Expressions of interest
Be part of the brilliance of Vivid Sydney 2026
Vivid Sydney is more than just a festival—it’s a celebration of imagination and connection through Light, Music, Ideas and Food. Each year, we transform Sydney Harbour foreshore and the CBD into a dazzling display of creativity, technology and innovation, showcasing our city in a whole new light.
Owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW State Government’s tourism and major events agency, Vivid Sydney is the largest festival of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
We’re inviting artists, innovators, musicians, chefs, producers, restaurateurs, thought-leaders, speakers and out-of-the-box thinkers to join us in creating the magic that is Vivid Sydney. This is your opportunity to be part of a festival that celebrates creativity in all its forms and helps to cement Sydney as the creative capital of the Asia-Pacific.
We’re looking for groundbreaking concepts that engage, provoke thought and inspire wonder. Let your creativity run wild, help us celebrate the vibrant spirit of Sydney and submit your innovative ideas for Vivid Sydney 2026!
A globally recognised opportunity for artists to participate in Australia’s most iconic festival.
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A celebration of our vibrant and diverse music scene.
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Explore the breadth and depth of what an idea can be.
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Showcase delicious and diverse cuisine on a global festival stage.
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Creative ideas that don't fit neatly into our Light, Music, Food or Ideas pillars.
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Vivid Sydney Guidelines
Destination NSW is committed to reducing barriers and delivering a festival that is accessible, diverse and inclusive. Our program prides itself on a diverse representation of artists, identities and communities, recognising and celebrating people’s differences through art and creativity. Applicants are encouraged to consider universal design principles in the development of all submissions, considering the elderly, parents with small children and those living with a temporary, permanent, visible or invisible disability. You may wish to consider designing accessible features to provide sensory, tactile, auditory or visual interactivity options.
Vivid Sydney is consistently working towards the delivery of a more sustainable festival. With a program that champions creativity, innovation and cutting-edge technology, our vision is to become industry leaders in the delivery of a sustainable festival of an international scale. We strongly encourage you to demonstrate how you intend to incorporate sustainable practices into each stage of the planning, design, construction, transportation, operation and decommissioning of your Expression of Interest.
Vivid Sydney is committed to showcasing the greatest ideas, talent and creative endeavours, and recognises that magic happens when a diverse group of minds and experiences intersect. Vivid Sydney provides opportunities for artists, speakers, innovators and musicians to connect, create and be a positive force for change in our community.
This Expression of Interest is not applicable for industry or corporate hospitality events, brand activations or product launches. Please contact the Vivid Sydney team if you would like to discuss opportunities to align your brand with the festival.
Required Reading
Applicants are required to read the following documents prior to applying:
There is no fee to apply to Vivid Sydney. Any/all costs incurred in the preparation of the application are borne by the applicant.
Applications for Light Installations and Projection Art must be submitted online via the application form by 5pm Monday 11 August 2025.
Applications for Music, Ideas and Food must be submitted online via the application form by 5pm Friday 26 September 2025.
Applications must be submitted via the online application form. No applications will be accepted via email or hardcopy.
Please contact us for further assistance. Destination NSW takes no responsibility for access or connection issues.
Applicants may propose a sponsor as part of their application. Any sponsor will need to be approved in advance by Destination NSW in writing. Approved sponsors are recognised in the following way:
- Name or logo on website
- Name or logo on signage at Light Installation
Destination NSW reserves the right to grant exclusive sponsorships for Installations.
Applicants will be required to take out and maintain, on its behalf, a minimum of AUD (Australian Dollars) $20 million public liability insurance cover. Where applicants do not already have or are not legally required to have this insurance, Destination NSW may provide the opportunity to opt-in to a group insurance policy facilitated by Destination NSW. Group insurance policies may be offered for the following products only:
- Group Public Liability Insurance
- Group Accident Insurance
Applicants must ensure that all public or product liability purchased internationally is valid worldwide, preferably with the interests of Destination NSW noted.
Applicants must ensure that any personal costs associated with their application are included in their proposed artist fee.
For updates and important information on Vivid Sydney we recommend signing up to Vivid Sydney newsletter.
We also recommend monitoring vividsydney.com and Vivid Sydney social media channels, Facebook | Twitter | Instagram for any information or announcements.
Please submit under the cross-art form Expression of Interest.
There is no limit to the number of entries allowed per individual, however only put forward your strongest submissions, focusing on quality rather than quantity.
