Local Business Program

Any type of businesses interested in highlighting their products, services or experiences. No special Vivid Sydney offer required.

Requirements:

• Operating during Vivid Sydney, Monday to Sunday 6pm-11pm each night from 22 May to 13 June inclusive, or at a minimum Thursday to Sunday during these hours.
• To be located within Vivid Sydney’s boundary (see map in FAQs).
• Be a registered business and hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), or international equivalent.

Benefits:

• Free set of A2 Vivid Sydney window decals, professionally installed ahead of the festival to celebrate your participation.
• Selected businesses will receive a free transparent and circular LED Screen, installed in your shopfront window or retail space during Vivid Sydney, pre-programmed with Vivid Sydney video content.
• Dedicated advertisement on the Vivid Sydney Deals & Experiences webpage with a direct link to your own website.
• Eligible businesses may be featured on Vivid Sydney LinkedIn channels, showcasing unique products, services or experiences.
• Access to the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program digital toolkit with exclusive content and guidelines for use on your own channels.

Terms and conditions:

• Please read full Terms and Conditions.
• LED screens will be limited to up to 40 businesses and selection will be based on the strict criteria outlined in the Terms and Conditions.
• Window decals will be limited to up to 150 businesses and selection will be based on the strict criteria outlined in the Terms and Conditions.
• Participation in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program does not imply inclusion in or endorsement by the official Vivid Food Program, which has a separate Expression of Interest, selection process and criteria.

Applications close at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday 3 April 2026 and will be evaluated by the Vivid Sydney team. All applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps by 10 April 2026.

Cruise Vessels interested in illuminating their cruise vessel as part of Vivid Light on Sydney Harbour

The Vivid Sydney Local Business Program invites your business to join the Vivid Light on Sydney Harbour program by illuminating your cruise vessel in synchronisation with the Vivid Sydney lighting displays. Participating businesses can transform their vessels at their own cost, using free lighting controllers provided by Destination NSW.

Requirements:

• To be willing to illuminate your cruise vessel at own cost.
• Operating during Vivid Sydney, Monday to Sunday 6pm-11pm each night from 22 May to 13 June inclusive, or at a minimum Thursday to Sunday during these hours.
• A cruise vessel with a secure outdoor or indoor location with good 4G reception where a shoe-box sized 4G modem can be installed and powered with a standard Australian mains connection.
• Be a registered business and hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), or international equivalent.

Benefits:

• Complimentary lighting controller box to be professionally installed in your cruise vessel pre-festival to remotely synchronise your lighting treatment to Vivid Sydney’s spectacular display during the event.
• Dedicated advertisement on the Vivid Sydney Deals & Experiences webpage with a direct link to your own website.
• Eligible businesses may be featured on Vivid Sydney LinkedIn channels, showcasing unique products, services or experiences.
• Recognition on the Vivid Light on Sydney Harbour acknowledgement page of the Vivid Sydney website, with a direct link to your dedicated business profile.
• Access to the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program digital toolkit with exclusive content and guidelines for use on your own channels

Conditions:

• Please read full Terms and Conditions.
• Your business will be responsible for procuring and funding a reputable and qualified lighting supplier to develop and deliver the cruise vessel lighting treatment and gaining design approvals from the Vivid Sydney team.
• Tier 2 will be limited to 40 cruise vessels and selection will be based on the strict criteria outlined in the Terms and Conditions.
• Participation in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program does not imply inclusion in or endorsement by the official Vivid Sydney Program, which has a separate Expression of Interest, selection process and criteria.

Applications close at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday 3 April 2026 and will be evaluated by the Vivid Sydney team. All applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps by 10 April 2026.

Businesses interested in lighting up their building façade as part of Our Connected City.

The Vivid Sydney Local Business Program invites your business to join the Our Connected City program by illuminating your building facade in synchronisation with the Vivid Sydney lighting displays. Participating businesses can transform their buildings at their own cost, using free lighting controllers provided by Destination NSW.

Requirements:

• To be willing to illuminate your building at own cost.
• To be located within Vivid Sydney’s boundary (see map in FAQs).
• A building with a secure outdoor or indoor location with good 4G reception where a shoe-box sized 4G modem can be installed and powered with a standard Australian mains connection.
• Be a registered business and hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), or international equivalent.

Benefits:

• Complimentary lighting controller box, professionally installed to synchronise your building’s lights with Vivid Sydney’s spectacular display.
• Free set of A2 Vivid Sydney window decals, professionally installed ahead of the festival to celebrate your participation.
• Selected businesses may receive a transparent circular LED screen displaying pre-programmed Vivid Sydney video content.
• Dedicated advertisement on the Vivid Sydney Deals & Experiences webpage with a direct link to your own website.
• Eligible businesses may be featured on Vivid Sydney LinkedIn channels, showcasing unique products, services or experiences.
• Recognition on the Our Connected City acknowledgement page of the Vivid Sydney website, with a direct link to your dedicated business profile.
• Access to the official Vivid Sydney digital toolkit, including brand assets, templates and content to use across your own marketing channels.
• Permission to use approved Vivid Sydney imagery (excluding the Sydney Opera House) to enhance your own marketing materials.
• Opportunity to be featured in pre-festival content capture during Vivid Sydney preview week.
• Two invitations to the exclusive Vivid Sydney Opening Night celebration (subject to availability and venue conditions).

Conditions:

• Please read full Terms and Conditions.Your business will be responsible for procuring and funding a reputable and qualified lighting supplier to develop and deliver the lighting treatment and gaining design approvals from the Vivid Sydney team.
• Tier 3 will be limited to 10 buildings and selection will be based on the strict criteria outlined in the Terms and Conditions.

Applications close at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday 20 February 2026 and will be evaluated by the Vivid Sydney team. All applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps by 23 February 2026.

Vivid Sydney is an annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology, which transforms Sydney for 23 days and nights in May-June.

Vivid Sydney is Australia’s largest event and the Southern Hemisphere's leading multi-artform festival, with program ‘pillars’ spanning Light, Music, Ideas and Food. With some of Australia and the globe’s most boundary-pushing artists, thought-leaders, musicians, and culinary talents, Sydney shined bright as a beacon of world-leading creativity, culture, and community.

In 2025, the festival attracted 2.5 million attendees cementing Sydney’s position as the creative capital of the Asia-Pacific and instrumental in driving visitation to Sydney.

Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. It will take place from 22 May to 13 June inclusive for 2026.

Visit www.vividsydney.com to discover all the exciting events at Vivid Sydney. Make the most of your festival experience by signing up the Vivid Sydney newsletter. Not only will you be the first to hear about new updates, but it’s also the best way to plan and curate your Vivid Sydney adventure. Stay connected and up to date by following us on social media at @vividsydney.

You will be able to enjoy and experience Vivid Sydney across 23-days and nights. Vivid Sydney is on every night from 6pm until 11pm, from 22 May to 13 June 2026. Please keep in mind that the festival’s busiest nights are expected to be each Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights and every night of the June long weekend.

If you're interested in getting involved with Vivid Sydney, the Local Business Program offers valuable support and benefits for businesses within and around the festival footprint. The program has three application tiers, each offering unique opportunities. Please review the Terms and Conditions, explore each tier, and apply for the one that best suits your business.

Applications open on 19 January 2026.

• Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications close at 5:00 pm (AEST) on 3 April 2026.
• Tier 3 applications close at 5:00 pm (AEST) on 20 February 2026.

All applications will be assessed by the Vivid Sydney team. Applicants will be notified of their outcome and next steps by Friday 10 April 2026 (or by 23 February 2026 for Tier 3).

No. Share how your business contributes to the local community and supports Sydney’s night-time economy. This is your opportunity to showcase your signature products, services, and customer experience. Please read the Terms and Conditions. for more information on each tier criteria.

Participation in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program does not imply inclusion in or endorsement by the official Vivid Food Program. The Vivid Food Program operates separately, with its own Expression of Interest, selection process, and criteria.

To participate in Local Business Program, your business must operate each night from Monday to Sunday between 6 pm and 11 pm, or at a minimum Thursday to Sunday during these hours, be located within the designated Vivid Sydney boundary (see map for details), and be a registered business with an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), or an international equivalent.

To participate in the Local Business Program, your business must be located within the designated boundary map.

Yes. Businesses outside the boundary can still showcase their products or services by visiting VisitNSW.com and adding your business through a listing on the Australian Tourism Data Warehouse (ATDW) website. By applying for a listing on ATDW, your business can gain visibility on Sydney.com and VisitNSW.com and connect with a broader audience.

Businesses interested in illuminating their building façade in synchronisation with Vivid Sydney’s lighting activation, can apply to Tier 3 of the Local Business Program and be a part of the ‘Our Connected City Program’.

Cruise vessels interested in illuminating their vessel in synchronisation with Vivid Sydney’s lighting activation, can apply to Tier 2 of the Local Business Program and be a part of the ‘Lights on Sydney Harbour’ Program.

The Local Business Program tiers have been designed to suit different types of businesses. We recommend applying for one tier only to suit your requirements.

We will promote your business to our online audience, and selected businesses will receive access to free Vivid Sydney Local Business program assets, including a round LED screen, window decals and digital toolkit.

Participating businesses enjoy valuable exposure, including a listing on the Deals & Experiences webpage on the Vivid Sydney website. Using the provided digital toolkit, businesses can create their own promotional content following guidelines and suggested captions. All Vivid Sydney marketing and communications material created from the toolkit must be submitted for approval prior to going live, at vividsydney.com/approvals.

Participants of Tier 1 and 2 are not permitted to use the Vivid Sydney logo. Please use the "Proud Participant in Vivid Sydney Local Business Program" graphic device provided in the official social media toolkit. Non-compliance with this requirement may result in the removal of any non-compliant material from Vivid Sydney’s social media channels and promotional platforms.

When submitting your application for the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program, you will be required to provide a catchy title, a business description, an image, and your location. Please ensure you follow the instructions outlined in the application form. For any questions or assistance, feel free to contact our team at vividlocalbusiness@dnsw.com.au.

Please click here for an example.

Tier 1 and 2 applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps by Friday 10 April 2026.

Tier 3 applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps by 20 February 2026.

If you have questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our team at vividlocalbusiness@dnsw.com.au.