01
Sep
30
Sep
1-30 September
Art & Culture Month
Enjoy free live music, comedy, poetry, Sydney Fringe Sideshow, special events at The Rocks Markets and more!
When
Monday,
01 Sep 2025
Tuesday,
30
Sep 2025
This September, The Rocks will celebrate all things art, creativity, connection and community.
Get ready for the electric energy of the Sydney Fringe Sideshow, attend a powerful Australian Poetry Slam Heat where you get to settle in, cheer on and elect this year's winner, laugh out loud at a Comedy Showdown and hunt for vinyl treasures at the Record Rummage.
Immerse yourself in soulful sounds at Jazz Sessions and The Lunch Set, and celebrate Indigenous culture at the Blak Markets. This inspiring mix of performances, markets, music, and more invites you to rediscover The Rocks as a thriving hub of art and culture.
Image credit: Lindy Lee, Secret World of a Starlight Ember, 2020. Installation view, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2020. Stainless steel, LED.
What's On
Free Comedy Showdown
Gather your friends and get ready for a night of spontaneous comedy! The Comedy Showdown at The Rocks Square puts you right in the middle of the action. Watch as Sydney's best improv comedians create hilarious, never-before-seen scenes based on your suggestions. You'll even get to help them out by spinning a giant wheel of ridiculous challenges. Save the date, Wednesday 10 September 6pm-8pm.
Free Australian Poetry Slam Heat
Join the nation-wide search for the people’s poet! Local poets get two minutes to wow with their ideas in the form of spoken word, and the audience sends two of these writers to represent The Rocks in the Sydney Final at the Sydney Opera House. Settle in and cheer on the bards as they compete for the glory. Save the date, Wednesday 17 September 6pm-9pm.
The Art Trail
Join us for an exclusive Art Trail on Wednesday 24 September, from 5-9pm, where you'll embark on a journey through three unique galleries along George St. This is an opportunity to meet the creative minds behind the masterpieces. Mingle with the internationally acclaimed Shazia Imran, the whimsical designs by Max Mendez from Squidinki and representatives from the legendary Ken Done gallery.
Free First Nations Weaving Workshop
Connect with culture through this unique weaving workshop and create your own special piece to take home. Looking for a unique and hands-on experience that celebrates Sydney’s rich Aboriginal heritage? Discover the traditional art of weaving, a skill that was integral to the daily lives of local mobs around Warrane (Sydney Harbour). Save the date, Saturday 20 September from 10.30am-12pm at Dawes Point Park.
Record Rummage
Spin into Sundays at Record Rummage! Dig through crates and discover vinyl treasures at this pop-up, meet knowledgeable stallholders, connect with fellow music enthusiasts, and take home a record that sparks nostalgia or new memories. Open Sundays from 14 - 28 September in The Rocks Square, 10am-5pm.
The Rocks self-guided Art Tour
Wander through The Rocks and witness the public pop-up art curated by Array. As part of Art & Culture Month, The Rocks self-guided Art Tour, Seen Unseen, curated by Array invites you to look closer, to notice what usually slips past the eye. It celebrates beauty in all its forms: hidden or in plain sight, fresh or weathered, bold or quietly overlooked.
Wildflower's Native Botanicals Display
All month long wander through an immersive installation of native botanical gardens at Circular Quay and First Fleet Park, designed by Indigenous landcare experts, Wildflower. Explore four unique gardens that tell the story of bush food, native ingredients, and the deep connection to Country—all right in the heart of The Rocks.
The Rocks Markets
Celebrate creativity and culture at The Rocks Markets this September with free hands-on workshops, inspiring artists and vibrant cultural experiences for all to enjoy.
06
Sep
Plein Air Painting
Nurture your creativity amongst the vibrant scenery of The Rocks and Sydney Harbour with Focal Point Paintings. Learn composition, colour and brushwork in an inspiring setting.
View Event
01
Sep
30
Sep
Meet the Artist
Discover the Art Trail at The Rocks Markets, a celebration of creativity featuring original artworks, prints, and photography from local and international artists. Explore, connect, and find the perfect piece to take home.
View Event
13
Sep
Pop-Up Art Cube
For one day only join artists from The Rocks Markets to create a unique artwork on our special pop-up art cube at Dawes Point Park.
View Event
27
Sep
28
Sep
10am-5pm
NSW Wine Cellar Door
Discover the best of NSW’s wines at the Cellar Door experience next on 27 and 28 September.
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Events not to be missed
07
Jun
19
Oct
Cerith Wyn Evans .... in light of the visible
Major international exhibition , exclusive to the MCA Australia
View Event
06
Aug
20
Jul
Ricky Swallow, Bent Forms #1–#4
Ricky Swallow’s Loti Smorgon Sculpture Terrace Commission transforms four everyday stainless steel spoons into something unfamiliar by altering their scale and context.
View Event
14
Aug
15
Feb
A Conversation with the Sun (Afterimage): Apichatpong Weerasethakul
A dynamic new film installation created especially for the MCA Australia.
View Event
26
Sep
01
Apr
Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn Commission
Opening 26 Sept - A monumental new sculpture by internationally renowned artist Thomas J Price, the first inaugural Neil Balnaves Tallawoladah Lawn
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01
Sep
01
Sep
MCA Art Play
Ignite your little one’s curiosity, wonder and creativity with MCA Art Play for 0-5 year olds.
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01
Sep
01
Sep
MCA Daily Guided Exhibition Tours
Join exhibition curators, artist educators and hosts for behind-the-scenes details and insight into key works on display.
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Canvas
Canvas enters a new season of culinary storytelling at the Museum of Contemporary Art
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