Photo: Destination NSW

What’s On in Sydney – October 2025

October hits Sydney at full tilt: Grand Final Sunday roars into Accor Stadium, SXSW Sydney spills music, screen and ideas across the CBD, The Everest turns Randwick electric, and the Opera House ramps up with Rent, family shows and hands-on workshops. Add Halloween at Luna Park, Diwali lights in Harris Park and coastal art season, and you’ve got a month built for big days and late nights.
If you’re new to The Global Game, learn how it works here, or jump into our Sydney City Memo for more 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:

1. Transport Heritage Expo
   • Dates: 4–6 Oct
   • Where: Central Station & surrounds
   • Details: Steam train rides, bus tours and heritage displays for the long weekend.
2. NRL & NRLW Grand Final Fan Week
   • Dates: 30 Sep – 5 Oct
   • Where: Darling Harbour & Accor Stadium
   • Details: Team appearances, merch and live entertainment ahead of Grand Final Sunday.
3. Diwali Lights – Parramatta & Harris Park
   • Dates: mid–late Oct
   • Where: Little India precinct
   • Details: Local light displays, dance and street food across the suburb.
4. Halloscream Preview Nights (Family Evenings)
   • Dates: late Oct (Fri–Sat evenings)
   • Where: Luna Park Sydney
   • Details: Kid-friendly early Halloween fun before the full-fright nights.

Concerts & Music:

1. ACO Families – Where to Hide a Star
   • Dates: 1–11 Oct
   • Where: ACO Pier 2/3, Walsh Bay
   • Details: Whimsical music adventure for children and carers.
2. Mario the Maker Magician
   • Dates: 2–12 Oct
   • Where: Playhouse, Sydney Opera House
   • Details: High-energy mix of illusions, comedy and contraptions.
3. Musical Wanderlust (Utzon Room)
   • Date: 5 Oct
   • Where: Sydney Opera House
   • Details: Chamber recital series set beneath the sails.
4. Sydney Symphony Orchestra – Mahler 5
   • Dates: 9–11 Oct
   • Where: Concert Hall, SOH
   • Details: Simone Young conducts Mahler’s towering Fifth Symphony.
5. Classical Under the Stars
   • Date: 25 Oct
   • Where: The Domain
   • Details: Free open-air concert with the Opera Australia Orchestra.

Art & Exhibitions:

1. Public Art & Spring Exhibitions – AGNSW + MCA
   • Dates: all October
   • Where: The Domain / Circular Quay
   • Details: Major shows, new commissions and outdoor installations.
2. Sculpture by the Sea (Bondi–Tamarama)
   • Dates: 24 Oct – 10 Nov
   • Where: Bondi Coastal Walk
   • Details: 100+ works transform the clifftop path into a temporary gallery.
3. Powerhouse Ultimo – “Designing Tomorrow”
   • Dates: from 11 Oct
   • Details: Futurism-inspired design exhibition exploring sustainability and innovation.

Festivals & Special Events:

1. NRL & NRLW Grand Finals
   • Date: 5 Oct
   • Where: Accor Stadium
   • Details: Two premiership deciders on one huge day.
2. MindBodySpirit Festival
   • Dates: 9–12 Oct
   • Where: ICC Sydney Exhibition Centre
   • Details: Australia’s largest wellness and inspiration expo.
3. SXSW Sydney 2025
   • Dates: 13–19 Oct
   • Where: CBD & Darling Harbour precincts
   • Details: Music, screen, games and tech festival with hundreds of events citywide.
4. The TAB Everest
   • Date: 18 Oct
   • Where: Royal Randwick Racecourse
   • Details: World’s richest turf sprint & the social event of spring.
5. Sydney Rare Book Week
   • Dates: 23–25 Oct
   • Where: State Library & city venues
   • Details: Talks, tours and collector sessions celebrating literary heritage.
6. Halloween Sydney
   • Dates: 30–31 Oct
   • Where: Citywide
   • Details: Costume parades, haunted pub nights and family trails around the harbour.

Theatre, Performance & Musicals:

1. Back to the Future: The Musical
   • Dates: 2 Oct. 2025 to 30 Jan. 2026
   • Where: Sydney Lyric Theatre
   • Details: Great Scott! The hit West End/Broadway show lands in Sydney.
2. Rent – The Musical
   • Dates: 2 Oct – 1 Nov
   • Where: Joan Sutherland Theatre, SOH
   • Details: Tony-winning rock musical on Sydney Harbour.
3. STC – The Shiralee
   • Dates: 6 Oct – late Nov
   • Where: Sydney Theatre Company
   • Details: Kate Mulvany’s new adaptation of D’Arcy Niland’s classic.

Sport:

1. NRL & NRLW Grand Finals (see above)
   • Date: 5 Oct
   • Where: Accor Stadium
2. The TAB Everest (see Festivals)
   • Date: 18 Oct
   • Where: Royal Randwick

Food, Drink & Nightlife:

1. Good Food Month Pop-Ups & Dining Specials
   • Dates: all October
   • Where: CBD & Inner Suburbs
   • Details: Chef collabs and secret menus across Sydney’s restaurants.
2. Halloscream at Luna Park
   • Dates: 24–31 Oct (selected nights)
   • Details: Sydney’s biggest Halloween event with mazes and rides after dark.

Workshops & Learning:

1. Leadership Development Workshop
   • Date: 4 Oct
   • Where: Mantra Parramatta
   • Details: Full-day career and skills training session.
2. SAE Create for a Day Workshops
   • Date: 11 Oct
   • Where: SAE Institute Chippendale
   • Details: Hands-on intro sessions in animation, film, audio and design.
3. ACT for Neurodivergence (ADHD & Autism)
   • Dates: 21–22 Oct
   • Where: Sydney (venue TBA)
   • Details: Two-day practical workshop by Dr Russ Harris on Acceptance & Commitment Therapy.

Conferences & Expos:

1. Charitable Reuse Conference 2025
   • Dates: 13–14 Oct
   • Where: UTS Aerial Function Centre
   • Details: Circular economy and social enterprise focus.
2. SXSW Sydney Conference Sessions
   • Dates: 13–19 Oct
   • Where: ICC Sydney & city venues
   • Details: Keynotes, ideas panels and interactive installations throughout the week.

Want more What’s On details?

1. • Destination NSW – What’s On in October
   • Sydney Opera House – Events
   • SXSW Sydney – Official Program
   • ATC – The Everest
   • Luna Park – Halloscream Tickets
   • Eventbrite Sydney – October Events

End summary: Sydney’s October shines with blockbuster finales, creative conferences and coastal sculpture walks. Between a Grand Final roar, SXSW’s neon buzz and Luna Park’s Halloween nights, the city hums from breakfast talks to midnight dancefloors