ISSUE 39. What’s on in Sydney this week: pizza parties, pastry giveaways and dub poetry concerts

The final week of September has officially arrived, bringing with it a whole lotta free food, live music and enough large public gatherings to make leaving the house feel temporarily worthwhile.

Chinatown is lighting up for the Mid-Autumn Festival, The Rocks is handing its streets over to circus performers, and North Bondi is giving away Nutella toasties before most of us have properly woken up.

From pizza parties and pastry giveaways to Kath and Kim tributes, Sydney music debuts and a sold-out boat party headlined by Ferreck Dawn, you’re up to your eyeballs in fun shit to do this week.

Here are the best things to do in Sydney this week.

HIGHLIGHTS

Mid-Autumn Festival at Chinatown

Chinatown is marking Mid-Autumn Festival with two separate celebrations within walking distance of each other. Market City is giving away 3,500 mooncakes alongside live Chinese calligraphy and a lantern-lit dining precinct. Over at Darling Square, you’ll find illuminated installations, roaming performers, workshops and limited-edition menus. Expect lots of mooncakes.

• WHEN: Friday 18 to Sunday 27 September
• WHERE: Market City and Darling Square
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Dominos New Yorker Block Party

Room 22 in Potts Point is getting the New York block party treatment this Thursday, minus the long-haul flight, subway delays and general likelihood of being yelled at by a stranger. There’ll be free slices of Domino’s 16-inch New Yorker pizza, DJs and sneaker drops courtesy of Foot Locker. Entry is strictly first come first served, so consider your punctuality as essential.

• WHEN: Thursday 24 September, 6-9pm
• WHERE: Room 22, Potts Point
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

The Love Hypothesis x LUNE Collab

LUNE is turning Amazon Prime’s show The Love Hypothesis into an edible experiment at its Rosebery bakery this week. The first 300 visitors can claim a free Berry Edible cruffin and Pumpkin pi drink, while the first 50 will also receive a limited-edition merchandise pack. It’s one pastry and one drink per person, presumably to prevent anyone testing the scientific limits of free croissants.

• WHEN: Wednesday 23 September, from 12:30pm
• WHERE: LUNE Rosebery
• HOW MUCH: Free for first 300 visitors
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

What Is Art? at Arcade Sydney

Convoy’s monthly creative meet-up returns this week with an Art of Change edition which will span live painting, fashion, jazz and late-night DJ sets. Featured artists include painters Jemima Miette and Annalise Jones, with Chaperone performing live and DJ Heelsontile taking over from 11pm. The dress code is past, present or future, which provides a fairly generous margin for interpretation.

• WHEN: Thursday 24 September, from 7pm
• WHERE: Arcade Sydney, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Free with RSVP
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

James Massiah at Oxford Art Factory

London poet, musician and DJ James Massiah makes his Sydney debut with a two-hour hybrid live and DJ set. He’ll move between dub poetry, dancehall, grime, UK rap, acid house and trance (after all, one genre would simply isn’t enough). He’ll be joined by 3NDLES5, Fatshaudi, Sevy, DJ Riki and Twinkle Wells for a five-hour Oxford Street finish.

• WHEN: Friday 25 September, from 11pm
• WHERE: Oxford Art Factory, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $35 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FASHION & CULTURE

Unbound Street Performance Festival

The Rocks is handing its streets to circus artists, giant puppets, aerial performers and musicians for a free two-day performance festival this weekend. The program also includes a DIY disco, roaming conga tours and live street theatre scattered throughout the precinct. Our pick goes to Woine Toime, where Kath and Kim tribute performers Prada Clutch and Pinkie Promise will dispense suburban wisdom, questionable car-donnay advice and little baby cheeses beneath the Harbour Bridge.

• WHEN: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September
• WHERE: The Rocks and Dawes Point Park
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

You’re So Sensitive at Improv Theatre Sydney

Emma Cavell’s one-woman show considers what happens when “you’re too sensitive” stops sounding like criticism and starts looking like something worth embracing. The hour-long Australian premiere forms part of this month’s Fringe Festival, and combines storytelling, visual projections and improvised movement while navigating the emotional admin of being an emotional thirty-something woman.

• WHEN: Friday 25 to Sunday 27 September
• WHERE: Improv Theatre, Redfern
• HOW MUCH: $20 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Versace Crystal Emerald Pop Up

Pitt Street Mall is briefly becoming a very glossy perfume counter for the launch of Versace Crystal Emerald. Visitors can sample the new floral-fruity fragrance, play the activation’s claw machine and receive a complimentary gift with selected purchases. Daily prize giveaways are also on the cards, because we love an element of competitive sport to smelling expensive.

• WHEN: Until Sunday 27 September
• WHERE: Pitt Street Mall, CBD
• HOW MUCH: Varies
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FBi.Radio Presents: Unscripted

FBi Radio is taking over The Rocks Discovery Museum for a new Friday-night series pairing DJs with live storytelling and unscripted conversations about the city. This Friday night brings together Shareeka Helaluddin and Ifeoma (Ify) Obiegbu (plus the rare opportunity to visit a museum after dark).

• WHEN: Every Friday in September, 6-8pm
• WHERE: The Rocks Discovery Museum
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

MCA Late

Thursday night culture is sorted, with the MCA staying open until 9pm for an after-dark mix of contemporary art, drinks, harbour views and rotating talks, performances and creative experiences. This week’s admission also covers Primavera 2026, Connections: MCA x Tate and the major Tony Albert exhibition. Even better is that tickets are two-for-one.

• WHEN: Every Thursday, 5-9pm
• WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks
• HOW MUCH: 2-for-1 tickets from $20
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Connections: MCA x Tate

The MCA has joined forces with Tate for a major exhibition bringing together works acquired through the two institutions’ international joint collection. Featuring works by 24 Australian artists, the exhibition explores cultural exchange, migration, colonisation and First Nations histories, with several new commissions created specifically for the Sydney exhibition. It’s on now at the MCA until early next year, so you’ve got plenty of time to pretend this is the week you become someone who regularly goes to galleries.

• WHEN: Until Monday 1 March 2027
• WHERE: Museum of Contemporary Art, The Rocks
• HOW MUCH: $25 adult tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Definitive Dupain at State Library of NSW

A massive Max Dupain retrospective at the State Library of NSW brings together almost 200 iconic, rare and previously unseen photographs from across his 60-year career. Definitive Dupain spans everything from Sunbaker and experimental photography to unseen images of the Sydney Opera House under construction, fashion, architecture and candid personal work, all pulled from an archive of around 250,000 negatives. Best part: it’s completely free.

• WHEN: Until July 2027
• WHERE: NSW State Library
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Cedar & Salt Sauna at Barangaroo

Barangaroo has somehow found a way to make sweating in public feel chic. Cedar & Salt has brought its Nordic-style sauna back to Marrinawi Cove for winter, meaning you can spend an hour moving between a steaming timber sauna and an extremely character-building dip in Sydney Harbour. Sessions run in communal groups of up to 12, with harbour views included and the recommended routine being heat, cold plunge, repeat until you’ve convinced yourself you’re basically Scandinavian.

• WHEN: Until end of September
• WHERE: Marrinawi Cove, Barangaroo
• HOW MUCH: From $30 per single session
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Black Myth at White Rabbit Gallery

Our favourite Sydney art gallery is officially back in action with its newest exhibition, Black Myth. Drawing from the wildly successful video game, the exhibition explores how ancient mythology can still tell us things about the modern world. Inspired by Journey to the West, Black Myth brings together artists including Sun Xun, Zong Ning and Hou Chun-Ming to explore transformation, transcendence and the darker side of myth through woodcuts, ink painting, photography and plenty of strange, otherworldly figures.

• WHEN: Until Sunday 15 November
• WHERE: White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Ibiza Boat Party ft. Ferreck Dawn

Defected heavyweight Ferreck Dawn is bringing four hours of house and deep-house classics to Sydney Harbour. The phone-free dance floor promises Ibiza energy, harbour views and the opportunity to experience sunset without immediately uploading it (thank fucken god). And while tickets have already sold out, there is an official waitlist open in case somebody’s maritime plans collapse.

• WHEN: Saturday 26 September, from 2:45pm
• WHERE: Departing King St Wharf, Barangaroo
• HOW MUCH: Resale only
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

S.A.S.H Membership Launch Party

S.A.S.H is making its new membership program official with eight hours of house and tech-house at Carousel this weekend. Kerry Wallace, Marley Sherman and Le Brond lead the lineup, supported by Persian Rug, Loz and Milla. It’s an appropriately long celebration for a membership scheme that presumably relies on you returning more than once.

• WHEN: Saturday 26 September, from 10pm
• WHERE: Carousel Ballroom & Bar, Darlinghurst
• HOW MUCH: $25 tickets
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Jazz Sessions in The Rocks

Jazz Sessions are back again for August, transforming The Rocks Square into a free open-air jazz spot every Thursday night. Curated in collaboration with the Sydney Improvised Music Association, the lineup remains mixed, the pizza remains $10, and the pop-up bar remains pouring mulled wine. Consider this your new go-to date night idea.

• WHEN: Every Thursday night, 6:30-8:30pm
• WHERE: The Rocks Square
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

FOOD & DRINK

Australian Native Food Festival

Carriageworks is hosting two days dedicated to native ingredients and First Nations producers this weekend. The free market program brings together dozens of Indigenous businesses, native food producers and cultural practitioners, alongside weaving workshops and traditional Ngangkari healing sessions. Ticketed demonstrations are also up for grabs and feature the likes of Kylie Kwong, Adam Liaw, Bruce Pascoe, Mindy Woods and Colin Fassnidge.

• WHEN: Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September
• WHERE: Carriageworks, Eveleigh
• HOW MUCH: Free with registration
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Free Nutella Toasties at Bondi Beach

Nutella is celebrating the weekend with free toasties beside Bondi Beach, thereby solving a problem nobody realised they had in the first place. The morning activation includes activities and prize giveaways alongside handing out free toasties. It’s a first come first serve basis until stocks last, which you can imagine won’t take long.

• WHEN: Saturday 26 September, from 9am
• WHERE: North Bondi Surf Life Saving Club, Bondi Beach
• HOW MUCH: Free
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Quips x Cabana Thursdays

Thursday knock-offs just got dangerously affordable thanks to Quips x Cabana Thursdays. Come 4pm each night, you’ll be able to score a margherita pizza and four Tommy’s Margarita pouches for just $50. Alternatively, you can also nab four cocktail pouches for $40 until 7pm.

• WHEN: Every Thursday, 4-7pm
• WHERE: Cabana Bar, Martin Place
• HOW MUCH: $10 per marg
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Suntory House Takeover

Suntory House has returned to Sydney for its third rendition, taking over Sakura House in the CBD until early October. Inspired by Japan’s nomikai tradition of post-work drinking, the limited-time residency will serve highballs, sours, beer on tap and bespoke cocktails like the ‘Mazda Zoom Zoom’ melon float. Of course, it comes alongside all the elevated izakaya snacks Sakura House has become well-known for.

• WHEN: Friday 31 July to Saturday 3 October
• WHERE: Sakura House, Martin Place
• HOW MUCH: Free entry
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Island Radio Bottomless Yum Cha

As Sydneysiders, we’re almost all well-versed by now in the weekend bottomless brunch session. But bottomless yum cha, however, is something that we hadn’t tried until now. Introducing Island Radio’s bottomless Dim Sum Saturdays, which serves up the likes of dumplings, steamed buns, wagyu nigiri and other yum cha classics alongside 90 minutes of bottomless booze for $90 a head. Honestly, after trying it for ourselves recently this one has instantly shot up to the top of our list.

• WHEN: Every Saturday and Sunday
• WHERE: Island Radio, Redfern
• HOW MUCH: $90 per person
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Oyster Happy Hour at Morrison’s

If you didn’t already know, Morrison’s is kind of the go-to place for happy hour oysters in town. In fact, they sell a minimum of 6,000 oysters every week. Every Wednesday from 6-7pm, you’ll be able to snag those little gems for $2 each, which is kind of insane. Or if you want to check out the other oyster happy hours currently happening around town, head over here.

• WHEN: Every Wednesday, 6pm to 7pm
• WHERE: Morrison’s Oyster Bar & Grill, CBD
• HOW MUCH: $2 per oyster
• CHECK IT OUT HERE.