The Harbour City has awakened in colour and creativity as Vivid Sydney 2025, Australia’s largest event, has officially begun for its 15th year.
Under this year's theme of 'Dream', a world class curation of Light, Ideas, Music and Food await festivalgoers over 23 nights, until Saturday, 14 June.
This year, the festival comprises over 200 events across five unique zones around the city’s CBD, all designed to inspire wonder, expand thinking and give each visitor the opportunity to see Sydney in a new light.
Making Vivid Sydney more accessible than ever, over 75 per cent of this year’s program is free to enjoy, including the entire Vivid Light Walk, with Martin Place also making a welcome return to the festival footprint after a seven-year absence.
The iconic Vivid Light Walk will connect five zones throughout the city—Circular Quay and The Rocks; Barangaroo; the CBD and Martin Place (returning for the first time since 2018); Darling Harbour; and The Goods Line and Inner City, with each zone offering visitor experiences spanning all four festival pillars; Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
A testament to the international reputation of the festival, this year, the world’s biggest names in entertainment, food, and pop culture will feature, including, Martha Stewart, Nigella Lawson, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, plus Portishead’s Beth Gibbons.
Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said: “Vivid Sydney is our city’s living legacy and the world’s focus will once again be on our beautiful Harbour City as it’s transformed into a canvas of innovative light installations, immersive experiences and cutting-edge artistry.
“The tireless efforts from the many talented artists, technicians, event organisers and behind-the-scenes support crew to bring this year’s Vivid Sydney to life has been extraordinary. I congratulate all of those who have contributed to shaping this year’s event into what will be an unmissable Sydney experience.”
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said, “Sydney is ready to shine! As we mark 15 years, this world-class event continues to showcase the very best destinations and creative talent our city has to offer.
“Vivid Sydney continues to grow in scale and impact, drawing millions of visitors and reinforcing Sydney’s position as the premier destination in the Asia Pacific.
“With over 75 per cent of the program free to attend and the entire Vivid Light Walk open to everyone, it is one of the most accessible events in the country, and this year's program has something for everyone.
“It’s a festival that unites communities, supports local businesses and boosts our visitor and night-time economies. We can’t wait to see the city light up tonight!”
Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini said, “This year, we invite you to dream—without limits, without borders—as you immerse yourself in our most diverse, interactive and ambitious program yet.
“Wander through glowing installations and projections that invite you to play, reflect and connect. Soak up genre-spanning sounds, from free gigs to global icons. Expand your thinking through bold, original conversations and exclusive experiences. Follow your senses as leading local and international chefs serve up flavours from every corner of the globe.
“As my final year as Festival Director, this one is extra special. It’s a celebration of creativity, technology, big ideas and, above all else, connection. A festival built on the dreams we share and the joy we create together. Let’s light up our city—and our collective imagination—for the next 23 unforgettable nights.”
Vivid Sydney 2025 kicked off at Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay for the annual First Light ceremony, featuring performances by NAISDA dancers that honoured Yolngu culture in Arnhem Land. The ceremony culminated at 6pm as Sydney Harbour burst to life with pyrotechnics, projections and installations illuminating the city’s world-famous buildings and landmarks followed by First Light Live, a free concert honouring the power and pride of First Nations music.
First Light at Campbells Cove in The Rocks on Friday May 23 2025. Photo: Destination NSW
Lights On and First Light Live. Photo: Destination NSW
Transport for NSW has also partnered with Vivid Sydney to deliver the Open Streets Program, activating streets and laneways to support local businesses and bring communities together. In 2025, four projects will be featured across the city, combining Vivid Light, Music and Food.
To support Vivid Sydney’s enduring popularity and give festivalgoers more time to enjoy the program, the NSW Government has also extended trading hours across three Sunday nights during the festival.
From 25 May to 8 June, eligible hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, breweries and live music and performance venues in key precincts in and around the CBD—including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Pyrmont, Woolloomooloo and Potts Point—will be able to stay open until midnight on Sundays.
In 2024, Vivid Sydney attracted more than 2.5 million attendees and generated more than $180 million in visitor expenditure, the second highest in visitor expenditure in the festival’s history, underscoring the festival’s vital contribution to the state’s visitor, night-time and creative economies.
Vivid Sydney runs from Friday, 23 May to Saturday 14 June. For more information visit vividsydney.com.
Vivid Sydney 2025 Highlights
Vivid Light comes to life like never before with exclusively commissioned pieces featuring world- leading animation and projection technologies.
- The late David McDiarmid’s bold and visionary work is showcased on the Sydney Opera House for Lighting of the Sails, entitled Kiss of Light (2025).
- Vincent Namatjira presents King Dingo on the façade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
- Fresh from AFC Fashion Week, Sydney’s own Romance Was Born debuts House of Romance on Customs House.
- New buildings and landmarks illuminated for the first time, including: Admiralty House in Kirribilli, Museum of Sydney, The Bond in Barangaroo, and Challis House in Martin Place.
- Visitors are invited to interact with installations and 3D projections including voice-activated animation, suspended swings, whimsical seesaws, a tennis match with light, and self-portraits turned into 3D projections by world renowned entertainment studio, Moment Factory.
Challis House on Friday night by the Lucid Dream Collective. Photo: Destination NSW
ASN Clock Tower - Colour the City. Photo: Destination NSW
At the Argyle Cut - Bloom. Photo: Destination NSW
Vivid Ideas continues to offer an array of engaging and exclusive experiences designed to push boundaries, inspire awe and entertain.
- Lifestyle Icon Martha Stewart tells all at her In Conversation event at International Convention Centre Sydney.
- D.W. Pine, Creative Director of TIME Magazine, delivers the keynote ‘Where Do Ideas Come From?’
- Professor Matthew Walker presents ‘Why We Sleep’ to delve into one of the most important but least understood aspects of our lives.
- Comedy’s coolest couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally present Unscripted and Unfiltered on the closing night of the festival.
- An evening with Academy Award®-winning filmmaker, National Geographic photographer and New York Times bestselling author, Jimmy Chin in conjunction with Sydney Film Festival.
- Free Vivid Ideas events include the weekly Firetalk series at Barangaroo Reserve, and Endling, a major new physical theatre work performed by Sydney’s Legs On The Wall.
Vivid Music amplifies our collective dreams through sound and song, with a specially curated program of artists from around the globe.
- Tumbalong Nights focuses on free music in diaspora communities and First Nations artists, featuring Winston Surfshirt, Ayesha Madon, V-Pop's Mỹ Anh and Chi Xê, Grammy-winner Dobet Gnahoré, and Korea’s Stella Jang.
- Oxford Art Factory showcases UK rapping sensations Pete & Bas, Metro Theatre will see local labels Bad Apples and NLV Records celebrate their 10th anniversaries and City Recital Hall will host German electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream, Soccer Mommy and long weekend dance party, Sound Escape.
- Vivid Supper Club returns to Mary’s Underground, with a new line-up reflecting contemporary cabaret.
- Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House boasts over 50 cutting-edge and legendary artists, including Anohni and The Johnsons, Beth Gibbons from Portishead, Sigur Rós with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and indie pop darlings Japanese Breakfast.
- Carriageworks will have performances by techno producer Mall Grab, Sydney based-Papua New Guinean artist Ngaiire, and Byron Bay duo Skegss.
Vivid Food, in its third year as part of the festival, has never been more enticing.
- Nigella Lawson will curate three sold out Vivid Sydney Dinners in the recently opened pedestrian tunnel Muru Giligu in Martin Place.
- Neon Dreams is a roller rink and plant-based American diner in Darling Harbour by Shannon Martinez and Trolley’d.
- Vivid Fire Kitchen returns to The Goods Line honouring fire and adding a Spice Lounge for 2025, plus Vivid Chef Series will see the world’s most innovative chefs collaborate with dining intuitions Ester and Eleven Barrack.
- Surry Hills’ Hollywood Quarter will be home to street parties, Foy Lane Lights Up and A Taste of HQ sees Foster Street transforming into an al fresco food festival within a festival.
Top tips to plan your trip:
Public transport is the best way to get around the city and see the lights during Vivid Sydney with all of the zones easily connected by public transport or on-foot.
- More than 2,700 extra transport services will run during Vivid Sydney to get you to the city and home again.
- The city is no place for cars with road closures and clearway parking restrictions in place each night between 3pm and midnight.
- There will be changes to public transport services due to road closures and for pedestrian safety when large crowds are expected. On Friday nights and weekends, there will be limited direct access to Circular Quay by transport - be prepared to walk further than usual from nearby transport hubs including Wynyard, Martin Place and St James.
- Public transport gives you the freedom to get the most out of your visit, for example, it’s a short 2 minute trip on the Metro from the new Vivid precinct at Martin Place to Barangaroo to see the lights at Barangaroo Reserve.
- You won’t get to see it all in one night - plan your Vivid Sydney experience over a few nights, and visit on a weeknight to avoid the largest crowds.
- Transport services aren't free during Vivid Sydney so you'll need to use an Opal card or contactless payment card/device when travelling on public transport to and from the event. Register your details online at Opal or via the Opal Travel app ahead of time.
- Travel will be free for passengers on all train and Metro services on the Opal network on Monday 26 May only. For more information see the news page.
- If you must drive plan ahead as many car parks will not be accessible when road closures are in place - see the list of car parking options at Vivid Sydney - Managed car parks.
Transport changes during Vivid Sydney
Trains: from 6pm to 11pm on Saturday nights and long weekend Sunday (8 June) trains will not drop off passengers at Circular Quay due to large crowds – use Wynyard, Martin Place or St James stations instead.
Bus: On Fridays from 6pm and weekends from 5pm buses that usually run to Circular Quay will start and end trips at Martin Place due to road closures. Continue on foot from Martin place to the harbour. Other buses in the city at King St Wharf and Millers Point will also be affected
Light Rail: On Fridays from 6pm and weekends from 5pm light rail services will not run between Town Hall and Circular Quay, continue on foot from Town Hall.
Ferries: Ferries are always extremely busy during Vivid Sydney so expect long queues on weekends and consider alternative transport options.
Vivid Sydney Partners
Returning as Major Partners for 2025 are Samsung Electronics Australia and Kia. Samsung will activate on both land and water in Cockle Bay with Space to Dream, including an unmissable and dramatic light show on the water, exploring the boundless potential of creativity inspired by Galaxy AI.
Kia will display its new and highly anticipated EV3 electric vehicle along the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. Official Partners include Estée Lauder, returning for its second year, with their installation: While You Were Dreaming—a radiant fusion of science, beauty and imagination, along with Ausgrid, powering Vivid Sydney’s Tumbalong Nights program.
Airbnb is once again Vivid Sydney’s Community Partner, supporting the volunteer program, while the festival’s Charity Partner for 2025 is Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and responsible for Dream Scene in Darling Harbour, a digital canvas where children's dreams come alive in an evolving dreamscape.
Vivid Sydney Supporting Partners include, Event Engineering, Dexus, Kennards Hire, Mandylights, Nova, Port Authority of NSW, SBS, Stan, The P.A. People, TDC, and Transdev.
About Destination NSW
Destination NSW is the champion and voice for the visitor economy within the NSW Government. Spearheading a whole-of-government approach to visitor economy growth, Destination NSW influences and shapes the visitor economy through strategic research, policy and thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and consultation, commercial partnerships and investment in visitor experiences, business support, marketing and events. Destination NSW is also the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) for the purpose of securing more international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and exhibitions.
About Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival, transforms Sydney into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and community connection. Over 23 nights, light installations, music, ideas and food inspire global audiences and drive cultural exchange. The 2025 theme, ‘Dream’, sparks imagination and engagement, attracting visitors and fuelling economic growth. Proudly owned by Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney showcases NSW's cultural vibrancy and positions it as a global leader in artistic innovation.
CTA Building - Bio Dream. Photos: Destination NSW
