Every year, Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of Light, Music, Ideas and Food, transforms the city into a vibrant hub of creativity, imagination and technology.

Over 23 nights, Sydney is reimagined through boundary-pushing installations, world-class performances, thought-provoking talks, and exclusive dining experiences. In 2025, the festival theme of ‘Dream’ invites you to step into a world of possibility, wonder and inspiration. 

Whether it’s your first time at Vivid Sydney or you need a refresher, find everything you need to know to make the most of this brilliant event below. 

 Sydney lights up at 6pm every night 

As the sun sets, the city begins to glow. Each night at 6pm sharp, the festival’s light installations and projections come to life, transforming Sydney’s most famous landmarks, including the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge, and the city skyline.  

 Explore Vivid Sydney’s Five Zones 

This year, Vivid Sydney unfolds across five immersive zones, each offering its own unique experience of Light, Music, Ideas and Food. 

At Circular Quay & The Rocks, Sydney’s most iconic landmarks are transformed. At Barangaroo, storytelling and technology collide. At Darling Harbour, Vivid Sydney transforms the waterfront into a surreal dreamscape of interactive art and music. At The Goods Line & Inner City, Sydney’s creative scene takes centre stage. For the first time since 2018, Vivid Sydney lights up Martin Place & the CBD, transforming the city’s heart. 

Vivid Light  

The Vivid Sydney Light Walk is a free stretch dotted with all the festival’s Light installations and projections. Explore a section of the light walk in each of the festival zones – Circular Quay & The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line & Inner City and Martin Place & the CBD.  

When visiting a zone, make sure to wear some comfortable shoes and pack your camera – or make space on your phone to capture some stunning shots. Read our photography tips from Australia’s leading landscape photographer Daniel Tran so you can take some pictures that really stand out.  

Top tip: make a night of it at each zone – pack in dazzling art, great food and a gig, talk or performance – before venturing to your next stop.  

Vivid Sydney is so much more than a light festival 

Let music move you  

The Vivid Music program offers a diverse range of exclusive concerts, free gigs and a late-night Supper Club. There’s something to get everyone moving.  

Vivid Sydney hosts a whole range of free live music events for all ages and tastes at Tumbalong Nights at the Tumbalong Park Stage at Darling Harbour. Here, catch a diverse range of acts at events like Vivid Sings!, PASIFIX, Winston Surfshirt and Vivid Kids at Tumbalong.  

The Vivid LIVE program at the Sydney Opera House and Carriageworks is a great place to start if you’re looking for global and local music icons. With multiple stages, there is always someone incredible to see plus, when taking in a Vivid LIVE show, you can also enjoy the stunning projections on the Sydney Opera House sails beforehand.  

This year, Vivid Sydney brings you boundary-pushing nights at Oxford Art Factory and Metro Theatre, where each venue’s lineup is packed with unmissable moments. You can also experience extraordinary live performances at City Recital Hall, where artists like Warren Ellis and Tangerine Dream take the stage. 

For those looking to stay up late, Vivid Sydney Supper Club at Mary’s Underground is a speakeasy-style escape with rotating hosts like Mark Humphries, Amber Lawrence, Angela Bishop and Ryan González. 

Leave with a fresh perspective  

Vivid Ideas is the place for big conversations and big dreams. The festival opens with First Light, a moving First Nations celebration and Calling Country (an acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country ceremony) curated by Rhoda Roberts AO. From exploring the science of sleep and dreams with Professor Matthew Walker, to stepping inside a bold vision of the future, to witnessing the creative genius behind TIME magazine’s most iconic covers, Vivid Ideas is designed to challenge, inspire and ignite new ways of thinking. 

Hungry for more   

Food lovers will find Vivid Food bigger and bolder than ever. From flame-cooked street food at the sensory explosion that is Vivid Fire Kitchen, to cinematic dining adventures at Hollywood Dreaming, there’s something for every taste and budget. Nigella Lawson’s exclusive Vivid Sydney Dinners promises an unforgettable fine-dining experience in the immersive Muru Giligu Tunnel, while the Native Food Experience at NSW Parliament House blends First Nations ingredients with contemporary cuisine. 

Getting here and home again 

With road closures and limited parking, the best way to explore Vivid Sydney is by public transport, so leave the car at home. Trains, buses, ferries, metro and light rail make it easy to travel to and between festival zones. The ferry offers stunning views of the city’s glowing skyline, while train stations like Circular Quay, Wynyard, Town Hall and Martin Place and Metro stops like Barangaroo, Martin Place, Gadigal and Central put you right in the action. Accessibility services, including designated drop-off zones and shuttle services, ensure that everyone can enjoy the festival with ease. 

Vivid Sydney is for everyone 

Vivid Sydney is for everyone – including the little ones! If you’re visiting with children, we recommend getting here early to beat the crowds, and consider visiting earlier in the week as the Light Walk can get very busy on the weekends.  

There are also free ID wristbands available at Vivid Sydney Information Booths, which are helpful should your child get lost. You can also download a printable map of Vivid Sydney to keep at hand so you can find your closest information point or plan a meeting spot should your group get split up.  

Stay in the loop 

Be sure to sign up to the Vivid Sydney newsletter. With hundreds of events set to take place over the course of the festival, you’ll be the first to know the latest on ticket releases, must-see events, festival updates and hidden gems. Sign up at vividsydney.com.