Sydney CBD and Surrounds
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.
Light Events
Future Natives
Follow the Vivid Sydney flock along the Light Walk to spot stylised light sculptures resembling our native birds. This 'birdwatching' adventure highlights...
Music Events
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...
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...
The Factory Party
Three icons of New York nightlife arrive to mix it up with our finest, as curated by local party starters Xaddy’s Door List and Point Productions. A...
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...
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...
A Bend in the River: A Tribute to Archie Roach AC
33 years ago, we first heard the lyrics ‘this story's right, this story’s true…', as the undeniable baritone croon of Archie Roach AC delivered an...
Athletica x Bypass: Thermal Mass
Fusing the visions of two of Sydney’s seasoned party throwers, Athletica and Bypass are joining forces for Thermal Mass, a day-to-night dancefloor showcasing...
SETTINGS™ w/ BAMBII + TOMMY GOLD
SETTINGS™ returns – an event project at the forefront of rap, hip-hop and electronic music, for the fashion and design community in Sydney. With...
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...
Ideas Events
Good Mourning - A New Way to Think about Grief
Death may be the great equaliser, but grief can be completely alienating. While we all know how disorientating mourning can be, nobody really talks about...
Could the ocean be the solution?
Our oceans are under myriad threats but it's not all bad news. Hear from a group of experts utilising the ocean’s natural powers as a solution, from...
Sydney in Space
The answers to space's mysteries might be closer to us than we think: what can Earth tell us about the Milky Way and beyond? Join leading scientists...
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...
Natural Footsteps: Ethical Travel
As we return to global travel, what’s the best way to do so? Join nature and travel writer Anthony Ham and writer, literary tour guide leader and avid...
Full Story
As Guardian Australia celebrates its 10th anniversary, join Full Story host Laura Murphy-Oates, climate and environment editor Adam Morton and guests for...
Bloody Taboos
Whether shrouded in secrecy or deemed too uncomfortable to discuss, plenty of perfectly natural experiences and feelings remain near impossible to talk...
Cli-mating
Swipe right on love and the planet. This blind date panel is all about finding your sustainability match or 'cli-mate', as comedians and scientists run...
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, but...
What We Can Learn from Nature: Australian Museum X Vivid Ideas
Nature speaks, but are we listening? Hear from a trio of in-tune experts – photographic artist and activist Leila Jeffreys (Temple, Vivid Sydney 2022)...
Food Events
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
