What’s on in Sydney in September

September is the start of spring in Sydney, and the events calendar picks up fast after a quiet winter. Swimming season officially starts this month too, though most locals wait until October before getting in the water.

It’s a good value month to visit. Prices for flights and accommodation climb in the last week of September, once the spring school holidays begin.

The Spring school holidays are from Monday 28 September to Friday 9 October 2026

Average Temperatures: 23.4°C (74.12°F) September 2025 was unusually wet, with 178.6mm falling over the month (well above the typical 53mm), including a record-breaking 122mm in 24 hours on 11 September, Sydney’s heaviest September rain day since 1879.

New events and updated content are added to these pages as it becomes available. If you have an event, you think our readers may be interested in, please contact us. 

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Major September Events in Sydney

Sydney Fringe Festival

The Sydney Fringe Festival returns this September with an extraordinary lineup of over 400 events across theatre, music, comedy, dance, visual art, circus, and cabaret.

Sydney Fringe Festival has created four distinct precincts—Inner West, Central, Eastern, and Greater Sydney.

When: 1 – 30 September 2026
Where: Various locations across Sydney, including Inner West, Central, Eastern, and Greater Sydney Precincts
Cost: varies from $12 up More info on the official site

Festival of the Winds

Festival of the Winds, one of Sydney’s most-loved and colourful festivals, is back bigger and better than ever in the new Bondi Pavilion and surrounds.

Check out for all-day entertainment on two stages, children’s activities, kite-making workshops, food and kite stalls, and of course amazing kite displays on Bondi Beach. 

An all-inclusive event for young, old and everyone in between, come along and celebrate Spring in Bondi.

When: 13 September 2026, 11am-4pm
Where: Bondi Pavilion Park and Beach

Festivals and Special Events

Sydney Contemporary

Sydney’s premier art fair marks its 10th anniversary this year, with over 100 galleries from Australia and beyond showing work by more than 500 artists. Since it started in 2013, Sydney Contemporary has drawn over 250,000 visitors and racked up more than $154 million in art sales.

The fair spans four sectors: Galleries, Futures, Works on Paper and Photo Sydney, alongside installations, talks and a kids’ art space. This year also sees the MA Art Prize increase to $25,000, awarded to one early-career artist showing at the fair.

Markets & Fairs

Glebe Artisan Market

Artisans Market Glebe features over 60 stalls offering original handmade products. Nothing is mass-produced.

You will find everything from fashion and ceramics to jewellery and homewares. This quarterly market is in its fourth year, and it’s a great chance to find some original Christmas gifts or souvenirs. As well as checking out the goods and talking to the stallholders, you can relax and listen to live music.

When: 5 September 2026
Where: TRAMSHEDS, Upper Level & Lower Level 1 Dalgal Way, Forest Lodge

The Big Design Market Sydney

Australia’s ultimate shopping destination is back – bigger, bolder and brighter than ever where there will be over 200 stallholders & delicious food & drink experiences. Expect a fresh lineup of boutique homewares, handmade ceramics, limited-edition art prints, Australian-made fashion, unique jewellery, stationery and much more.

Plus, for the first time, there’ll be a fashion parade showcasing gorgeous pieces from our apparel brands which you definitely won’t want to miss!

When: 19-21 September 2026
Where: Carriageworks, Wilson St, Eveleigh
Cost: Adults: $6, Kids (0-12 yrs) free tickets online here or at the door.  

Watson’s Bay Spring Market

This annual spring market held at one of the city’s most beautiful harbour locations features over 100 stalls selling handmade homewares, art, and clothing for the whole family, even your pets!

Plenty of Christmas gift ideas including candles, skincare products, gifts, wrapping paper and gourmet food.

When: 13 September 2026
Where: Robinson Park, Watson’s Bay (right next to the ferry wharf)

While you are there take a walk out to the lighthouse for some of the finest views in the city.

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Theatre: Musicals, Opera, and Drama

My Fair Lady

My Fair Lady comes to the Sydney Opera House for a 70th anniversary season, based on Julie Andrews’ 2016 Australian production. It’s the story of Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower seller taken on by phonetics professor Henry Higgins, who bets he can pass her off as a duchess by teaching her to speak “properly”. The score includes “Wouldn’t It Be Loverly” and “I Could Have Danced All Night”.

Olivier Award winner Nathaniel Parker plays Professor Henry Higgins opposite Australian soprano Claire Lyon as Eliza. Reg Livermore returns as Alfred P. Doolittle, Robyn Nevin as Mrs Higgins and Tony Llewellyn-Jones as Colonel Pickering, with Anne Wood as Mrs Pearce and Freddy Hellier making his mainstage debut as Freddy Eynsford-Hill.

When: 12 September 2026 (season continues through September)
Where: Sydney Opera House
Cost: From $149

Heathers

Heathers the Musical is a dark comedy with a killer soundtrack, based on the 1989 film starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. It follows Veronica Sawyer, a nobody who gets pulled into the orbit of the school’s three most powerful (and cruellest) girls, all named Heather. When new student J.D. arrives, what starts as a fantasy of fitting in turns into something much darker.

The show mixes sharp, funny writing with genuinely dark subject matter. It’s rated for ages 14 and up, and touches on murder, suicide and eating disorders, so it’s not one for younger family members.

When: Roslyn Packer Theatre, 1–19 Sept. & Coliseum Theatre, 26–29 August 2026
Where: Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay
Cost: Ticket prices and on-sale details via heathersthemusical.com

Lion King

Disney’s flagship musical continues at the Capitol Theatre with a strong local cast. Daniel Frederiksen plays Scar, Buyi Zama returns as Rafiki for the third time in Australia, and Nick Afoa, who debuted on the Sydney stage as Simba twelve years ago, comes back as Mufasa. Aphiwe Nyezi takes on Simba, with Emily Nkomo as Nala and Jamie McGregor and Rutene Spooner as Timon and Pumbaa.

When: From 18 April 2026 (ongoing through May and beyond)
Where: Capitol Theatre, Sydney
Cost: $60 Tickets via the show website or Ticketek

Music and Dance

Night at the Barracks

Find yourself captivated once more by some of the biggest names in music set against this mesmerising backdrop steeped in history and natural beauty, perched high above Sydney Harbour in Manly. A premium open-air experience like no other!

When: 11 September – 3 October 2026
Where: The Barracks Precinct, North Head Sanctuary, Manly
Cost: from $89. More details here.

State Library of NSW 200th Anniversary Festival

The State Library of NSW turns 200 this year, marking the milestone with a six-week program of performances and free live music running through September and October. Four headline works make up the core of the program, each inspired by the Library’s collection.

• RECLAIM: A Contemporary Ceremony, from director and choreographer Stephen Page, reawakens stories of First Nations resistance and leadership held in the Library’s collection.
• Earth Flow: from yidaki player and composer William Barton, is a large-scale musical work on the theme of passing down knowledge, featuring family, friends and some of Sydney’s best musicians and choristers.
• The Scott Sisters: Pioneers of Science and Art blends animation, live classical music and readings, inspired by 19th-century illustrators and naturalists Harriet and Helena Scott.
• A Night at the Library: from Bell Shakespeare, is written for younger audiences and follows a student who gets stuck overnight in the Library.

When: 11 September and 29 September – 1 October
Where: State Library of NSW, Macquarie Street
Cost: Tickets on sale from July

Rinse & Triptych: Homecoming Dance Season

Two Australian choreographers who’ve built international reputations are bringing their work home to the Sydney Opera House this September.

Rinse is a solo dance-theatre piece by Bundjalung and Ngāpuhi artist Amrita Hepi, blending physical dance with spoken text to explore endings and new beginnings. It’s toured Europe, the UK and Canada since debuting as the first Australian work performed at Festival d’Avignon.

Triptych is a triple-bill of short works by Bungandidj and Ngarrindjeri choreographer Lewis Major, performed by four dancers and built around lighting and sound as much as movement. It’s picked up awards at both the Adelaide and Edinburgh Fringe Festivals. You can book them separately or as a package.

When: Rinse, 10–12 September 2026 (Playhouse) / Triptych, 16–19 September 2026 (Studio)
Where: Sydney Opera House
Cost: From $59 + booking fee, concessions available (or $95 for both shows as a package)

Oz Comic-Con

Oz Comic-Con caters to all, whether you identify as a Muggle, a Marshmallow, an Earper, a Jedi, a Whovian, or even if you’re completely unfamiliar with these terms. As long as you have a love for popular culture and enjoy a fun-filled day out, we have something exciting waiting for you!

When: 12-13 September 2026
Where: Sydney Showground

Film

Sydney Underground Film Festival

The Sydney Underground Film Festival turns 20 this year, moving to a new home at The Factory Theatre in Marrickville.

Expect four days of independent and experimental film, from documentaries to full-blown cult cinema, put together by people who’ve spent two decades hunting down the strange and the brilliant. Full program drops 15 August, with earlybird passes on sale now.

When: 10–13 September 2026
Where: The Factory Theatre, Marrickville
Cost: Earlybird passes available now (limited numbers) via suff.com.au

Dead Poets Society: Introduced by Peter Weir

As part of Australian Poetry Month, the Opera House screens the classic Dead Poets Society with a special introduction from the film’s director, Peter Weir, alongside Red Room Poetry Artistic Director David Stavanger.

Robin Williams plays an unconventional English teacher at a strict boys’ school, encouraging his students to think for themselves and, famously, seize the day. It’s a coming-of-age story that’s stayed popular since it came out in 1989, and this screening is a rare chance to hear from the director himself beforehand.

When: 5 September 2026
Where: Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
Cost: $30 Ticket via sydneyoperahouse.com

Food and Drinks

Five Dock “Little Italy” Food Tour

Discover one of Sydney’s original Italian Communities on this walking tour of Five Dock and discover their passion and taste their delicious products!

This is a great experience for locals or visitors to Sydney wanting to see a slice of everyday life.

When: September dates not yet released
Where: Meet in front of Fred Kelly Place, just back off Great North Road Five Dock
Tickets: $75 per person (includes one coffee and 4 tastings Book here

Sports and Outdoors

Regional Events

Coastal Forage

Taste, walk and discover the Shoalhaven coast on this progressive dining event. Coastal Forage takes you along 5–6km of Jervis Bay coastline, stopping at ten food stations for a 10-course meal paired with local wines and spirits. Long-term partners on the food and drink side include Bangalay Dining, Cupitt’s Winery, Paperbark Camp, Old Salt Distillery and John Harley Seafood.

The walk starts at Moona Moona Creek Reserve, in groups of 20–25 leaving every 10–15 minutes, and finishes at Orion’s Beach, where a van takes you back to the start. It’s flat and easy underfoot, so it suits most fitness levels. This is an 18+ event and dietary requirements can’t be catered for.

When: Saturday 12 & Sunday 13 September 2026
Where: Starts at Moona Moona Creek Reserve, Jervis Bay
Cost: $225pp, includes the 10-course degustation with matched drinks at 8 stations

Dapto Country Show 

Experience a day of agricultural fun at the Dapto Country Show. Get up close with farmyard favorites at the animal petting zoo, witness the skills of sheep shearers and whip crackers, and learn about reptiles at the live shows. Meet Charlie the Braham Steer and Hephner the Alpaca.

When: TBC
Where: The Groundz Precinct “Dapto Showground” 89 Princes Highway, Dapto

Tulip Time

Experience a burst of colours and floral enchantment at the Tulip Time Festival in the Southern Highlands. The focus of Tulip Time is the spectacular display of 80,000 mass-planted tulips. The breathtaking display of colours and designs is based on a bright spring theme.

Tulip Time will feature daily entertainment, popular food and market stalls, along with the Country Women’s Association (CWA) homemade scones and sandwiches to raise funds for their wonderful community organisation.

When: TBC
Where: Corbett Gardens, Bendooley Street, Bowral

Main image credit: Festival of the Winds Bondi Beach – Supplied Destination NSW