Sydney, 20 August 2026: The Rocks will unlock its creative soul this September, with Art and Culture Month, a celebration of art, music and culture launching across Sydney’s oldest precinct.
The month-long program brings Sydneysiders together for live music, comedy, and a self-guided art trail, with weekend workshops in the laneways of The Rocks letting visitors express themselves along the way. The celebration reaches its finale with the Unbound: Street Performance Festival on 26–27 September, taking over the historic streets with giant puppets, aerial acrobats, roving performers, a DIY disco and a conga line parade.
From Jazz Sessions and Unfiltered comedy nights to weekend markets and workshops under The Bridge, The Rocks is live, local and open to everyone, packed with free events all month long. Whether you’ve got a spare hour after work or a full weekend to explore, there’s something for you.
Whilst the historic streets become a stage for local artists, performers and creative experiences, dining offers continue throughout September, making it easy to pair an evening of live music, comedy or culture with a long lunch, dinner or post-show drink.
Program Highlights – full run of activity available here
Daytime at The Rocks
By day, The Rocks will be a hub of hands-on creativity and discovery:
• Sunday Workshops: Get creative at Dawes Point Park from 10.30am–12pm, with a plein-air painting session with artist Jane Tryon (6 September), learning the art of weaving (13 September), and sketching the sights of The Rocks (20 September)
• Record Rummage: Dig through vinyls each Sunday with a pop-up record market in The Rocks Square • The Rocks Markets: Browse local makers, artists and food traders each Friday to Sunday, 10am–5pm, with trading hours extending over the Unbound finale weekend.
Nights at The Rocks
As the sun sets each night, the laneways will hum with live music, comedy and after-hours culture: • Unfiltered: Each Friday night at The Rocks Square, enjoy performances including improv from Improv Theatre Sydney, poetry slams with word Travels and stand-up comedy MC’d by Jake Howie. • FBi Presents Unscripted:Every Friday, listen to live, unscripted conversations with emerging musicians and creatives at the Discovery Museum.
• MCA Up Late:Each Thursday, the Museum of Contemporary Art brings together art and ideas after dark. • The Rocks Art Trail: For one-night-only (10 September), follow a self-guided gallery trail with nibbles and chat to artists including Shazia Imran, Atty and Squidinki.
• Jazz Sessions: Listen to a new live jazz artist each Thursday in The Rocks Square.
Unbound: Street Performance Festival
Closing out Art and Culture Month, Unbound: Street Performance Festival on 26–27 September, turns The Rocks into a full-scale takeover, with George Street closed as performers spill into every laneway: • Markets: Unbound Edition (10am–7pm): Browse the festival edition of The Markets at First Fleet Park • My Confessions (10am–6pm): Share a secret at the confession booth on George Street • Street Performers (11am–6pm): Marvel at buskers, circus acts, acrobats and interactive performers • Your Disco Needs You (11am–7pm): Step under the mirror walls and disco balls at First Fleet Park
• Curious Legends (11.30am–3.30pm): Giant puppets roam, including a fire spirit and bin chicken • Tour de Rocks: Join a rolling conga parade around the laneways, from First Fleet Park to the Cellar Door • The Talking Lamp posts (1pm–6pm): Chat to cheeky roving lamppost characters at Jack Mundey Place • Woine Toime (Saturday, 3pm–5pm):Enjoy an afternoon of wine with Kath and Kim at NSW Wine Cellar Door at Dawes Point Park
• Legs on the Wall (Sunday, 3pm–5pm): Look up at as aerial performance in First Fleet Park EVENT DETAILS
What: Unlock The Rocks: Art and Culture month
When: 1-30 September 2026
Unbound: Street Performance Festival – 26 & 27 September
Where: The Rocks, Sydney (easy access by ferry, bus, train and light rail)
Full program details: HERE
Imagery available: HERE
