Plan your weekend with our guide to events in Newcastle
Have you made plans for this weekend yet? From markets and comedy gigs to live music and long lunches, there's always plenty happening in Newcastle. Keep reading for our guide to what's on this weekend in Newcastle, and start filling up your calendar.
List your event in our What's On Guide here
Please note: event information was accurate at the time of publication. Dates, times and details may change or events may be cancelled without notice. Please check with the organiser before attending.
JULY
Abbie Chatfield Loves Men | 14 Jul
Sharp comedy and cultural commentary from Abbie Chatfield, exploring modern masculinity, dating delusions and podcast philosophers, with games, guest interviews and chaotic moments. Time: 7pm. Cost: From $69.90.
Where: Civic Theatre, 375 Hunter St, Newcastle
Drink It. Sink It. Bank It: Cash Cup Tour | 14 Jul
Cash Cup Tour stop where players bounce ping pong balls into scoring buckets, chase instant prizes and compete for a top 20 venue spot in the Grand Final. Time: 5pm - 7pm. Cost: Schooner purchase required.
Where: Wests Cardiff, Munibung Rd, Cardiff
Damon Poppleton Jazz Quartet Show | 14 Jul
Sydney saxophonist and composer Damon Poppleton presents his take on the state of contemporary jazz today, performing original music alongside some of the songs that have made jazz a timeless and enduring genre. Cost: $25 General Admission, $20 for NIMA Members
Where: The Grand Hotel (presented by the Newcastle Improvised Music Association), 32 Church St, Newcastle
Bastille Day at The Anchorage | 14 July
Celebrate France's national day with Veuve Clicquot on arrival, canapés, a five-course French-inspired menu, live music, and an evening of Parisian-style indulgence. Cost: $169pp
Where: The Galley Kitchen at The Anchorage, Corlette NSW
Digitales: Storytime and Art | 16 July
A magical digital storytime experience followed by art-making and shadow play, designed for children aged 2 - 5. Free event
Where: Multi-Arts Pavilion, mima, 96 Creek Reserve Rd, Speers Point
Studio97 City Open Studios | 17 Jul
Celebrate the opening of Studio97 City with an evening showcasing its new private creative studios and the artists, makers and wellness practitioners who call the space home. Meet resident creatives, enjoy local boutique wines and brewers, and explore Newcastle's newest collaborative creative hub. Time: 5pm - 7pm. Cost: Free.
Where: Studio97 City, Level 2, 16 Bolton St, Newcastle East
Melt Gelato opens second store | 17 July
The team from Melt Gelato are opening a second shop in Whitebridge, with the soft launch on Saturday, July 11. The official launch day is Friday, July 17, with giveaways across both their new store at Whitebridge, and the OG at New Lambton. Buy any gelato product on 17/07/2026 and you'll go into the draw to win one of two $50 gift vouchers!
Where: 153 Dudley Rd, Whitebridge | 89 Regent St, New Lambton
Tom Cashman | 17 Jul
Tom Cashman is back with a new hour of stand-up that promises to creep ever so close to proficiency. You may know Tom from Taskmaster or TikTok or from his show descriptions which usually end very abru ". Cost: $35
Where: Newcastle Conservatorium, Cnr Laman Street, Auckland St, Newcastle
Leila Josefowicz & John Novacek | 17 Jul
Be kissed by a fairy, haunted by a dream and transformed by music as violin and piano duo Leila Josefowicz and John Novacek conjure up captivating Debussy and Szymanowski. Cost: $65
Where: Newcastle City Hall, 290 King St, Newcastle
Spiderbait | 17 Jul
Spiderbait, Australian rock ‘n’ roll royalty, are bringing their Ivy & The Big Apples 30th Anniversary Tour to Shoal Bay Country Club on Friday 17th July. Cost: $69.90
Where: Shoal Bay Country Club, 35-45 Shoal Bay Rd, Shoal Bay
The Bone Appétite | 17, 24, 31
Every Friday, expect a perfectly cooked bone-in 600g rib eye MBS 4, served with fries, mixed leaf salad, an assortment of mustards and house jus made for passing, and a bottle of bold South Australian red to keep the conversation flowing. Cost: $155
Where: Jana Restaurant, 185 Hunter St, Newcastle
Wendy Sharpe: Into The Dark Opening Night | 17 Jul
Opening night for Wendy Sharpe’s major site-responsive project, transforming The Lock-Up into immersive environments exploring climate crisis, conflict and the fragility of truth. Time: 6pm - 8pm. Cost: Tickets via Humanitix.
Where: The Lock-Up, 90 Hunter St, Newcastle
The Rhythm of July: DJ Julio & Samba Dancers | 18 Jul
Latin-inspired Saturday night at St. Lucia with waterfront dining, cocktails, live DJ sounds from DJ Julio and roaming samba dancers bringing colour and energy to Honeysuckle. Time: From 7pm. Cost: Menu price.
Where: St. Lucia, 1/11 Honeysuckle Dr, Newcastle
A Fun Wine Night with Giorgio De Maria | 18 Jul
Wine night hosted with Giorgio De Maria of Fun Wines, featuring artisanal natural wines sourced from Italy, France, Spain, Austria and Georgia, with à la carte menu available. Time: From 4:30pm. Cost: Menu price.
Where: Osteria Papazzo, 179 King St, Newcastle
Nazeem Hussain | 18 Jul
See Nazeem Hussain on his I'd Like To Tell You About Some Jokes tour. Cost: $40.65
Where: Newcastle City Hall, 290 King St, Newcastle
Fletcher Green Opening I Sat 18 Jul
Meet Shaynna Blaze, tour a stunning new display home, enjoy free food, prizes, cooking demos, and family entertainment. Free event
Where: Fletcher Green, Minmi
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | 16-19 Jul
Stoppard’s absurdist classic, presented by 14TR Productions is a witty, existential reimagining of Hamlet through its most bewildered minor characters, blending sharp comedy, wordplay, & existentialism. Cost: $32.50- $42.50
Where: Laneway Theatre, 90 De Vitre St, Lambton
Newcastle Comedy Festival | 17 - 30 Jul
Newcastle Comedy Festival returns with its biggest program yet, featuring a blockbuster gala, top Australian comedians, and a month-long lineup of stand-up, sketch and special events.
Where: Multiple venues across Newcastle
Bike school - City riding | 12-19 Jul
Free bike classes for high school students - get to know your way around the streets and bike paths as you learn how to be safe on the road, considerate on shared paths, predictable at intersections and more. Cost: Free
Where: Linden Street, Linden St, Tighes Hill
Wine N' Dine Newcastle: Weekend Two | 18 Jul
Self-guided progressive long lunch across four Newcastle venues, with signature dishes paired with Australian wines from Glover, Margan, Horner and Mercer. Time: 12pm - 3:30pm. Cost: $129pp.
Where: Multiple Venues, Newcastle, Newcastle
Drag Roast | 19 Jul
This July, The Drag Roast Tour - an Australian first - storms theatres nationwide, where glitter meets gut-punching comedy. The world’s fiercest and most notorious roasting queens will serve outrageous performances. Cost: $89-$99
Where: Newcastle Civic Theatre, 375 Hunter St, Newcastle
Exhibitions, Theatre & Workshops
Alumni | 4 - 15 Jul
Group exhibition celebrating LEDA Gallery artists past and present, bringing together works across disciplines, generations and creative journeys to mark the gallery’s evolving community. Time: Opening 4 Jul, 5pm - 7pm. Cost: Free.
Where: LEDA Gallery, 2/850 Hunter St, Newcastle West
Hunter Drama Presents: Matilda JR. | 9 – 19 Jul
Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved story and featuring Tim Minchin’s celebrated score, Matilda JR. is a high-energy family musical packed with humour, heart and rebellion. Starring 106 young performers across two alternating casts, this school holiday production promises plenty of revolting fun for audiences of all ages. Cost: $49.50
Where: Hunter Theatre, Newcastle
Print Circle: Elements | 26 Apr – 19 Jul
A vibrant printmaking exhibition exploring earth, air, water and fire through diverse contemporary print practices. Free event
Where: Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, 1A First St, Booragul
Salote Tawale: The Tide Continues | 26 Apr – 19 Jul
Australian-Fijian artist Salote Tawale presents new works exploring waterways, colonial histories and living between cultures. Free event
Where: Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, 1A First St, Booragul
From Country We Begin | 9 - 19 Jul
First Nations group exhibition curated by Jasmine Christie and Ngaire Pakai, featuring local artists exploring beginnings, connection to Country, cultural legacy and new directions in creative practice. Time: Opening 11 Jul, 6pm - 8pm. Cost: Free.
Where: The Creator Incubator, 116 Brunker Rd, Adamstown
Young Dobell Exhibition 2026 | 30 May – 19 Jul
Celebrating emerging artists aged 5 - 18, this annual exhibition showcases standout works from the Young Dobell Art Competition. Free event
Where: Museum of Art and Culture, yapang, 1A First St, Booragul
In Memory: Tom Gleghorn | 30 May - 19 Jul
Pay homage to the late Tom Gleghorn through this exhibition during the Dobell Festival; an artist from Lake Macquarie who was inspired by the Lake. Gleghorn frequently visited the Museum of Art and Culture, yapang when in the region, and the gallery holds nineteen artworks by Gleghorn. Cost: Free, bookings appreciated
Where: MAC Yapang (Museum of Art and Culture, Yapang), 2A First Street, Booragul
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead | 16-19 Jul
Stoppard’s absurdist classic, presented by 14TR Productions is a witty, existential reimagining of Hamlet through its most bewildered minor characters, blending sharp comedy, wordplay, & existentialism. Cost: $32.50- $42.50
Where: Laneway Theatre, 90 De Vitre St, Lambton
Art Nouveau: a period of style | 10 - 26 Jul
Art Nouveau is a style of decoration and architecture that was common in the 1890s. It is characterized by flowing lines and patterns of flowers and leaves. A group exhibition of ceramics amid a diverse range of art mediums. Free event
Where: Back to Back Galleries, 57 Bull St, Cooks Hill
the edge of the world BRONTË NAYLOR et al | 5 June - 2 August
Explore a collaborative exhibition by Brontë Naylor, Arnar Gústafsson, and Elín C. H. Ramette examining the landscapes of Australia and Iceland through film and digital media. Opening event Friday 5 June, 5–7pm. Cost: Free
Where: Multi-Arts Pavilion (MAP mima), 96 Creek Reserve Rd, Speers Point
Botanical Drawing & Watercolour 6 week course | 1 Jul - 5 Aug
Healing Herbs & Plants: A six week course where the wisdom of medicinal herbs and plants meets the mindful, beautiful art of botanical drawing and watercolour. A collaboration between artist Amanda O'Bryan and Hygēa Apothecary. Cost: $420.00 Full 6 weeks. Payment plans available
Where: Hygēa Apothecary, 43B Bolton St, Newcastle
Finding Home: Life Outside Institutions | 8 Jul - 12 Sep
Archival exhibition exploring twentieth-century mental health aftercare in Australia, sharing stories of people moving between hospital, institutional care and home. Time: Launch 8 Jul, 6pm. Cost: Free.
Where: Watt Space Gallery, 20 Auckland St, Newcastle
EXHIBITION / Wendy Sharpe / Into the Dark | 18 Jul - 13 Sep
Into the Dark is a new, exciting culmination point of Sharpe’s long career and a timely presentation that responds to war, the climate crisis, and the decline of truth. Cost: Free
Where: The Lock-Up, 90 Hunter St, Newcastle
