Photo: City of Sydney
What’s On in Sydney – November 2025
November is Sydney’s sweet spot: late-spring weather, jacarandas peaking, and the city warming up for summer season. Expect open-house architecture, design markets, major stadium gigs, brilliant exhibitions, film festivals and plenty of harbour-side food and drink.
If you’re new to The Global Game, start here, explore Sydney Adventures, or jump into our Sydney City Memo for neighbourhood intel.
Pop Culture & Community:
Concerts & Music:
Art & Exhibitions:
Festivals & Special Events:
Theatre, Performance & Musicals:
Sport:
Food, Drink & Nightlife:
Workshops & Learning:
Conferences & Expos:
Want more What’s On details?
Pop Culture & Community:
- Sydney Open
- Dates: Sun 2 Nov 2025
- Where: Across Sydney (55+ buildings)
- Details: A one-day deep-dive into Sydney’s architecture and hidden spaces.
- Rhythm n Bubs
- Dates: Wednesdays, 5 Nov 2025 – 25 Mar 2026 (10:30am–11:15am)
- Where: Playground Lawn, Darling Quarter
- Details: Free music sessions for kids 1–5 (singalongs, percussion, movement).
- Arts & Cultural Exchange 40th Anniversary: Cosmic Connections
- Dates: Sat 22 Nov 2025 (4pm–10pm)
- Where: ACE, 8 Victoria Rd, Parramatta
- Details: One-night family arts festival: dance, music, films, runway + kids workshop.
- Sydney Writers’ Festival – Family Day
- Dates: Sun 23 Nov 2025 (10am–4pm)
- Where: State Library of NSW
- Details: Kids lit celebration: author sessions, workshops, story bus + hands-on activities.
- Blak Markets
- Dates: Sun 30 Nov 2025 (10am–4pm)
- Where: Tallawoladah Lawn, The Rocks
- Details: Indigenous-owned market for art, jewellery, homewares + food.
Concerts & Music:
- Oasis — Sydney shows (Accor Stadium)
- Dates: Fri 7 & Sat 8 Nov 2025
- Where: Accor Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park
- Details: Huge stadium nights (tickets / tour coverage via New Idea).
- Sydney Symphony Orchestra — Mozart’s “Jupiter” Symphony
- Dates: Sat–Sun 8–9 Nov 2025
- Where: Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall)
- Details: Mozart’s final symphony, conducted by Simone Young.
- Cabaret at TEATRO (inaugural season)
- Dates: 4–22 Nov 2025
- Where: TEATRO, Italian Forum, Leichhardt
- Details: Rotating cabaret lineup (iOTA, Ursula Yovich, Genevieve Lemon + more).
- Kacey Musgraves — Sydney Opera House debut
- Dates: Wed–Thu 19–20 Nov 2025 (8pm)
- Where: Sydney Opera House (Concert Hall)
- Details: Two headline shows showcasing “Deeper Well” + catalogue favourites.
- Love Reggaeton Fest — Nicky Jam (Humanitix)
- Dates: Sat 29 Nov 2025 (1pm–10:30pm)
- Where: Cockatoo Island
- Details: Full-day festival format on the harbour.
Art & Exhibitions:
- Mike Hewson: The Key’s Under the Mat
- Dates: On now (until 1 Jun 2026)
- Where: The Tank, Art Gallery of NSW
- Details: A playful, interactive “utopia” under the gallery — community-made wonderland.
- Dangerously Modern: Australian Women Artists in Europe 1890–1940
- Dates: On now (until 15 Feb 2026)
- Where: Art Gallery of NSW
- Details: 50 trailblazing artists; modernism, travel, and a seat at the table.
- Head On Photo Festival
- Dates: 7–30 Nov 2025
- Where: Bondi Beach Promenade, Bondi Pavilion, Paddington Reservoir Gardens
- Details: Exhibitions + events across the month (many free).
- Australian Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year (20th anniversary)
- Dates: On now (plus workshops 22–23 Nov)
- Where: Australian National Maritime Museum precinct & associated venues
- Details: 120 images + optional photography workshops.
- Ocean Photographer of the Year
- Dates: From late Nov 2025
- Where: Australian National Maritime Museum
- Details: Underwater and ocean imagery from around the globe.
Festivals & Special Events:
- Stargazer Cinema at Barangaroo
- Dates: Thursdays (until 20 Nov 2025), doors 6pm / films 7pm
- Where: Walumil Lawn, Barangaroo Reserve
- Details: Free outdoor cinema celebrating First Nations storytelling (BYO picnic vibes).
- Japanese Film Festival
- Dates: 12 Nov – 1 Dec 2025
- Where: Palace cinemas (Norton St / Moore Park / Central) + AGNSW
- Details: New releases, anime and special series screenings.
- Finders Keepers Market
- Dates: Fri 14 Nov (4pm–9pm); Sat–Sun 15–16 Nov (10am–5pm)
- Where: Carriageworks, Eveleigh
- Details: Design market: makers, DJs, food and bars (great for gift-hunting).
- Moonlight Cinema Sydney (ellaslist)
- Dates: From 21 Nov 2025 (until 5 Apr 2026)
- Where: Belvedere Amphitheatre, Centennial Park
- Details: Summer outdoor movie season — picnic blankets, premium lounges optional.
- Sydney International Art Series (Sydney Point)
- Dates: From 21 Nov 2025 (runs into 2026)
- Where: Multiple venues across Sydney
- Details: Major international exhibitions across the summer season.
Theatre, Performance & Musicals:
- The True History of the Life and Death of King Lear and his Three Daughters
- Dates: 15 Nov 2025 – 4 Jan 2026
- Where: Belvoir St Theatre, Surry Hills
- Details: Belvoir takes King Lear back to its roots (Time Out pick).
- The Book of Mormon
- Dates: On now (until 31 Dec 2025)
- Where: Capitol Theatre, Haymarket
- Details: The famously irreverent musical returns to Sydney (Time Out).
- Back to the Future: The Musical
- Dates: Throughout November (check session times)
- Where: Sydney Lyric Theatre, Pyrmont
- Details: Big-stage spectacle with time-travelling nostalgia.
- Calamity Jane
- Dates: Throughout November (check performances)
- Where: Sydney Opera House
- Details: Virginia Gay in the Golden Garter Saloon — wit, heart and Wild West energy.
- Naturism
- Dates: Throughout November (check performances)
- Where: Sydney Theatre Company / Griffin Theatre Company season
- Details: A sharp new comedy about hope, delusion and disaster.
Sport:
- Southern Sydney Marine Expo
- Dates: Sat 8 Nov 2025 (10am–4pm)
- Where: Marina Bayside, 1–13 Mangrove Ln, Taren Point
- Details: Free family day: vessel demos, jet ski performances, comps and food trucks.
- Yoga in the Park (free weekly)
- Dates: Every Sunday (9:30am)
- Where: Dawes Point Park (under the Bridge)
- Details: Easy weekly ritual with harbour air and skyline views.
- Jacaranda season walks & photo spots
- Dates: Mid-Oct to late Nov (peak bloom varies)
- Where: Kirribilli, Lavender Bay, Circular Quay, Glebe + more
- Details: Plan a purple-haze stroll (ellaslist has a great location roundup).
- Stadium “ROCKvember” gigs (concert season spillover)
- Dates: All month (major headline weekends)
- Where: Sydney Olympic Park / Accor Stadium precinct
- Details: Sydney’s November concert run turns the city into a live-music magnet.
Food, Drink & Nightlife:
- Spirits & Bites at Barangaroo
- Dates: 14–16 Nov 2025
- Where: Manjit’s Restaurant, Barangaroo
- Details: 70+ premium spirits with canapés (18+).
- Five Dock “Little Italy” Food Tour
- Dates: Sun 9 Nov 2025 (9am)
- Where: Meet near Fred Kelly Place, Five Dock
- Details: Walk, taste, and meet the makers (coffee + tastings included).
- Paddo Inn: Cocktails & Crime Stories
- Dates: Mon 24 Nov 2025 (6:30pm arrival / 7pm start)
- Where: Paddo Inn, 338 Oxford St, Paddington
- Details: True crime talk + themed cocktails + canapés.
- Tongue Tied (Late‑night Sundays)
- Dates: Sundays from 2 Nov 2025 (into Jan 2026)
- Where: Pleasure Club, 6 Wilson St, Newtown
- Details: DJs + live sets, a proper Sunday night reset.
- Wine Island: A Holiday on the Harbour
- Dates: Fri 29 Nov – Sun 1 Dec 2025
- Where: Gap Bluff, Watsons Bay
- Details: Palm-tree “island” pop-up: tastings, food and harbour views.
Workshops & Learning:
- Fix‑it Hub (repair café) — The Coal Loader
- Dates: Sat 8 Nov 2025 (10:30am–1pm)
- Where: The Mess Hall, The Coal Loader, Waverton
- Details: Bring broken items and learn repair skills (Humanitix listing).
- Wildlife Photography Workshop (Nature Photographer of the Year)
- Dates: Sat–Sun 22–23 Nov 2025
- Where: Linked to the Nature Photographer exhibition programme
- Details: Hands-on workshops (beginner and intermediate sessions).
- The Last Stronghold — Medieval VR Adventure
- Dates: Tickets on sale until 30 Dec 2025
- Where: Fever Pavilion, Sydney Showground
- Details: 45-min VR journey + free-roam fortress exploration.
- Pop‑up book creation + kids’ workshops (Writers’ Festival Family Day)
- Dates: Sun 23 Nov 2025
- Where: State Library of NSW
- Details: Multiple bookmaking / illustration sessions (bookings for many).
Conferences & Expos:
- Sydney International On‑Water Boat Show
- Dates: 13–16 Nov 2025
- Where: Darling Harbour
- Details: Twilight hours, yachts, marine tech + waterfront entertainment.
- Affordable Art Fair Sydney
- Dates: 6–9 Nov 2025
- Where: Carriageworks, Eveleigh
- Details: Independent galleries + thousands of original works (from $100).
- Flesh and Blood — The Calling Sydney 2025 (Humanitix)
- Dates: Fri 31 Oct – Sun 2 Nov 2025
- Where: Hurstville
- Details: Multi-day competitive event with side events and finals.
- Bubbles & Bargains Sydney (Humanitix)
- Dates: Sat 22 Nov 2025
- Where: Sydney (see Humanitix for venue)
- Details: Fundraiser fashion sale: designer pre-loved + new-with-tags.
Want more What’s On details?
End summary: November is the “do everything” month: design markets, photo festivals, blockbuster theatre, harbour pop-ups and stadium-scale music, all while Sydney’s jacarandas do their best work. If you’re only picking one weekend: go markets + symphony on the 8–9th, then roll straight into film festival season and end the month with The Rocks markets and a sunset drink at Watsons Bay.
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