The new Powerhouse Parramatta opens on 7 November 2026. Operating with net-zero emissions from day one, it is the first public building in Australia and the first project in Western Sydney to be assessed as a 6 Star Designed project under the Green Building Council of Australia’s new Green Star Buildings assessment tool.
British Council Australia is proud to support Es Devlin’s Come Home Again, which makes its Australian debut, alongside a series of talks at the museum’s Opening Festival.
Developed with the Botanic Gardens of Sydney, Come Home Again combines UK creative practice with Australian scientific expertise. The work foregrounds 244 hand-drawn species at risk in the Sydney Basin, inviting audiences to consider climate change through the natural world in their own backyard.
This is one of the ways British Council Australia is marking COP31, the 2026 UN Climate Change Conference, which takes place in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November. Australia holds the role of President of Negotiations throughout the year.
Explore the full Australian programme here.
Supported events at the Powerhouse Opening Festival:
Come Home Again runs over 11 nights from 7 to 27 November at 7.30pm, on the Qantas Terrace. Each night, Sydney Chamber Opera is joined by River City Voices, Barayagal and Noqu Vanua Choir to perform new works by Nardi Simpson and Jack Symonds. It is free. Find out more
The talks bring UK and Australian experts across design, the arts, museums and the built environment together to explore how culture can shape more inclusive, sustainable and innovative futures.
Writers on the Mall | Saturday 7 November, 11am
Irish writer Darran Anderson and design critic Alexandra Lange, author of a history of the mall, join author Sarah Krasnostein to discuss how shopping malls influence our cities. They ask whether malls are still vital civic and social spaces in the age of online shopping. Find out more
How Do You Make a Museum That Changes With the World | Saturday 7 November, 12.30pm
Dr Gus Casely-Hayford OBE, Director of V&A East, joins David Gianotten of OMA, and Li Hu and Huang Wenjing of OPEN Architecture, to explore how museums can evolve with the world around them. Moderated by Ninotschka Titchkosky. Find out more
Es Devlin and Gus Casely-Hayford: In Conversation | Saturday 7 November, 6.30pm
Es Devlin in conversation with cultural historian Gus Casely-Hayford, ahead of the opening night of Come Home Again. Find out more
My Rockstars | Sunday 8 November, 12.30pm
Part of The Mall Forum. Western Sydney filmmaker Miski Omar, Amar Singh of Turbans 4 Australia and musician Sollyy met at a Fairfield barbershop for Hassan Hajjaj’s portrait series. They share how malls and public spaces have marked their lives and communities. Find out more
The Human Cosmos | Sunday 8 November, 2pm
Science journalist and bestselling author Dr Jo Marchant explores humanity’s long relationship with the cosmos, from the first stargazers to modern science, art and belief. Find out more
Ideal Cities | Sunday 8 November, 4.30pm
Part of The Mall Forum. Darran Anderson and architecture collective Grandeza Studio look at real and unrealised city plans from around the world, and the role malls played in the growth of our suburbs. Moderated by Professor Michael Chapman, Western Sydney University. Find out more
These collaborations reflect the British Council’s commitment to connecting people and ideas across the UK and Australia, and to supporting culture as a space for dialogue, innovation and shared action on the issues shaping our world.