Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is an annual creative festival that fuses art, innovation and technology in collaboration with the most brilliant and boundary-pushing artists, thinkers and musicians of our time. Vivid Sydney will return in 2023 and illuminate the city for 23 nights between 26 May to 17 June.

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency.

Vivid Sydney has been recognised by the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) and received 15 accolades at the 2019 IFEA Pinnacle Awards including gold in the Grand Pinnacle category. Vivid Sydney was also voted Australia’s Best Tourism Event in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event in 2017 and 2019 in the Australian Event Awards.

Vivid Sydney is known for its spectacular light projections and art installations which create a vibrant kaleidoscope of colour across the city. In 2022, Vivid Sydney boasted the longest continuous light walk ever, running uninterrupted from Sydney Opera House to Central Station. Glowing light art and vibrant 3D projections transformed the city’s iconic architecture and lesser known-spaces including Sydney’s CBD, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Darling Square, Darling Quarter, The Goods Line and Central Station. Find out more.

All of Sydney is a stage for the Vivid Music program, a curated selection of free and ticketed events designed to excite and delight with evocative performers performing live shows in unexpected spaces across the city. The 2022 program featured free live music events at Central Station‘s Grand Concourse, Tumbalong Nights and Tumbalong Kids at Darling Harbour and DJs at The Goods Line. Ticketed gigs included late night cabaret at the Vivid Sydney Supper Club at Mary’s Underground, the world premiere of The Gospel According to Marcia at St Stephens Uniting Church, as well as international acts Spiritualized, Baxter Dury and Cakes Da Killa. Find out more.

Vivid Ideas brings together the world’s brightest minds and fearless global storytellers, exploring the forces that shape not only Sydney’s unique society, but all great cities around the world. The program offers a stacked line-up of thought-provoking talks, workshops and deep-dive discussions that jump to the heart of the matter, seek creative solutions and inspire new ways of thinking. The 2022 Ideas program featured award-winning theatre and film director, screenwriter, and playwright Aaron Sorkin; ‘Bombshell’ women’s rights advocate Gretchen Carlson; iconoclastic superstar Troye Sivan; and master storyteller and award-winning filmmaker Baz Luhrmann. Find out more.

Exploring the city will work up your appetite, and Vivid Food is here to nourish, delight and inspire you with a smorgasbord of dining options. From exclusive dining experiences in iconic locations to fire-cooked street food at Vivid Fire Kitchen, this year’s line-up is packed with flavour and innovation. Expect special collaborations, world-class chefs (including Nigella Lawson) and some of Australia’s most exciting food talent serving up dishes inspired by the festival’s ‘Dream’ theme.

Vivid Sydney will return in 2023 for 23 nights from 26 May – 17 June.

Follow social channels @vividsydney and sign up for MyVivid newsletters for more information.

Sydney has a wonderful range of accommodation available from budget through to five-star. To be close to the action in the city we would recommend you stay in The Rocks, Circular Quay, Sydney CBD, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont or North Sydney. Our website contains a wealth of information for you to choose your accommodation, and to find out what else is on offer in Sydney for you to enjoy during your visit.

If you’re thinking about extending your stay, why not also plan a visit to regional NSW? For inspiration, go to VisitNSW.com.