Things to do in Sydney today

The state’s largest independent arts festival, Sydney Fringe Festival, is back for 2025 – with more than 460 events hitting our stages for one very entertaining month. Presented across the city throughout September 2025, the dynamic program spans theatre, music, comedy, visual art, film, musical theatre, dance, circus, street festivals, literature and poetry – and it's going to be ace. Clover Moore, Lord Mayor of Sydney, says: “The Fringe is as diverse as our city – and I’m very proud of that.” This year, Sydney Fringe Festival is presenting a city-wide playground of entertainment, with ten key hubs hosting immersive theatre shows, boundary-pushing cabaret, comedy galas, dance shows, live music performances and so much more. Time Out's picks: 10 of the best shows to see at Sydney Fringe Festival 2025Spanning a full four weeks from now until September 30, the Sydney Fringe program includes a heap of interactive, community-focused events, including a free street party taking over The Rocks on Thursday, September 4 and a child-friendly ‘Kids Fringe’ popping up in The Entertainment Quarter for the school holidays.  You can learn more and plan your Sydney Fringe experience over here. Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Sydney newsletter for more news, straight to your inbox. RECOMMENDED:  Want fun now? Here’s what’s on in Sydney this weekend. In the mood for a show? Here’s our list of the best theatre to see in Sydney this month.

If you’re missing the sparkly lights of Vivid, we’ve got good news. For a full month this spring, a beautiful heritage-listed property in Sydney’s northwest will be illuminated by an immersive light show that will transport you back in time. Transforming the grounds of Bella Vista Farm, Echoes – Luna Light Journey will recreate the sights and sounds of the 1700s working farm, taking Sydneysiders on a magical immersive journey. Celebrating the stories that form the area’s complex history – from the Dharug people’s study of the stars to the seeding of the citrus orchard by early settlers – Echoes will momentarily transport you away from 2025. Keen? Read on. Brought to life by Dural-based international events company Laservision (the people behind some of the world’s most spectacular immersive light shows, including Imagine in Dubai, Wonder Full in Singapore, and Nocturnal in the NSW Blue Mountains), the multi-sensory experience will feature reimagined convict roads and fluorescent flower fields. To keep you energised, food trucks will be on-site offering street food-style eats all evening long. You’ll find some parking on-site, but the organisers suggest catching the metro to Bella Vista or Norwest metro stations and walking to the farm (the walk to the farm from each station is around 15 minutes). Kicking off on Friday, September 5, the event will run every night until Monday, October 6. Entry times will run every 15 minutes from 6.15pm, and the organisers suggest allowing...

Most people know a Suntory beverage. Maybe it’s the mega popular Minus 196 cans, the ultimate to-go Boss Coffee, the refined Roku Gin or premium Japanese whiskies. What we guarantee you *don’t* know is just how many popular labels it owns: think everything from Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark to Canadian Club. And now, you can experience more than 125 years of Suntory’s history and innovation all in one place – for the next three months. Say hello to Sydney’s new Suntory Bar. The Japanese spirit company has chosen the city’s only Japanese culture and dining precinct, Prefecture 48 on Sussex Street, as host for the residency. The moody Whisky Thief bar with gorgeous historic artwork and marbletop counters is the place to be when you clock off. Choose between timeless highballs, signature serves, special cocktails, RTDs, The Premium Malt beer and whisky flights crafted by the team at Prefecture 48 in collaboration with Suntory.  The must-try tipple of the affair is the Highball. While it’ll be dished up with a range of Suntory whiskies (it’s what Suntory’s known for in Japan), we say try the spotlight cocktail, the Hakushu Highball, first. Not only is it a refreshing mix of Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve, soda and mint, but it’s been paired with an exclusive snack from the genius Michelin Star chef Tetsuya Wakuda (you know, from *the* Tetsuya’s). Now’s the chance to sample Wakuda’s cuisine since his eminent Sydney restaurant closed last year – that’s a golden opportunity if we ever...

At the northern tip of Australia, in north-east Arnhem Land, lies Yirrkala  – it’s an internationally renowned arts community whose work has shaped history and challenged convention. The good news? You don’t need a plane ticket or a 4WD to experience its power. From now until October, Yolŋu power: the art of Yirrkala brings the beauty and brilliance of Yirrkala’s art to Sydney.  Featuring nearly 300 works by 98 artists, the exhibition spans bark paintings and wooden sculptures to video art and digital installations. Each piece speaks to the deep cultural, political and social histories from which it emerged – revealing tradition not as static, but as a living force of innovation and resistance. Our hack? Explore the exhibition on a Wednesday night at Art After Hours – not only will it feel like you’re making the most of your week, but you can score two-for-one tickets* from 5pm to 10pm.  Catch Yolŋu power: the art of Yirrkala at the Art Gallery of New South Wales until October 6. Tickets start from $13 for youth (free for children under 12) and $20 for members. Book yours here.  Yolŋu power: the art of Yirrkala is supported proudly by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW. The exhibition is presented in partnership with the Buku-Larrŋgay Mulka Centre. *Terms and Conditions apply, head to artgallery.nsw.gov.au for details.

Following a record-breaking 2025 event, Sydney Writers' Festival has announced that it’s switching things up – bringing a series of literary events to Sydney’s State Library throughout the year. Launching this September, the program will feature more than 70 events, with headline speakers including game-changing activist and former Greens leader Bob Brown, plus a range of beloved Aussie authors including Hannah Kent and Michelle de Kretser. Backed by $1.5 million in funding from the NSW Government, the year-round program is the first stage in what Minister for the Arts John Graham has described as “a comprehensive strategy to support the writing and literature sector,” which “aims to boost the writing industry in NSW, and strengthen the cultural heartbeat of our city.” Alongside the series of talks, workshops and readings (which kick off on September 18, with more events yet to be announced), the partnership between Sydney Writers’ Fest and the State Library will see a dedicated literature hub brought to life within the library – creating opportunities for more Sydneysiders to connect with books and storytelling. The initiative will also work to support emerging writers in NSW, with the Festival CEO Brooke Webb citing the shared aim to “champion more writers, inspire readers, and nurture vibrant literary communities across NSW.” Why now? According to Sydney Writers’ Fest, overall book sales are higher now than pre-2020, with 73 per cent of people aged under 30 reading for...