Sydney art fairs & exhibitions: December 2026
Graduate shows, a summer installation and city gift shopping give December more than one pace. Choose a gallery day or leave room for a market after work.
Make time for the graduate shows
National Art School’s public Grad Show runs 4–13 December, 11am–5pm daily, with free entry. Its opening night on 3 December is a separate session. UNSW’s The Annual follows on 7–13 December across the Paddington campus; public hours and visiting arrangements still need to be checked with the school.
These are opportunities to see emerging practices in person. Our graduate-show guide brings the confirmed programmes together, with a clear distinction between public exhibition dates and opening celebrations.
The December 2026 shortlist
Selected for this guide, with dates and visitor details from the linked organisers. The suggestions are ours. This dated selection is retained as an archive.
National Art School: The Grad Show 2026
- When
- 4 Dec – 13 Dec
- Where
- National Art School campus
- Entry
- Free
Meet the next generation of artists at NAS, 4–13 December.
Before you go: Free, daily 11am–5pm. The opening celebration is on 3 December, before the public exhibition dates.
UNSW School of Art & Design: The Annual 2026
- When
- 7 Dec – 13 Dec
- Where
- UNSW Paddington campus (multiple galleries/spaces)
- Entry
- Varies
Explore graduate art and design across UNSW’s Paddington campus, 7–13 December.
Before you go: Check the public programme for opening hours, entry and the route between campus spaces.
Paula do Prado: The Star Net Holds the Summer
- When
- 28 Nov 2026 – 14 Feb 2027
- Where
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Entry
- Free
See Paula do Prado’s new weaving installation at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Before you go: Free entry. This Artspace co-commission is at the Art Gallery, not The Gunnery.
David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away)
- When
- 22 Oct 2026 – 24 Jan 2027
- Where
- Carriageworks, Bay 17
- Entry
- From $39.9
Set aside an hour for Hockney’s projected images and narration at Carriageworks.
Before you go: Timed tickets from $39.90, plus the organiser’s booking fee. Check holiday sessions.
Martin Place Christmas Markets
- When
- 2 Dec · 3 Dec · 4 Dec · 5 Dec · 9 Dec · 10 Dec · 11 Dec · 12 Dec · 16 Dec · 17 Dec · 18 Dec · 19 Dec · 20 Dec · 21 Dec · 22 Dec · 23 Dec · 24 Dec
- Where
- Martin Place
- Entry
- Free
Browse gifts and handmade work in the city on selected December dates.
Before you go: Use the exact calendar dates: 2–5, 9–12 and 16–24 December. The market does not run every day.
Two different gallery visits
Paula do Prado’s The Star Net Holds the Summer continues through December at the Art Gallery of New South Wales. Although Artspace co-commissions the work, the venue is the Art Gallery’s Naala Badu building. Entry is free.
At Carriageworks in Eveleigh, David Hockney: Bigger & Closer uses large projections, narration and music. It is a timed, paid experience: allow 50–70 minutes and check the booking page for your chosen day.
Markets and holiday planning
Martin Place Christmas Markets runs on selected dates: 2–5, 9–12 and 16–24 December, with published hours of 11am–9.15pm. Treat the dates as separate shopping opportunities rather than a continuous month-long event.
Gallery closures and public transport can change over the holiday period. Check the organiser before travelling, especially around Christmas Day. This guide is a selection of verified programmes, not a claim that every venue is open throughout December.
Sources & checking
This guide was reviewed on 14 October 2026. Event pages carry their own source and visitor-information review dates. Check with the organiser before travelling: programs, admission and access arrangements can change.
- National Art School: The Grad Show 2026 — organiser details ↗
- UNSW School of Art & Design: The Annual 2026 — organiser details ↗
- Paula do Prado: The Star Net Holds the Summer — organiser details ↗
- David Hockney: Bigger & Closer (not smaller & further away) — organiser details ↗
- Martin Place Christmas Markets — organiser details ↗