What’s On

Welcome to our events, exhibitions and showcase listing page. If you have a special showcase, exhibition or event that you’d like us to promote on this page, please email us the full details of the program along with the relevant photos to editor@dailystraits.com. We accept listings from around the globe, just be sure to shoot us an email with the complete details and we will do the rest.

Pop Culture Icons at Oz Comic-Con Sydney 2025

Sydney, Sept 5: Oz Comic-Con returns to Sydney on 20–21 September 2025 at Sydney Showground, promising an action-packed weekend of fandom, cosplay, and entertainment.
Headlining the guest line-up are Katie Cassidy (Arrow, Supernatural), DJ Qualls (Supernatural, Z Nation), Ty Olsson (Supernatural, Wynonna Earp), Renée O’Connor (Xena: Warrior Princess), and voice actor Tara Sands (Pokémon, Jujutsu Kaisen). Fans can also look forward to cosplay competitions, including the $1500 Championships of Cosplay, casual meetups, workshops, and themed parades.
Artist Alley will feature local and international artists, while the Comics Lounge, gaming zones, esports tournaments, and tabletop experiences add to the program. The event also includes panels, live performances, cosplay photography, lip sync battles, and inclusive community spaces such as the LGBTQIA+ CommUnity Space.
With retail vendors, exclusive merchandise, and immersive pop culture activations, Oz Comic-Con Sydney 2025 is set to be one of the year’s biggest fan events. Tickets and full program details are available at ozcomiccon.com.

Australian Business Events Awards 2025 Open for Entries

Sydney, Sept 5: The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) has opened entries for the 2025 Australian Business Events Awards, which will be held on Thursday 4 December 2025 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre as part of the ABEA Conference.
Now in its second year, the Awards recognise excellence and impact across Australia’s business events sector, with 26 categories on offer. New awards include Event Manager of the Year, Operations Person of the Year, and Sales, Marketing or Business Development Person of the Year. Venue Awards have also been introduced, alongside expanded “Best Team” subcategories.
Melissa Brown, CEO of ABEA, said the Awards are designed to elevate excellence and celebrate the people shaping the future of the industry.
“These Awards are designed to elevate excellence, inspire progress and celebrate the people shaping the future of business events.
“Beyond recognition, the Awards offer finalists and winners national exposure, increased credibility among stakeholders, and access to a high-impact evening of networking with leaders and decision-makers from across the sector,” said Brown.
The Awards recognise initiatives delivered between 1 October 2024 and 30 September 2025. Entries close at 5:00 pm AEST on Tuesday 14 October 2025. Full details are available at conferenceandawards.abea.org.au/awards.

Eco Living Festival Marks 20 Years in Sydney’s East

Sydney, Sept 5: Celebrity chef Julian Cincotta, fashion designer Kit Willow and filmmaker Damon Gameau will headline the 20th Eco Living Festival at Maroubra Beach on Sunday 14 September 2025. The free event, held at Broadarrow Reserve from 10 am to 4 pm, will feature talks, workshops, market stalls, food and live entertainment.
Cincotta, executive chef of Butter in Surry Hills, will join Travis Harvey for a live cooking demonstration. Willow will take part in a sustainable fashion discussion with Lucianne Tonti and later return with Gameau to discuss his new documentary Future Council. Other speakers include Amy Low, CEO of The Social Outfit, who will highlight how her organisation supports refugee women in ethical fashion.
Randwick Mayor Dylan Parker said: “This year’s festival brings together some of the most passionate and creative voices on sustainability. It’s an exciting chance for the community to learn, connect and be inspired.”
Workshops across the day will include fermentation, pickling, garment mending, coffee scrub making and a Q&A on home electrification. With more than 60 stalls and activities, Randwick Council’s Eco Living Festival remains Sydney’s longest-running sustainability event.

Aussie Bird Count Returns

MELBOURNE, Sept 11: Registrations have opened for the 2025 Aussie Bird Count, with Australians invited to take part in the nation’s largest citizen science project from 20–26 October.
Now in its 12th year, the annual event encourages people of all ages to spend 20 minutes observing and recording the birds around them using the free Aussie Bird Count app. Last year, more than 57,000 participants submitted nearly 130,000 checklists and logged more than 4.1 million birds nationwide.
“It’s not about being a bird expert,” said Sean Dooley, BirdLife Australia’s National Public Affairs Manager. “It’s about spending time outdoors and learning something new about your local environment.”
BirdLife Australia CEO Kate Millar said birds are vital indicators of environmental health. “One in six Australian bird species is now under threat, so taking note of the birds around us has never been more important,” she said.
Participants can register at www.aussiebirdcount.org.au.

SportsPlus Rebrands as Send It!

SYDNEY, Sept 8: SportsPlus has rebranded as Send It! Social Club, shifting from a sports simulator venue to a broader social hub combining games, cocktails and shared dining.
The new concept blends cricket, baseball, golf, darts and racing simulations with premium food and drinks, aiming to cater to professionals, party groups and corporate events. “We wanted to create a space that breaks the mould of how people socialise,” said Jacques Bergh, Chief Commercial Officer of Send It! Social Club.
“Send It! Social Club is about giving people permission to let loose, spark connections and make memories.”
Part of the global rise of competitive socialising, the rebrand positions Sydney alongside cities such as London and New York where nightlife is increasingly centred on interactive experiences.
With locations at Canterbury Leagues Club and The Doylo, prices start at $22 per adult for three games and $34 for six, with upgrades and party packages available.
For more information, visit www.sendit.social.

Fairy Bread Day Supports Foster Kids

SYDNEY, Sept 1: Australians will celebrate Fairy Bread Day on 24 November, with the nostalgic treat raising funds for The Pyjama Foundation to support children in foster care.
With more than 45,000 children in care across the country, the foundation’s Love of Learning Program pairs volunteers with children to boost literacy, confidence and life skills. “For a child in foster care, something as small as someone showing up for them every week can be life-changing,” said Bronwyn Sheehan OAM, CEO and Founder of The Pyjama Foundation. “Fairy Bread Day is a reminder that the simplest acts can add up to hope, opportunity, and a brighter future.”
Australians are encouraged to host ‘Sprinkle Parties’, share creations online and donate. Dollar Sweets will also donate 10 cents from every sale of its 100s and 1000s sprinkles throughout November.
Donations can be made via www.fairybreadday.com.

Camp Fearless Returns to Collaroy

SYDNEY, Sept 11: Crohn’s & Colitis Australia will host its youth support program Camp Fearless this weekend in Collaroy on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, offering young Australians aged 12 to 17 living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) a safe and supportive space.
Running from 5pm Friday 12 September to 4pm Sunday 14 September at The Collaroy Centre, the camp will feature outdoor adventures, group workshops and activities aimed at building friendships and resilience.
The weekend will also feature NRL star Cody Ramsey, who lives with IBD, sharing his personal journey to inspire attendees.
Registration is $95.

Holiday Spectacle Returns

Chicago, Sept 17: Griffin Museum of Science and Industry (MSI) will launch its 83rd annual Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light exhibit on Saturday, Nov. 8, a week earlier than usual. Running through Jan. 5, 2026, the display features more than 50 decorated trees celebrating global traditions, alongside cultural showcases of holidays like Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Diwali.
Highlights include the Grand Tree lighting and Cultural Festival (Nov. 8), a 21+ Naughty or Nice after-hours party (Dec. 4), Winter Break Camps for students (Dec. 29–31), festive food and shopping options, and indoor simulated snowfall every 30 minutes.
First launched in 1942 with a single tree honouring wartime allies, the event has grown to represent dozens of nations and diverse cultural traditions.

ABEA Conference Opens

Sydney, Sept 18: The Australian Business Events Association (ABEA) has opened registrations for the 2025 ABEA Conference, taking place from 3 to 5 December at Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Returning after its inaugural success in 2024, the conference will gather Australia’s business events community for three days of learning, networking, and sector insights under the theme “Partner with Impact.”
The program features keynote speakers including Tracey Spicer AM, Holly Ransom, Nigel Collin, Dawid Naude, Scott Millar, Dominic Thurbon, Joel McKerrow, and Faustina “Fuzzy” Agolley. Topics will cover sustainability, WH&S, workforce pathways, and practical education streams. Cornerstone events include the Welcome Reception and the Australian Business Events Awards on 4 December. Early Bird registration closes 15 October with a $1,000 Visa Gift Card prize draw.

Bombay Bloomers Expands

Sydney, Sept 18: Randwick favourite Bombay Bloomers has opened its second restaurant in Neutral Bay, bringing Chef Varinder Singh’s balanced, flavourful Indian cuisine to Sydney’s North Shore.
Known for dishes crafted individually rather than from shared bases, menu highlights include a nut-free Butter Chicken, slow-cooked Lamb Rogan Josh, and the Bombay Bloomers Thali.
The drinks menu features Indian-inspired cocktails, while the fit-out blends traditional touches with modern design. Located on Grosvenor Street, the restaurant is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Lin Xiang Xiong Honoured

Paris, Sept 18: Renowned humanitarian-artist Professor Lin Xiang Xiong presented his exhibition “The Vicissitudes of Life” at Hôtel de l’Industrie in Paris from 10 to 13 September 2025. Supported by former French President François Hollande and attended by former Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the showcase featured 25 works exploring themes of anti-war, anti-poverty, and anti-pollution under the banner of “Art for Peace.”
An academic symposium accompanied the exhibition, drawing leading international thinkers including Marek Halter, François Jullien, François L’Yvonnet, Barbara Polla, Claude Mollard, Yves Marek, and Étienne Copel, who exchanged views on art, culture, and peace.
On 12 September, Professor Lin inaugurated the Lin Xiang Xiong Art for Peace Prize, which attracted 1,883 entries from 100 countries. The award will be held biennially. The exhibition also heralds the upcoming opening of the Lin Xiang Xiong Art Gallery in Penang in December 2025, set to become one of the region’s largest private art galleries.