Sydney CBD and Surrounds

Short description

It’s all business during the day; smartly dressed office workers bustling along the footpath and taxis zipping down one-way alleys. But at night, the soul of the city awakens and transforms the streets. Unassuming office buildings reveal hidden rooftop bars within, historic laneways pulse with live music and fine dining restaurants serve up cuisine from around the world.

City CBD and Surrounds
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

The CBD is just a few steps from everything central Sydney has to offer – walk to the waterfront at Darling Harbour or Circular Quay; step back in time at The Rocks; stroll through the lush greenery of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park or The Domain; or head for the glittering high rises of Barangaroo.

Branching out from the CBD are some of Sydney’s most diverse and interesting suburbs. Darlinghurst is the heart of the city’s LGBTQIA+ community and home to some of the best after-hours action. Hit up a nightclub along Oxford Street, a small bar in the maze of alleyways or an emerging gallery in a converted warehouse. Redfern and Eveleigh are thriving arts communities with an alternative twist. Ultimo, close to Central Station and Haymarket, is the place for education and ideas with its universities, TAFE, museums and more.

During Vivid Sydney, colourful projections wash central Sydney’s architecture in the glow of lights and vibrant installations pop up in unexpected spaces. Beyond the city’s harbourside heart you’ll find myriad halls, museums and underground spaces humming with music and ideas. 

How to get there: Hop off the train at Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place or St James and you’ll be in the middle of the action. The light rail runs from Central Station down George Street all the way to Circular Quay and buses also run regularly into the city from the eastern and western suburbs. The northern end of George Street is a pedestrian thoroughfare, so you can also explore a lot of the CBD on foot.

This is an image of children jumping and enjoying a light installation as part of Vivid Sydney

Light Events

Dark Spectrum

Hidden beneath the city, an electronic labyrinth awaits in the abandoned railway tunnels below Wynyard Station, open to the public for the very first time...

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Dark Spectrum
Location: Wynyard Tunnels Price: From: $35.00

Future Natives

Follow the Vivid Sydney flock along the Light Walk to spot stylised light sculptures resembling our native birds. This 'birdwatching' adventure highlights...

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Future Natives
Location: Sydney CBD and Surrounds Price: Free

Music Events

Nature's Calling

Cutting-edge British-Pakistani selections, unearthed Arabic nuggets and spacey Detroit-inspired house meet at the Manning Bar, Sydney Uni in this celebration...

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Nature's Calling
Location: Manning Bar Price: From: $61.95

Wavyland

Celebrating five years of unmissable nights and tours, Sydney's WavyLand is throwing a soon-to-be legendary party with their trademark mix of cutting-edge...

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Wavyland
Location: The Metro Theatre Price: From: $80.00

NECTAR

Local party collective NECTAR are back for an immense night of experimental club music. Dance all night to twisted techno, spacey electro and wonky baselines...

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NECTAR
Location: Civic Hotel Price: From: $35.00

NLV Records All Night

Dance all night to the cutting-edge underground club music, rap and hyperpop that’s made NLV Records one of Australia’s most vital and trend-setting...

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NLV Records All Night
Location: The Abercrombie Price: From: $31.02

JIVA

JIVA is an acronym for 'Joy Is Vital Always'. Transforming the Ivy Courthouse, this euphoric day festival celebrates cultures and musical talent from across...

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Jiva
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Location: The Ivy Courtyard Price:

CLUB SERVICE

From Trackwork, the label at the fringes and front lines of Sydney’s rap and club music, comes CLUB SERVICE, a night of top-shelf sets and digital art.  Since...

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Trackwork
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Location: The CTA Business Club Price:

Ideas Events

What is Naturally Urban?

How are Sydney architects and designers planning to make our urban sprawls not just sustainable, but liveable? Join a panel of influential Sydney designers...

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What is Naturally Urban?
Location: Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre Price: From: $26.02

Monogamy: The Natural Way to Love?

Polyamory, open relationships and other forms of non-monogamy, ethical or otherwise, are enjoying their first real cultural moment in half a century. People...

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Several feet under the covers
Location: Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre Price: From: $31.02

Feeling It: Music and Sound on Screen

Ever wondered how filmmakers decide on that perfect score to have our hearts fluttering during a rom-com or our pulses quicken while watching a thriller...

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Live scoring session
Location: Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre Price: From: $26.02

(Human) Nature and The City

How can cities be better built around our human need for community and belonging? Join a panel of urban designers, artists and architects as they share...

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Child on a swing
Location: Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre Price: Free event - registration required

Climate Action: Tending or Taxing?

What if the biggest problem facing humanity isn't climate change itself, but instead, how we talk about it? Join a panel of experts as they weigh up whether...

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Mountain blended with city
Location: Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre Price: Free event - registration required

Storytelling - It's in our Nature

As global powers stall on climate action, storytelling that can cut through the noise is more vital than ever before. Shake off your eco-anxiety with this...

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Storytelling - It's in our Nature
Location: Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre Price: From: $41.01

Perv: The Kink in All of Us

Join renowned psychologist and science writer Jesse Bering (USA) and Jenny Valentish for a funny and thoughtful conversation on sexuality. Jesse will...

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A banana hugging a banana next to a condom packet
Location: Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre Price: From: $31.02

Nourishing Health

Join Maggie Beer AO in a vital discussion about what a good meal with great company can do. The veteran chef, author, restaurateur and providore is continuing...

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Maggie Beer
Location: Vivid Ideas Exchange - Telstra Customer Insight Centre Price: From: $31.02

Food Events

Vivid Residence

Introducing an unmissable new dining experience: the Vivid Residence. We're bringing one of the world’s most revered chefs to the culinary capital of...

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Daniel Humm and Matt Moran
Location: Aria

Vivid Sydney Dinner

The Vivid Sydney Dinner returns to the ivy Ballroom, fusing light, music, ideas and cuisine into a very special feast for the senses. Leading the culinary...

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Vivid Sydney Dinner
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Location: The Ivy Ballroom Price:

Vivid Chef Series

Amplifying the energy and innovation at the heart of Sydney's restaurant scene is the Vivid Chef Series. This exciting new culinary experience pairs cutting-edge...

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Chef plating up food
Location: Sydney CBD and Surrounds Price: Free

HERE NOW

HERE NOW is a day-to-night festival of abundance, smashing food and wine with music and art to celebrate our most important voices, artists and makers...

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Here Now
Location: Macquarie Place Park Price: From: $51.08

Play With Your Dinner

At this unique dinner, everything is art and (almost) everything is edible. Chin Chin Sydney Executive Chef Matt MacLeod pairs a four-course menu with...

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Play with your dinner
Location: Chin Chin

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