What’s On in Sydney in November 2026
There’s plenty on in Sydney this November, from big-ticket festivals to smaller events you might not have heard about. This guide covers the lot, so you can plan ahead.
November sits at the tail end of spring, and it’s one of the best months of the year for weather. Days are warm enough for the beach, and nights can still be cool, so pack a light jacket. It’s also jacaranda season, when purple blooms line the streets in many Sydney suburbs.
It’s a good time to visit because you get summer weather without the summer crowds or the peak hotel prices of December and January.
The biggest events this year are Sydney Open on 1 November, the On-Water Boat Show at Darling Harbour, the opening of Powerhouse Parramatta and Harris Park Diwali. You’ll find all of them below, along with markets, musicals, exhibitions and day trip ideas.
Average Temperatures: 24-16°C (75-61°F)
Last November ran warmer than usual, with a top of 34.4°C on the 26th and 42mm of rain across the month.
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The most common question we get in November is where to find the city’s famous purple flowers…
Where to see jacarandas in Sydney
The trees flower from late October through November, and you don’t have to go far to find them. The easiest spot for visitors is around Circular Quay.
Walk to First Fleet Park, between the MCA and the ferry wharf, for jacarandas with the Harbour Bridge and Opera House behind them. In the Royal Botanic Garden, look in the lower garden near Farm Cove, where you’ll find what is believed to be Australia’s oldest jacaranda. There’s also a rare white jacaranda near the Mare and Foal statue.
In the city centre you will find a large old jacaranda at Town Hall, just opposite the Queen Victoria Building.
Over the bridge, McDougall Street in Kirribilli is the most photographed jacaranda street in Sydney, so please be mindful of the people who live there. From there, walk to Wendy Whiteley’s Secret Garden at Lavender Bay for jacarandas along the harbour.
On the lower North Shore, Montpelier Street in Neutral Bay has a long avenue of old trees, and you’ll spot more in the backstreets of Cremorne and Mosman.
Jacarandas grow in parks and streets right across suburban Sydney, so there’s likely a display close to where you’re staying. In Sydney’s south, Frys Reserve in Kogarah puts on a good show, and it’s dog friendly, so bring the dog along.
Major Events
The free Ghost Festival in The Rocks finishes on Sunday 1 November, with outdoor horror films, Halloween street food and DJs. Check our October page for details.
Sydney Open
Now in its 22nd year, Sydney Open gives you rare access to some of the city’s most interesting buildings. This one-day event lets you explore historic landmarks, new architecture and spaces that are usually closed to the public.
Follow a self-guided route or join expert talks about the buildings that have shaped Sydney. Good for architecture fans, photographers and anyone curious about how the city has changed.
When: Sunday 1 November 2026, 10am to 5pm
Where: Various locations across Sydney
Cost: Sydney Open City Pass required. Tickets on sale now at sydneyopen.com.au
Sculpture By the Sea runs until Monday 2 November. Up to 100 sculptures line the cliff walk between Bondi and Tamarama beaches
Powerhouse Parramatta opening
Western Sydney’s first major state museum opens on the Parramatta River with five new exhibitions.
The opening festival runs for the rest of the month, with more than 170 talks, performances and family events, and most of them are free. During the festival, the museum stays open until 9pm Thursday to Sunday. Here are a few highlights worth booking ahead:
- Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November: Ride a steam train or vintage bus to the museum for opening weekend, run by Transport Heritage NSW. The NSW Railway Band plays at Parramatta station.
- Saturday 7 November: Industrial designer Marc Newson talks about 40 years of design ($15 adults, kids free). Pacific community groups perform to unveil Te Waka Whakakotahi, a new Māori canoe.
- Sunday 8 November: Former NASA chief and astronaut Charles Bolden Jr shares stories from his time in space ($15 adults, kids free). Science fiction author Ted Chiang talks about whether we should want to live forever.
- Tuesday 10 November: Maggie Beer and Stephanie Alexander give separate food talks.
- Thursday 26 and Friday 27 November: The new opera A Magical Hotstart (see listing below).
11 nights during the festival: Artist Es Devlin’s Come Home Again, a large installation of hand-drawn endangered NSW animals with live choirs from Western Sydney.
When: Opens Saturday 7 November 2026. Opening festival until 29 November
Where: Powerhouse Parramatta, 34 Phillip Street, Parramatta
Cost: Free entry to the museum and most exhibitions. Task Eternal is ticketed, and under 16s get into all exhibitions free. Book a free arrival time for opening weekend at powerhouse.com.au
Tuesday 3 November sees the city’s restaurant and bars hosting Melbourne Cup Lunches. Book early if you plan to attend.
Festivals and Community Events
Nepal Festival
Nepal Festival brings Sydney’s Nepalese community together at Tumbalong Park for a full day of live music, traditional dance, authentic food and cultural exhibitions, and this year carries extra weight for the community following recent flooding in Nepal.
The program includes interactive family activities and cultural performances throughout the day, with the organisers describing it as a celebration of identity, diversity and community connection as much as a cultural showcase.
When: Saturday 7 November 2026
Where: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
Cost: Free
Harris Park Diwali
Wigram Street in Harris Park, Sydney’s Little India, closes for a free Diwali street party. Expect live music and dance, food stalls, market stalls and family activities. Organisers expect around 25,000 people.
When: Saturday 7 November 2026, 1pm to 9pm
Where: Wigram Street, Harris Park
Cost: Free
Philippine Christmas Festival (Pasko)
The Philippine Christmas Festival, known as Pasko, closes out Darling Harbour’s Culture Alive season and marks the start of the Philippines’ Christmas celebrations, famously the longest in the world. Hosted by the Philippine Community Council of NSW, it’s the biggest Filipino Christmas event in the state, filling Tumbalong Park with two days of live entertainment, parades, food and cultural performance.
Expect authentic Filipino dishes including lechon, adobo, halo-halo and ube ice cream, alongside exhibitions, competitions, games and family activities running continuously across the weekend. The festival sits alongside Darling Harbour’s other Culture Alive events this spring, including the Thai Grand Festival and Nepal Festival, all free and all held at Tumbalong Park.
When: 21–22 November 2026
Where: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour l Cost: Free.
Markets and Fairs
Good Food & Wine Show Christmas Edition
The Christmas version of the food show adds a Great Australian Bake Off experience this year, plus Little Bakers Corner for kids.
Watch cooking demos from Miguel Maestre, Kirsten Tibballs and Bake Off host Darren Purchese, and stock up on Christmas food and wine.
When: 20 to 22 November 2026
Where: ICC Sydney Darling Harbour
Cost: From $34.95
Randwick Eco Living Festival
Sydney’s longest running free environmental festival turns 21 this year, with a full day of stalls, live music and talks at Broadarrow Reserve. This year’s theme is cost of living, with practical tips on saving money and cutting waste. More than 15,000 people attended last year.
When: Sunday 1 November 2026, 10am–3pm
Where: Broadarrow Reserve, Maroubra
Cost: Free entry
Carss Park Spring Market
A brand new Cambridge Markets event on the Georges River, with stalls under shady trees at Carss Bush Park. Expect fashion, homewares, jewellery, plants and gourmet food, plus live music and kids’ activities by the water.
When: Sunday 1 November 2026, 10am–4pm
Where: Carss Bush Park, Carss Park
Affordable Art Fair
More than 75 galleries from Australia and overseas will bring thousands of original works to Carriageworks, from paintings and prints to photography and sculpture, all priced between $100 and $10,000.
Expect live painting demonstrations, a Children’s Art Studio and the crowd-favourite Art ATM. Last year saw over $5.5 million in art sales.
When: Thursday 5 – Sunday 8 November 2026
Where: Carriageworks, Eveleigh
Cost: Adults from A$24.61, kids free.
Finders Keepers Market
Visit one of Australia’s favourite design markets as The Finders Keepers returns to Carriageworks this November. This much-loved market brings together Australia’s best designers and makers, offering a chance to shop unique, mindfully made products while enjoying live DJs, fresh food, and local bars.
See our guide to Sydney Christmas markets for more ideas.
When: 13 to 15 November 2026
Where: Carriageworks, Eveleigh
Entry: $7 per day plus booking fee (Kids under 13 free)
Bondi Books & Ideas Weekend
Bondi gets its own book festival this year. Over three days at Bondi Pavilion, hear from local novelists and First Nations poets, plus talks on big ideas.
When: 20 to 22 November 2026
Where: Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Beach
Cost: See bondipavilion.com.au
Musical Theatre, Opera & Drama
Whispering Jack: The John Farnham Musical
This world premiere musical tells the story behind Whispering Jack, the best-selling Australian album of all time, timed to mark its 40th anniversary.
Michael Paynter plays John Farnham, with Bonnie Anderson and Ben Hall as Gaynor and Glenn Wheatley. Directed by Sydney Theatre Company’s Mitchell Butel.
When: From Sunday 15 November 2026 (season runs to 3 January 2027)
Where: Roslyn Packer Theatre
Cost: Almost sold out, remaining tickets start at $175pp
Strong Is the New Pretty
World premiere from Suzie Miller, the playwright behind Prima Facie and RBG: Of Many, One, telling the story of how the AFLW went from a 2010 report recommendation to a national league by 2017.
Directed by Sarah Giles, with an eight-strong cast including Amber McMahon, Tara Morice and Contessa Treffone.
When: 22 October – 5 December 2026
Where: Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Cost: From $49 (Under 30) to $129
Six the Musical
The international hit reimagines the six wives of Henry VIII as a pop-concert girl group, remixing 500 years of history into a sharp, funny 80-minute show.
Returns to Sydney after strong West End and Broadway runs.
When: 9 October – 22 November 2026
Where: Theatre Royal Sydney
Cost: From $70
Fuccbois: Live in Concert
This comedy show sends up boy bands. Four members of “the world’s biggest boyband” play their farewell tour, with hit songs, dance moves and band drama. It comes to Sydney after runs at the Adelaide Fringe, Edinburgh Fringe and Soho Theatre in London.
When: Until 14 November 2026
Where: Darling Quarter Theatre, Darling Harbour
Cost: from $54.90
A Magical Hotstart
A new opera by artist Justene Williams premieres at Powerhouse Parramatta as part of its opening festival. The score was written by nine neurodivergent musicians from the Club Weld program, and musicians from the Australian Chamber Orchestra play it with them. Stay after the Thursday show for a talk with the artist.
When: Thursday 26 and Friday 27 November 2026, 6:30pm
Where: Powerhouse Parramatta, 34 Phillip Street, Parramatta
Cost: $25, concession $15, free for children 16 and under
A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical
The story of how a kid from Brooklyn became a rock icon, told through Neil Diamond’s own catalogue of hits, including Cracklin’ Rosie, Sweet Caroline and Forever in Blue Jeans.
Broadway’s Will Swenson leads the cast as Neil Diamond, following his acclaimed performance in the US production.
When: Previews from Saturday 14 November 2026
Where: Sydney Lyric Theatre
Cost: from $69.95
Macbeth (Bell Shakespeare)
Bell Shakespeare’s acclaimed 2023 production of Macbeth returns to Sydney at the end of its national tour.
Set in a moody 1920s, séance inspired world, it stars Anthony Taufa as Macbeth and Matilda Ridgway as Lady Macbeth, directed by Peter Evans.
When: 18 November – 6 December 2026
Where: Sydney Opera House
Cost: Season package pricing: adult premium $110, A reserve $82. Concession $90/$72. Under 18 and under 35 from $40.
The Gospel According to Paul: The Second Coming
Jonathan Biggins, co-creator of The Wharf Revue, returns to his acclaimed impression of former PM Paul Keating in this solo comedy.
The show covers Keating’s political career and personal passions, along with fresh material on his more recent public moments. Contains strong language.
When: 6 November – 20 December 2026, 90 minutes, no interval
Where: Wharf 1 Theatre, Wharf 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
Cost: $49-$206
Silver Tongue
Hayes Theatre Co stages the world premiere of Silver Tongue, a new Australian musical that reimagines Treasure Island as a sea shanty infused pirate story.
Billie Palin leads as the title character, a swaggering pirate queen, opposite Natalie Abbott as Jim, a young person chasing a map and a myth. Directed by Richard Carroll with an original score by Alec Steedman.
When: 13 November – 12 December 2026
Where: Hayes Theatre Co, 19 Greenknowe Ave, Potts Point
Cost: Previews from $74. In season: adult from $79, concession from $69, under 35 from $60
Music and Dance
Courtney Barnett
The ARIA Award-winning singer-songwriter returns to the Concert Hall for her first performance there since 2018. The show celebrates her new album, Creature of Habit, written during time spent in the California desert and at her home studio.
Expect her trademark wit and sharp guitar work, backed by a set that draws on her full catalogue, from Avant Gardener through to Pedestrian at Best.
When: Friday 6 November 2026, 8:30pm
Where: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Cost: From $59.90 + booking fee
Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest
BIG Live’s dark take on Bram Stoker’s Dracula is back in Sydney for a second season, with 22 extra shows added after the September run at the State Theatre. This Australian-made ballet has played London’s West End and the United States.
It tells a story of forbidden love, grief and immortality through dance, set to music by Bach, Rachmaninov, Mozart and Debussy. Ervin Zagidullin dances Dracula and Abbey Hansen plays Mina Harker. The show runs for two hours, including a 20-minute interval.
When: 7 to 29 November 2026.
Where: Capitol Theatre, Haymarket
Cost: from $79
Dirty Dancing in Concert
A live-to-film concert experience where a full band and vocalists perform the movie’s soundtrack live, in sync with a screening of the digitally remastered film.
The night continues with an after-party where the crowd can keep dancing to the soundtrack. Part of a major world tour, timed around the film’s soundtrack anniversary.
When: Saturday 28 November 2026
Where: Darling Harbour Theatre, ICC Sydney
Tickets: Ticketek
FORMA
A new open-air concert series at Tumbalong Park from Finely Tuned, marking their 20th year putting on live music in Australia. Alongside the shows, expect food and bar stalls set up in the park through the season. Season highlights in November include:
- Friday 27 November: Kool & The Gang and Sister Sledge ft. Sledgendary
- Saturday 28 November: Anjunadeep Open Air Sydney (18+)
- Sunday 29 November: Lime Cordiale and Pacific Avenue, with support from Great Gable, Pamela and Lola Scott
A free family event also runs on Thursday 26 November.
When: 26-29 November 2026
Where: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
Cost and more details: via formapresents.com.au
Jack’s Southern Hoedown Boat Party
Line dance your way around the harbour on a Sydney Showboats paddlewheeler. The three-hour sunset cruise has live country music and line dancing lessons from Sydney Saddle Club.
Your ticket includes a drink on arrival and Southern BBQ snacks. Wear your boots, denim and cowboy hats.
When: Thursday 12 November 2026, 6pm to 9:30pm
Where: Sydney Showboats, King Street Wharf 5, Sydney
Cost: $43.66 via Eventbrite
Film Festivals and Events
See the full list of Sydney’s outdoor cinemas for more great movie fun
Irish Film Festival Australia
The Irish Film Festival showcases the best dramas, most compelling documentaries and of course, the famous Irish sense of humour.
Opening night will kick off with the Australian Premiere of Pat Collins’ That They May Face the Rising Sun. Based on the internationally acclaimed novel by Irish author John McGahern, this film captures the beauty of rural Irish life in the 1980s, mixing nature, people and everyday life
When: 8-15 November 2026
Where: Dendy Cinema, Newtown
Cost: on the event site
Museums, Galleries and Exhibitions
The World’s Biggest Dinosaur: Dinosaurs of Patagonia
A full-size skeleton of Patagotitan, almost 38 metres long, stretches the length of the Australian Museum’s Touring Hall. It’s the largest land animal ever found.
The show has 16 skeleton casts and real fossils from Argentina, and it kicks off the museum’s 200th birthday year.
When: Opens Saturday 28 November 2026
Where: Australian Museum, 1 William Street, Sydney
Cost: Child $16, adult $23, concession $20, family $66. Join the waitlist at australian.museum
Philippe Parreno: 5 Moons
French artist Philippe Parreno takes over multiple floors of the MCA with a shifting, sensory exhibition of sound, light and movement, inspired by the moon’s five lunar cycles.
It’s the first major Australian showing of his work, part of the Sydney International Art Series. Expect the exhibition to change from visit to visit, rather than staying fixed.
When: 21 November 2026 – 26 April 2027
Where: Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
Cost: Check mca.com.au for ticketing details
Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year
Celebrating 20 years of environmental photography, this exhibition showcases 120 images documenting Australia’s changing natural world.
For the first time, past winners are displayed alongside this year’s finalists, creating a powerful visual timeline of ecological transformation across Australia and the Pacific.
When: On now until 14 February 2027
Where: Australian Museum l Cost: Free
Ocean Photographer of the Year
Ocean Photographer of the Year comes to the Australian National Maritime Museum as a world premiere exhibition, showing the finalist images from a global competition that drew more than 15,000 entries.
It’s presented by Oceanographic Magazine and Blancpain, and this year the awards have a Sydney connection: local photographer Gergo Rugli won the Adventure category for an image of dolphins riding a wave alongside surfers, with a second image of his taking third place in the Human Connection category, showing a swimmer at a wave-battered ocean pool. Ten Australian or Australian-based photographers made the finalist list overall.
When: Opens Thursday 19 November 2026
Where: Australian National Maritime Museum, Darling Harbour
Cost: Adult $35.00, Concession $30.00 Child $25.00 (Includes museum entry)
Head On Photo Festival
Head On Photo Festival returns for its 16th year with free photo exhibitions across Bondi and Paddington. The festival launches on Friday 6 November, when the Head On Photo Awards exhibitions open, with a prize pool of $80,000 and the new $5,000 Mayor of Waverley’s Prize. .
Check the website for the program and list of events.
When: 6 to 29 November 2026
Where: Bondi Beach promenade, Bondi Pavilion Gallery, Paddington Reservoir Gardens and the Sydney CBD
Cost: Free (except for opening night)
Michael Pollan’s Journey into Consciousness
Bestselling American author Michael Pollan closes this year’s Curious ideas festival at the Opera House. He’ll talk about one of the biggest questions we have: where does consciousness come from?
He draws on brain science, philosophy, meditation, psychedelics and physics, and asks whether plants or AI could ever be conscious. ABC broadcaster Sarah Kanowski hosts the 90-minute conversation. It’s co-presented with the University of Sydney.
When: Wednesday 4 November 2026
Where: Concert Hall, Sydney Opera House
Cost: from $39 plus an $8.95 booking fee. Book at sydneyoperahouse.com/curious
Sports and Outdoor Events
Yoga in the Park
Free yoga classes run every Sunday morning under the Harbour Bridge. Bring a mat and join in. The focus on breathing, the concentration required to find balance in certain poses, the flow of the movements – it’s all an active meditation that can help clear the mind, quieten anxieties and strengthen your body.
When: 9:30 am, every Sunday (All Year)
Where: Corner of Lower Fort St. & George St. Dawes Point Park, under the Bridge.
Cost: Free, more info here
NSW Regional Events
Superposition: Blue Mountains
A new four day arts and music festival spread across the Blue Mountains train line, from Penrith to Katoomba, Blackheath, Mt Victoria, Medlow Bath and Wentworth Falls.
Built over three years in consultation with Dharug and Gundungurra communities, the program mixes exhibitions, new commissions, live music and participatory works, including a Haiku Hands headlined block party.
When: 26–29 November 2026
Where: Across the Greater Blue Mountains and Penrith, along the Blue Mountains train line
Cost: Single ticket and festival pass options. Blue Mountains and Western Sydney postcodes get 10% off single tickets. Check superpositionfestival.com for prices
Blackheath Rhododendron Festival
It’s a flower festival with a whole lot more, including a grand street parade, wood chopping, coal shovelling and lots more.
When: November 2026, dates to be announced
Where: Wentworth Street Blackheath Village, Blue Mountains.
Cost: Free More: Check the festival website
Check out our weekend in Blackheath for ideas of other sites to see if you visit the Rhododendron Festival or our guide to the Blue Mountains High Tea for a bite to eat before you head home.
Plan ahead
There is lots happening across Sydney over the summer so get a head start with these pages.
- What’s on in Sydney in December
- What’s on in January in Sydney
- Christmas Events
- School holidays in Sydney
