Sydney

Arts and culture

Highlights

A diverse and vibrant cultural calendar

Sydney’s arts and culture line-up is one not to be missed. With internationally acclaimed performances on the city's many stages, award-winning festivals, and a number of exhibitions across the city’s many galleries and performance spaces, there’s something for everyone.

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Arts, culture and heritage in Sydney

Sydney boasts a vibrant arts and culture scene, with many galleries, museums and performance venues in the centre of the city and throughout inner Sydney.

Iconic venues such as the Sydney Opera House, State Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company and the Belvoir St Theatre host an array of great shows year-round. One of the highlights this season is Matilda the Musical, showing at the Sydney Lyric Theatre. Based on Roald Dahl’s famous children’s book, ‘Matilda’ has received rave reviews. With music and lyrics by the brilliant Australian comedian and composer Tim Minchin, this multi-award winning musical is not to be missed.

Be sure to check out the two major public Galleries in Sydney, the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA), which sits between The Rocks and Circular Quay, and the Art Gallery of NSW, which is located on the edge of The Domain in Woolloomooloo. Spread over five levels, the Art Gallery of NSW houses an extensive range of Australian Art, including one of the largest collections of Aboriginal Art in Australia.

The MCA lives up to its name, with a vibrant collection of contemporary works ranging from painting and photography to sculpture, installations, and time-based art from Australian and International artists. It is free to browse the main collection at both galleries, although special exhibitions usually require ticket purchase.

There are also plenty of fantastic museums to visit, ranging from the historical to the family-friendly. The Powerhouse Museum in Ultimo focuses on creative, interactive and scientific displays, with 12 permanent exhibitions complemented by a rotating program of dynamic temporary exhibitions; it's a great day out for the whole family.

The Australian Museum is a natural history museum which sits on the eastern side of Hyde Park. It was established in 1827 and is Australia’s first museum, showcasing extensive collections of cultural and historic artefacts. The Museum of Sydney, built on the site of the first Government House, focuses on Sydney's people, places and cultures from ancient times through to modern.