Sydney’s vast underground venue at Barangaroo opens to the public for the first time this weekend, with a free two-day festival transforming the long-awaited Cutaway into a live cultural playground.
After years as a raw concrete shell beneath Barangaroo Reserve, the transformation has turned the 10,000-square-metre space into a fully realised arts and events venue, and Sydneysiders will see it for the first time during Barangaroo Live on Saturday, 30th May and Sunday, 31st May.
A first look inside The Cutaway
Across both days this opening weekend, Barangaroo Live will fill The Cutaway and surrounding precinct with live music, immersive art, performances and markets—offering a glimpse into how the venue will function as a round-the-clock cultural hub.
On Saturday, the space will pulse with live sets, large-scale projections and real-time artmaking, with artists like Ngaiire, Alice Ivy and Kee’ahn leading a lineup that leans firmly into Australia’s contemporary music scene. DJs and dance performances will run throughout the day, while artist Shaun Daniel Allen (Shal) brings live visual art into the mix.
By Sunday, the focus shifts toward hands-on creativity and cultural connection. Visitors can drop into weaving, jewellery-making and flower crown workshops, alongside a program of family-friendly activities designed to make the space feel as open and accessible as it is ambitious.
Culture, Country and community
The weekend also coincides with National Reconciliation Week, with Sunday’s program anchored by Damulay Ngurang—meaning “friendship place” in the local Sydney language. A Welcome to Country, Yoga on Country session and free cultural workshops will take place inside The Cutaway, alongside guided Aboriginal Cultural Tours through Barangaroo Reserve.
Moreover, these experiences highlight the deep cultural significance of the site to the Gadigal people, grounding the high-tech venue in the history of the land it sits beneath.
Also, free tours across the reserve will give visitors a chance to connect with that history more directly, led by Aboriginal educators sharing stories of Sydney Harbour and its traditional custodians.
Markets, music and harbourside energy
Beyond The Cutaway, the wider Barangaroo precinct will be activated across the weekend. The Barangaroo Markets will return to Barangaroo South, with stalls spanning handmade fashion, homewares, art and street food—adding a festival atmosphere along the waterfront.
The combination of live music, markets and cultural programming reflects a broader push to reposition Barangaroo as one of Sydney’s leading arts and lifestyle destinations, particularly as the city continues to invest in its night-time and live music economy.
Delivered by Infrastructure NSW in collaboration with fjcstudio and First Nations designers Shannon Foster and Jake Nash, The Cutaway blends monumental architecture with cultural storytelling. Its signature timber “trees,” sandstone walls and skylights transform what was once a cavernous void into a striking, light-filled events space.
Sustainability sits at the core of the venue’s design, with renewable energy powering it, harbour seawater used for cooling and a target 6-Star Green Star rating. The venue also offers full accessibility, including step-free entry and Changing Places facilities.
The city’s cultural calendar will be shaped in part by The Cutaway, with future programming set to include major events such as Vivid Sydney, Sydney Festival and the National Indigenous Art Fair.
For now, though, this weekend is about opening the doors—and inviting Sydney in.
Opening weekend event details
- Barangaroo Live: Saturday, 30th May (1pm–5pm) and Sunday, 31st May
- Barangaroo Markets: Saturday and Sunday, 10am–4pm
- Location: The Cutaway and Barangaroo precinct
- Entry: Free
Find more information on Barangaroo Live here.
