sydney as part of Vivid.
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Arts & Entertainment
Vivid Sydney 2023
Vivid Sydney's annual festival of light, music and ideas is back to transform the city once again.
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Food & Drink
BrewDog's $1 Beer School
Sample four of the Scottish brewery's sips and boost your beer knowledge for just a gold coin.
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Food & Drink
Oysters and Spritzes at Fratelli Fresh
Nab half a dozen oysters and a lemon spritz for just $19.
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Food & Drink
Vivid Fire Kitchen
Escape the winter chill and grab a seat by the fire for this red-hot experience that's new to Vivid Sydney.
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Arts & Entertainment
Murmurations at Hyde Park Barracks
Bringing together First Nations perspectives on the history of the Hyde Park Barracks.
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Food & Drink
House of Naturalia
Barangaroo House is getting an all-natural makeover for Vivid Sydney 2023.
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Food & Drink
Autumn High Tea at Tokyo Bird
Head to Surry Hills to enjoy the signature Japanese flavours of autumn alongside specialty gin cocktails.
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Arts & Entertainment
The National 4: Australian Art Now
Sydney's free citywide art exhibition 'The National' is back with 48 new artistic projects across four of the city's premier galleries.
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Food & Drink
Chefs on the Harbour: The Vivid Edition
Celebrated chefs Nelly Robinson, Khanh Ong and Mark Olive are serving up creative five-course degustations on a luxury superyacht.
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Arts & Entertainment
Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2023
For the 58th year, London's Natural History Museum has picked the best nature photographs from the past 12 months — and you can see them in Sydney at the Australian National Maritime Museum.
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Food & Drink
Barra Libre Bottomless Brunch
Newtown's central Mexican street food haven Maiz has introduced a tequila-filled bottomless brunch every Saturday.
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Arts & Entertainment
MAMMA MIA! The Musical
Here we go again: this ABBA-worshipping jukebox musical is bringing its rom-com antics back to Sydney.
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Arts & Entertainment
Séance and Flight — Darkfield
This spine-chilling experience is back — enter if you dare (and aren't claustrophobic).
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Arts & Entertainment
Tina — The Tina Turner Musical
Dedicated to the one and only Tina Turner, this musical will be simply the best.
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Food & Drink
$1 Oysters at The Strand Hotel
Darlinghurst's The Strand Hotel has just rolled out one of the best happy hours in Sydney.
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Arts & Entertainment
Just Not Australian — Museum of Sydney
What does it mean to be 'un-Australian'? This gallery exhibition from 19 Aussie artists aims to find out.
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Arts & Entertainment
Utzon Music 2023
Watch the best soloists and small ensembles perform classical music from around the world throughout 2023.
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Food & Drink
Cambridge Markets EQ
Head to The Entertainment Quarter every Wednesday and Saturday to shop, eat and meet a variety of makers.
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Arts & Entertainment
Australia on Celluloid
As part of its 85th birthday celebrations, the Ritz is spending a year screening iconic Australian films on 35mm.
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Arts & Entertainment
Lost Sundays
Catch a cutting-edge lineup of local and international DJs at this party from the Lost Paradise crew every Sunday.
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Food & Drink
Saturday Breakfast at Fred's
The Paddington restaurant serves coffee, scones and canelés from 8am, and sells boxes of fresh produce too.
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Design & Style
Paddington Markets
Find original wares by local designers, food stalls and a new growers market for fresh produce.
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Travel & Leisure
Yoga at Pocket City Farms
Finally a yoga practice where you can literally touch the earth.