VIVID SYDNEY 2025 EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Vivid Sydney is back from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June 2025, transforming the city into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and technology. Over 23 nights, light installations, 3D projections, music, ideas and food invite you to dream without limits. Inspired by the creative direction “Dream”, the festival opens up a world of imagination, wonder, and shared inspiration.
We invite local businesses to apply for our Local Business Program, where you can showcase your business during Vivid Sydney by highlighting your signature products, services. Demonstrate how your business contributes to the local community and supports Sydney’s night-time economy by naturally attracting foot traffic and creating memorable moments for visitors. We encourage you to promote local NSW produce or products, supporting our state's growers and makers. There’s no need for a Vivid Sydney -specific activation—simply share what you already do best while engaging with locals and visitors during the festival.
We will promote your business to our engaged audience, and selected businesses will receive access to free Vivid Sydney Local Business Program assets, including a digital toolkit, round LED screen and window decals, professionally installed to attract customers and highlight your participation.
Apply now to be part of the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program!
Why join the Local Business Program?
Be part of Sydney’s largest event, over 2.42 million attendees in 2024
Brighten your shopfront with free Vivid Sydney Local Business Program signage
Promote your business to the Vivid Sydney audience
86% of Vivid Sydney attendees purchase food and beverages
How to apply for the Local Business Program
Please read through each opportunity to find the tier most suitable to your business and then apply using the form below.
Applications are presented within three tiers:
Tier 1
Businesses interested in showcasing their products, services and customer experiences
Tier 2
Cruise vessels interested in illuminating their vessel
Tier 3
Businesses interested in illuminating their prominent building façade
Businesses Operating during Vivid Sydney
Show us how your business contributes to the local community and supports Sydney’s night-time economy, by highlighting what your business is already known for, no Vivid Sydney-inspired offer is required.
Requirements
- To be operating during Vivid Sydney, Monday to Sunday 6pm-11pm each night from 23 May to 14 June inclusive.
- 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 brightly coloured Vivid Sydney window decals, professionally mounted for temporary display.
- Your business will be promoted to our engaged audience through the Vivid Sydney website.
- Official Vivid Sydney Local Business Program digital toolkit with exclusive content and guidelines for use on your own channels.
- Selected businesses will receive a FREE transparent and circular LED Screen, professionally installed in your shopfront window or retail space during Vivid Sydney, pre-programmed with Vivid Sydney video content.
Terms & Conditions
- Please read full Terms and Conditions.
- LED screens will be limited to up to 60 businesses and selection will be based on the strict criteria outlined in the full 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 full Terms and Conditions.
- To apply for this Tier, you must be a registered business and hold an Australian Business Number (ABN), Australian Company Number (ACN), or international equivalent.
- Participation in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program does not imply inclusion in or endorsement by the official Vivid Food Program. Businesses in the Local Business Program are recognised as participants in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program but are distinct from the Vivid Food Program, which has a separate Expression of Interest, selection process and criteria.
Applications are now closed. All applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps in the week commencing 14 April 2025.
Shopfront mock up
Lights on Sydney Harbour
Cruise vessels interested in illuminating your vessel
Requirements:
- To be willing to illuminate your cruise vessel at own cost.
- 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:
- FREE 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.
- Participating cruise vessels will be featured on the Vivid Sydney website.
- Official 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. Businesses in the Local Business Program are recognised as participants in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program but are distinct from the Vivid Sydney Program, which has a separate Expression of Interest, selection process and criteria.
Applications close at 5.00pm (AEST) on Friday 11 April 2025 and will be evaluated by the Vivid Sydney team. All applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps in the week commencing 25 April 2025.
Light Up My Building
Businesses interested in lighting up your building facade
The Vivid Sydney Local Business Program invites your business to join the "Our Connected City" program by illuminating your prominent facade in synchronisation with the Vivid Sydney lighting displays. This unique opportunity reflects the festival’s 2024 theme, "Dream," celebrating connection through shared imagination and creativity. Participating businesses can transform their buildings at their own cost, using free lighting controllers provided by Destination NSW.
Frequently Asked Questions
Vivid Sydney is the Southern Hemisphere's leading multi-artform festival, transforming Sydney into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and technology.
Attracting domestic and international visitors, it fuels economic growth while fostering a cultural celebration across Light, Music, Ideas and Food. Inspired by the theme “Dream”, this year’s festival invites all to explore a world of imagination and shared inspiration. Owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW, the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency. Vivid Sydney showcases NSW's cultural vibrancy, positioning the state as a global leader in artistic innovation.
Visit vividsydney.com to discover all the exciting events at Vivid Sydney - the full program will be announced in March. Plus 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 23 May to 14 June 2025. 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 2 December 2025 and close at 5.00pm (AEST) on 11 April 2025 and will be evaluated by the Vivid Sydney team. All applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps, week commencing 14 April 2025.
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 exceptional 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. Businesses in the Local Business Program are recognised as participants in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program but are distinct from the Vivid Food Program, which has a separate 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, 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.
If you’re not interested in lighting up your vessel, but still want to be a part of the Local Business Program, please apply for Tier 1.
Participation in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program does not imply inclusion in or endorsement by the official Vivid Sydney Program. Businesses in the Local Business Program are recognised as participants in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program but are distinct from the Vivid Sydney Program, which has a separate Expression of Interest, selection process and criteria.
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 engaged 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 in the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program 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.
Applications close at 5.00pm (AEST) on 11 April 2025 and will be evaluated by the Vivid Sydney team. All applicants will be notified of their application outcome and the next steps, week commencing 14 April 2025.
If you have questions or need assistance, feel free to reach out to our team at vividlocalbusiness@dnsw.com.au.
