Expressions of Interest: Light
Vivid Light opportunity
Vivid Sydney is calling all artists, designers, producers, creatives, architects, engineers, businesses and educational institutions to be a part of the festival in 2026. This is a globally recognised opportunity for artists to participate in Australia’s largest and most iconic festival.
We want you to present your ideas, designs and concepts for inclusion in Vivid Light. There are two categories:
- Projection Art
- Light Installations
Vivid Light is enjoyed by people of all ages from around the world. All work submitted for consideration as part of Vivid Light must be suitable for General Exhibition and must not bring the NSW Government and Destination NSW into disrepute.
Please note that the supply of projection and technical equipment for Vivid Sydney 2026 is not part of this Expression of Interest.
Projection Art
Vivid Sydney is known for its spectacular animated light projections on iconic buildings. Vivid Sydney is calling for projection artists to make their mark by considering new and often unused buildings, streets, laneways, sculptural objects, ground surfaces, overhead screens, or tunnels along the famous Vivid Sydney Light Walk. In previous years, we’ve projected on trees and on the water, so use your imagination and think of each nook of the city as your canvas.
Ideas we’d love to see – projects that help us to see the city in a new light, or that play with perception of the everyday. For example, how can a light projection change the perception of something commuters see every day? How can light, quite literally, shine a spotlight on something that remains relatively unseen during our daily lives?
Projection art is fundamental to the Vivid Sydney Light Walk experience, and the festival has a long-established reputation for pushing the creative and technical boundaries of animated projection mapping; we encourage artists to explore the limits of current technology.
Vivid Sydney is looking for big ideas and we want you to be as creative as possible in your proposal. We welcome concepts that bring new artforms to projection art. Filmmakers, animators, artists, designers and projectionists should submit their concept together with a suggested site or building. A successful proposal can be assigned to any building (or alternative surface) if deemed curatorially appropriate by the Vivid Sydney team.
Application requirements
To apply you will need to provide the following:
- A detailed design concept brief, including a rationale as to how the work is creative and displays bold and innovative design and a proven track record – either as an individual or company credentials and examples of previous designs that relate to the current project you are pitching. We require CVs for all key creative leads.
- A fully itemised project budget in Australian Dollars (inclusive of design, production, sound design, testing, output of professional quality high definition (HD) renders for use on the Vivid Sydney website and promotion in the lead up to the festival, HD animations and with options to scale project up or down in minute increments). Please refer to Budget Template within the EOI Form.
- Completed Expression of Interest (EOI) Application Form.
- Installation or projection must be an Australian Premiere and exclusive to Vivid Sydney for 12-months post festival.
Selection criteria
In your EOI please demonstrate how your Projection Art meets the following criteria:
- Creative and artistic merit with bold and innovative design.
- Innovative and creative use of technology and location.
- Cost-effectiveness and capacity to deliver within the proposed fee/cost and timeline.
- Compliance to EOI requirements including diversity, audience development, access and inclusion and sustainability.
Applicants are required to read the following documents prior to applying:
Vivid Light installations
Artists, designers, creatives, architects, engineers and businesses are encouraged to submit a proposal for new Light Installations for the Vivid Sydney Light Walk 2026. Successful works will demonstrate a unique experience of light, technology, sustainability, accessibility and innovative thinking. The works should encourage our audience to interact with the work and help them to see their city in a new way.
Location and content
Traditionally, the Vivid Sydney Light Walk includes locations throughout the Sydney Harbour foreshore, including The Rocks, Circular Quay, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. Since 2022 the Vivid Light Walk has included Barangaroo Headland, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, the Goods Line and Central Station. In 2026 we are also looking to explore new and undiscovered spaces in our city with works within or nearby the established Vivid Light Walk that highlight our icons, hidden treasures, natural environment and architecture in the inner city.
Artists are encouraged to use locations in Sydney to inspire their works, with a focus on our individuality and universality – the untold, unknown and unexpected. The festival includes works of scale and smaller sized installations, and we encourage ideas for both that maintain impact, audience engagement and creativity at the fore.
The installation or projection must be an Australian Premiere and exclusive to Vivid Sydney for 12-months post festival.
Applicants may propose a preferred or suggested location as part of their submission; however, the Vivid Sydney team reserves the right to stipulate the location of all artworks. Placement of installations in all locations is subject to approval by Vivid Sydney, landowners, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders.
Please do not approach buildings or landowners directly.
Interactivity
Vivid Sydney welcomes applications which use interactivity and/or reactivity in new and exciting ways. Applicants are encouraged to explore sound, motion or data driven interactivity/reactivity as part of their submission. Vivid Sydney attracts large crowds (2.42 million people in 2024), so please consider how your proposed artwork will work in the context of a mass audience.
Durability
Installations designed for Vivid Sydney must be weather-proof and able to last for the full duration of the festival (including bump in/out, approx. 37 days) with minimal up-keep. If your installation is interactive, ensure the interactive elements are sufficiently robust and can operate safely in adverse weather conditions. Artists will be expected to maintain their work at a high level of aesthetic quality and functionality throughout the entire duration of the festival which includes cleaning of the installation. Maintenance costs are at the artist’s own expense. High and gusting winds are common in Sydney during Vivid Sydney and should be considered.
Engineering & insurance
Destination NSW will support successful applicants by providing final design engineering sign-off and structural build onsite sign-off services and allowing Artists to opt-in to facilitated insurance products (where required) for each installation. Applicants do not need to include the cost of these services in their submission budgets. Successful applicants will be required to work collaboratively with Destination NSW and their nominated third-party suppliers to provide the necessary documentation to ensure these services are delivered to the required standard on agreed timelines.
Noise considerations
Please be aware that sound restrictions exist in many areas across Vivid Sydney. Applications including a sound component are widely encouraged, but please be aware that landowners, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders will be considered when on-site decibel levels are established.
Artists are encouraged to create new music/sound design specific to their work. Permissions and necessary royalty licences for any/all music included in a Vivid Light installation, projection or sculpture is the responsibility (and cost) of the artist.
It is highly recommended to incorporate the physical sound system into the work for cohesiveness.
Heritage considerations
Please be aware that many of the locations on the Vivid Light Walk are classified as Heritage locations. Please take into consideration that no permanent and some temporary attachments to buildings, trees and pegging into park areas may not be allowed.
Important considerations
Traditionally, the Vivid Sydney Light Walk includes locations throughout the Sydney Harbour foreshore, including The Rocks, Circular Quay, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour. Since 2022 the Vivid Light Walk has included Barangaroo Headland, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, the Goods Line and Central Station. In 2025 we activated Martin Place with three light artworks and a major food event. In 2026 we are also looking to explore new and undiscovered spaces in our city with works within or nearby the established Vivid Light Walk that highlight our icons, hidden treasures, natural environment and architecture in the inner city.
Artists are encouraged to use locations in Sydney to inspire their works, with a focus on our individuality and universality – the untold, unknown, and unexpected. The festival includes works of scale and smaller sized installations, and we encourage ideas for both that maintain impact, audience engagement and creativity at the fore.
Artists are encouraged to submit works that are an Australian premiere, or new pieces never seen before.
Applicants may propose a preferred or suggested location as part of their submission; however, the Vivid Sydney team reserves the right to stipulate the location of all artworks. Placement of installations in all locations is subject to approval by Vivid Sydney, landowners, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders.
Please do not approach buildings or landowners directly.
Vivid Sydney welcomes applications which use interactivity / reactivity in new and exciting ways. Applicants are encouraged to explore sound, motion or data driven interactivity / reactivity as part of their submission. Vivid Sydney attracts large crowds (2.42 million people in 2024). So please consider how your proposed artwork will work in the context of a mass audience.
Installations designed for Vivid Sydney must be weather-proof, and able to last for the full duration of the event (including bump in/out, approx. 37 days) with minimal up-keep. If your installation is interactive, ensure the interactive elements are sufficiently robust and can operate safely in adverse weather conditions. Artists will be expected to maintain their work at a high level of aesthetic quality and functionality throughout the entire duration of the event which includes cleaning of the installation. Maintenance costs are at the artist’s own expense. High winds are common in Sydney during Vivid and should be considered.
Destination NSW will support successful applicants by providing final design engineering sign off and structural build onsite sign off services and allowing Artists to opt-in to facilitated insurance products (where required) for each installation. Applicants do not need to include the cost of these services in their submission budgets. Successful applicants will be required to work collaboratively with Destination NSW and their nominated third-party suppliers to provide the necessary documentation to ensure these services are delivered to the required standard on agreed timelines.
Please be aware that sound restrictions exist in many areas across Vivid Sydney. Applications including a sound component are widely encouraged, but please be aware that landowners, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders will be considered when on-site decibel levels are established.
Artists are encouraged to create new music/sound design specific to their work. Permissions and necessary royalty licences for any/all music included in a Vivid Light installation or sculpture is the responsibility (and cost) of the artist.
It is highly recommended to incorporate the physical sound system into the piece for cohesiveness.
Please be aware that many of the locations on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk are classed as Heritage locations. Please take into consideration that no permanent and some temporary attachments to buildings, trees and pegging into park areas may not be allowed.
Application requirements
To apply you will need to provide the following:
- Basic personal information, contact and contracting details.
- Preliminary technical specifications on your proposed light sculpture/installation/event solution/activation.
- 2- 3 photo-realistic professional quality render/s of the proposed light sculpture/installation in your proposed location.
- A concise written description of the proposed light sculpture/installation.
- A demonstrated proven track record including a copy of your individual or company credentials and design/work portfolios.
For domestic artists: a fully itemised project budget (including design, construction, installation, freight, dismantle etc). NB: Vivid Sydney will not be responsible for additional engineering costs due to design or material change decisions by artist, incurred after the project is in production and has been assessed by our appointed engineers. Please refer to Budget Template within the EOI Form.
For International artists: fully itemised project budget in Australian dollars (inclusive of design, construction, installation, freight to and from your closest port, onsite maintenance, dismantle etc, airfares and accommodation). Please refer to Budget Template within the EOI Form.
Selection criteria
In your EOI please demonstrate how your proposal meets the following criteria:
- Creative and artistic merit with bold and innovative design.
- Technical feasibility, including demonstrated ability to realise design, with a durable high-quality finished product
- Cost-effectiveness, and capacity to deliver within the proposed fee/cost and timeline
- Compliance to EOI requirements including diversity, audience development, access and inclusion and sustainability
Applicants are required to read the following documents prior to applying:
Light installations
Light Installations are an integral part of the Vivid Sydney Light Walk, Vivid Sydney’s stretch of projection animations and installations lighting up the Sydney Harbour Foreshore and beyond during the festival. A Light Installation can explore engaging ideas or concepts while demonstrating a unique experience of light, sound, creativity, new technology and innovative thinking.
Anyone can apply to deliver a Light Installation at Vivid Sydney! We have many diverse types of applicants including professional light artists, designers, creative industry practitioners, architects, engineers, businesses and educational institutions.
If you have a creative idea which highlights light as the primary form of art, then we want to hear from you.
Light Installations must be an Australian Premiere and exclusive to Vivid Sydney for 12-months post festival. Applicants must be a registered business and hold an ABN (Australian Business Number), ACN (Australian Company Number) or international equivalent.
Applicants will need to submit a cohesive plan for their Light Installation including a realistic plan for creative development, materiality, engineering, rigging, power, construction and weather proofing. We also require a competitive budget that accurately covers all of your project costs. Applicants must be able to demonstrate technical details including build materials and technology components. The application requires at least one (1) DRAFT technical drawing reflecting an estimated plan for the Light Installation. The Vivid Sydney Technical Team can work with you to offer advice on how to progress your work technically. We also strongly recommend that you consult with relevant industry practitioners for key elements such as budgeting and engineering advice prior to submitting your application.
Vivid Sydney welcomes applications that use interactivity/reactivity in new and exciting ways. Applicants are encouraged to explore sound, motion or data driven interactivity/reactivity as part of their submission. It is important to note that Vivid Sydney attracts large, transient crowds, so if your proposed artwork is interactive, you will need to be able to demonstrate how it works within this context.
No, applicants who wish to include performance of any type may be better suited to submit to one of the other pillars they feel is most closely aligned.
Only budgets submitted with the Vivid Sydney budget template will be accepted in AUD (Australian Dollars). We cannot accept any budgets submitted in any other currency or if they are not in the Vivid Sydney budget template. Please ensure that your costings are accurate.
Applicants should include the following costs in their application:
- Artist Fees
- Materials/Consumables
- Equipment Hire
- Build/Construction
- Labour
- Lighting elements
- Transport/Fuel
- Artist Accommodation/Transport/Per Diems/Other Expenses*
- Public and Product Insurance ($AUD 20million)
- Professional Renders (for use on Vivid Sydney website and marketing and publicity purposes)
- Professional Animations
- Contingency
*Please note that festival bump-in typically commences 2 weeks prior to the festival opening night and if you are planning to stay for the full festival you will need to account for that in your budget. Alternatively, if you are assigning someone else to do bump-out please ensure this is considered in your final budget.
Please refer to the Budget Template with the EOI Form.
Destination NSW defines an Artist as the person or company responsible for the creative concept, execution and delivery of the project. The Artist is responsible for the full production cycle from initial creative concept to final delivery. Destination NSW contractually engages the Artist (rather than the Collaborator) and it is the Artist, who is legally responsible for the work.
The Collaborator is the person or company responsible for assisting the Artist’s vision come to life. This can be in the form of a sound designer, animator, composer, interactive technology specialist, museum or institution providing either content or projection space, etc.
Destination NSW will cover the costs associated with final design sign off, structural build engineering and correlated rigging for your Light Installation. Applicants will need to ensure that their application covers additional budget for design amendments and ground support should this be deemed necessary by engineers.
Destination NSW requires that your light installation be complete and delivered to Sydney no later than two weeks prior to the Festival. You will need to ensure that you account for sea freight timelines in your project planning and ensure that delivery to Sydney by the last week of April is achievable. On average on water shipping times are Asia - 5 weeks, Europe/UK - 9 weeks and USA - 7 weeks.
- Creative and artistic merit with bold and innovative design.
- Technical feasibility, including demonstrated ability to realise design, with a high-quality finished product.
- Cost-effectiveness and capacity to deliver within the proposed fee/cost and timeline.
- Compliance with Expression of Interest requirements
To apply you will need to provide the following:
- Basic personal information, contact and contracting details
- Preliminary technical specifications on your proposed light sculpture/installation
- 2-3 photo-realistic professional quality render/s of the proposed light sculpture/installation in your proposed location.
- A concise written description of the proposed light sculpture/installation.
- A demonstrated proven track record including a copy of your individual or company credentials and design/work portfolios.
Artists will be responsible for engaging Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council for any approvals required for any culturally significant works or works placed on culturally sensitive land prior to the commencement of work. Metro LAC can be contacted here: Metro LALC
Projection art
Projection art is the 3D video mapping of light onto any surface, turning everyday objects into interactive displays of projection. Vivid Sydney encourages applicants to consider projecting onto underused buildings, sculptural objects, ground surfaces and tunnels along the famous Vivid Sydney Light Walk.
Applicants with a background in animation, design and projection art are encouraged to apply to deliver Projection Art at Vivid Sydney. You may be an individual artist with a great idea or an established 3D mapping company.
Applicants are encouraged to be as creative as possible in their proposal and submit a concept or idea together with a suggested site/building. A successful proposal can be assigned to any building (or alternative surface) if deemed curatorially appropriate by the Vivid Sydney team.
The Lighting of the Sydney Opera House Sails is a co-curation between Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Opera House and is therefore not included in this EOI.
The Projection Art on the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia (MCA) is a co-curation between Vivid Sydney and the MCA and is therefore not included in this EOI.
The Vivid Sydney building lighting program is a turnkey creative proposal delivered by a selected supplier.
Vivid Sydney does welcome applications from building owners/property managers who are interested in self-funding/self-managing a lighting treatment on their building facade and will consider such proposals based on creative merit and connection to the Vivid Sydney event footprint.
Applicants will need to submit a cohesive plan for their projection art clear and concise artistic approach that relates to the narrative overview, animation style, initial ideas about soundscape or music and an idea of which building will work with your proposal. Applicants must be able to demonstrate technical details including technology components. The application requires at least one (1) photo-realistic render of the projection on the proposed building. Whilst the Vivid Sydney curatorial team cannot guarantee that your preferred building will be available for your artwork, it does help the team to see your vision.
Only budgets submitted with Vivid Sydney budget template will be accepted in AUD (Australian Dollars). We will not accept budgets that are submitted in other currencies and in other templates. Please ensure that your costings are accurate and based on current industry standards.
Applicants should include the following costs in their application:
- Artist Fees
- Materials/Consumables
- Labour
- Artist Accommodation/Transport/Per Diems *
- Insurance
- Professional Renders (for use on Vivid Sydney website and marketing and publicity purposes)
- Professional Animations
- Contingency
Please refer to the Budget Template with the EOI Form.
* If you are based overseas you will need to arrive at least 7-10 days before the festival opens for artist testing or alternatively assign a local person to be your representative for final quality assurance testing. All international and interstate artists should budget travel and accommodation in Sydney and will be responsible for booking their own.
No, Destination NSW will cover the costs associated with technical requirements such as projectors, projector towers and projection labour hire. Applicants should consider a contingency budget to assist with any changes to their projection based on technology requirements. Artist testing occurs 7-10 days before Vivid Sydney opens. There will be limited time to make changes to your art
- Creative and artistic merit with bold and innovative design.
- Innovative and creative use of technology and location.
- Cost-effectiveness and capacity to deliver within the proposed fee/cost and timeline.
- Compliance with Expression of Interest requirements.
To apply you will need to provide the following:
- A detailed design concept brief, including a rationale as to how the work is creative and displays bold and innovative design and a proven track record – either as an individual or company credentials and examples of previous designs that relate to the current project you are pitching. We require CVs for all key creative leads.
- A fully itemised project budget inclusive of: design, production, sound design, testing, output of professional quality high definition (HD) renders for use on the Vivid Sydney website and promotion in the lead up to the event, HD animations and with options to scale project up or down in minute increments. Please refer to Budget Template within the EOI Form.
- Completed Expression of Interest (EOI) Application Form.
