Justine Clarke returns in Dennis Kelly’s acclaimed one-woman drama, beginning as a funny love story before turning into a devastating examination of marriage, power and family.

Emily Steel’s sharp black comedy takes audiences inside Parliament House for a fast-moving satire of political ambition, culture wars, motherhood and the compromises of power.

David Williamson’s witty legal drama pits ambition against integrity as a barrister and legal-aid solicitor confront professional compromises, family tensions and the cost of success.

Jorjia Gillis’s new comedy follows a young Martu mother searching for community among an eccentric Inner West mothers’ group, skewering modern parenting culture with warmth and bite.

Steven Moffat’s acclaimed dark comedy of manners follows a painfully polite English couple who discover their overbearing American houseguest may be a serial killer.

A powerful Australian documentary following human-rights lawyer Jennifer Robinson as she challenges the use of defamation law to silence survivors and journalists.

A clever Gen-Z indie horror about four friends trapped on an apparently endless road, mixing cosmic dread, dark humour and an unexpectedly thoughtful coming-of-age story.

Na Hong-jin’s ambitious Korean genre epic follows a remote village confronting a mysterious creature, blending science fiction, action and psychological thriller with an international cast.

Wile E. Coyote finally takes ACME to court in a fast, funny live-action/animation comedy starring Will Forte and John Cena — a strong younger and family-friendly choice.

Ethan Hawke and Russell Crowe lead a tense 1930s crime drama about prisoners smuggling gold through dangerous wilderness, with betrayal building inside the group.

A timely Sydney Contemporary conversation exploring how technology, social media and artificial intelligence are changing contemporary art, bringing artists and creative thinkers together for discussion and Q&A.

A lively evening devoted to Shirley Hazzard’s acclaimed Australian novel, hosted by The Secret Life of Books duo Jonty Claypole and Sophie Gee, combining literature, ideas and spirited discussion.

Part of the Library’s Homegrown program, this thought-provoking live event offers an unusual ideas-led experience in the Mitchell Building across three September sessions.

Tony Albert’s largest exhibition to date brings his sharp humour and distinctive visual language to a major survey of one of Australia’s leading First Nations contemporary artists.

A visually adventurous exhibition of contemporary Chinese art exploring myth in the modern world, inspired in part by Black Myth: Wukong and spanning physical, inner and cosmic journeys.

Marking 4A’s 30th anniversary, this intergenerational exhibition brings pioneering and younger Asian-Australian artists together to explore identity, memory, representation and cultural change.

A smaller independent-gallery pick: Kat Shapiro Wood’s September exhibition at Chalk Horse offers a chance to step outside Sydney’s major institutions and encounter a more emerging contemporary practice.

One for the younger pop audience: Australian singer-songwriter Kita Alexander celebrates her second album RAGE after a run that has included supporting Dua Lipa and major streaming success.

A major K-pop night for Smart’s younger audience, with South Korean group MAMAMOO bringing their Sydney concert to the Aware Super Theatre.

British punk pioneers The Damned mark 50 years with a farewell celebration spanning their influential punk, goth and alternative-rock catalogue.

The internationally acclaimed ABBA tribute show delivers the glitter, costumes and huge singalong hits in an exuberant night designed to work across generations.

The Australian Chamber Orchestra turns to Mozart’s final symphonies for the classical selection — an uplifting program showcasing the orchestra at its energetic best.

Hamed Sadeghi launches Comfortable with an eight-piece ensemble blending Middle Eastern musical traditions and contemporary jazz, alongside the Zela Margossian Quintet.

Acclaimed guitarist and composer Julian Lage celebrates the tenth anniversary of his solo debut World’s Fair — a sophisticated contemporary guitar concert with broad jazz appeal.

A contemporary Australian club-sized gig at Oxford Art Factory, adding a younger local voice and a very different scale and atmosphere from the month’s arena and concert-hall selections.

A tiny laneway café with a loyal following for excellent coffee and polished all-day breakfast and brunch. A good excuse to explore Llankelly Place and Potts Point.

A sophisticated new north-side coffee nook from experienced Sydney café talent, pairing precision coffee with house-baked treats — an easy breakfast or morning-coffee discovery.

Sydney’s historic old pub makes an atmospheric casual stop in The Rocks, with pub food, beer and plenty of character without requiring a special-occasion budget.

Hidden down a CBD laneway, this convincing English-style tavern offers an unusually atmospheric pub experience with classic British-leaning food and a strong city-night-out feel.

A small independent Korean restaurant singled out among Sydney’s best new restaurants of 2026, with casual energy, chewy kimchi noodles and a one-man-kitchen feel.

A lively Chinatown Thai option for an inexpensive night out, with a broad menu and late trading — useful when the aim is flavour and fun rather than fine dining.

Fast, casual Japanese udon in the city at genuinely low prices. A strong cheap-eat selection for students, younger subscribers or anyone wanting an uncomplicated meal.

A well-liked Vietnamese city eatery offering an accessible, casual option for noodles and Vietnamese favourites, with prices that keep it firmly out of special-occasion territory.

A highly rated neighbourhood Italian restaurant in Waterloo with approachable pricing — the sort of local discovery Smart should surface rather than another expensive CBD dining room.

A focused Thai chicken-and-rice specialist in Haymarket: casual, affordable and distinctive enough to turn a simple meal into something worth making a trip for.