Sydney ranks fifth in Time Out list of top cities for culture

Sydney took the national crown in cultural rankings, but local musicians and artists say more needs to be done to increase the sector’s financial viability.

Singer-songwriter Hannah Brewer performing at the Hordern Pavilion. Picture: Miranda Crossley

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Sydney has ranked fifth in a global list of best cities for culture, while local musicians and artists say more needs to be done to increase the sector’s financial viability.

The accolade is based on a survey of 18,500 locals across the world on the quality and affordability of their city’s culture scene, with each country’s topscoring city then being assessed by Time Out’s writers and editors.

Singer-songwriter Hannah Brewer said Sydney had a unique underground cultural scene as the city “doesn’t have that many small venues, but we’ve got lots of big ones”.

Singer-songwriter Hannah Brewer performing at the Hordern Pavilion. Picture: Miranda Crossley

She said the city had a thriving DIY music and arts scene that was often free and “super accessible – you just show up and hang out with your friends, have some beers or wine and see really cool art”.

“I feel like [Sydney] is kind of having a revival, I hope, with lots of community stuff … and smaller, local initiatives to try and get people playing more, which is cool.”

In the 2024 iteration of Time Out’s list, Melbourne ranked 10th with Sydney left off altogether.

Data from the NSW government indicates 10 per cent of the state’s population is employed in creative industries, and the sector accounts for one-fifth of the state’s service exports.

Music scene veteran Joe Hardy said financial concerns had contributed to the city’s underground culture because of “the constraints around regulatory liquor licensing requirements, insurance, DA approvals, noise constraints … it’s all prohibitive”.

Co-founders of gig discovery platform SydneyMusic, Joe Hardy and Caitlin Welsh. Picture: Valerie Joy

Mr Hardy runs SydneyMusic, a not-for-profit project putting together daily lists of every gig taking place in the city. In 2024, their website listed an average of more than 15 gigs a day, mostly centred around the CBD and surrounds.