Sydney Opera House

Short description

The Sydney Opera House is a World Heritage-listed ‘masterpiece of human creative genius’ that belongs to all Australians.

Bennelong Point
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia

The Sydney Opera House is the symbol of modern Australia. It is one of the world’s busiest performing arts centres, the nation’s premier tourism destination and a World Heritage-listed architectural masterpiece of the 20th century that belongs to all Australians. A global beacon for creativity, the Sydney Opera House’s broad and diverse programming attracts audiences in person and online, with more than 15 million people attending performances and tours over the past decade.

During Vivid Sydney, the Sydney Opera House takes centre stage. The iconic sails become one of the festival’s brightest canvasses lighting up each night with a captivating signature work. For 2023, Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Opera House will transform the sails with an immense work, Life Enlivened (2023) by Australian artist John Olsen, whose mural Salute to Five Bells (1971-73) was commissioned for the Opera House Concert Hall by building architect Jørn Utzon. Through images selected by curator Dr. Deborah Hart and animated by creative technologists Curiious, Life Enlived celebrates the propulsive power of Olsen’s painterly brush to envision the natural world anew.

Under the sails, Vivid LIVE is the annual centrepiece of the Sydney Opera House’s year-round contemporary music program – a whole-of-House takeover and the only time of year that the world-famous venue is completely reimagined by live contemporary music,  celebrating iconic and pioneering artists that defy expectations and break new ground.  As part of Vivid Sydney, Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House will present original Australian premieres, one-off projects and unmissable performances from Australian artists, alongside select global acts, emerging voices and Sydney’s vibrant local communities who amplify the nation’s culture. 

To find out more about the Sydney Opera House and book tickets for Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House events, please visit sydneyoperahouse.com/vivid-live.

This is an image of Yarrkalpa projected on to the sails of the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid Sydney

Light Events

Music Events

Thundercat | Vivid LIVE

The masterful low-end grooves of Los Angeles native Stephen Bruner – better known as Thundercat – have galvanised some of the funkiest hits of the...

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Thundercat
Location: Sydney Opera House - Joan Sutherland Theatre Price: From: $79.00

JACOTÉNE | Vivid LIVE

She's just 17 years old, but already Melbourne-based artist JACOTÉNE is wowing critics and audiences with her powerful take on classic soul sounds.   After...

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JACOTÉNE
Location: Sydney Opera House - The Utzon Room Price: From: $29.00

Maina Doe | Vivid LIVE

Maina Doe is the sound of Sydney’s booming young RnB scene, a gifted multi-hyphenate fusing futuristic hip-hop, pop, jazz and neo-soul to create the...

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Maina Doe
Location: Sydney Opera House - The Utzon Room Price: From: $29.00

The Necks | Vivid LIVE

The Necks are Sydney Opera House legends. In their decade-plus playing the venue, the band The New York Times famously dubbed "the greatest trio on Earth...

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The Necks
Location: Sydney Opera House - Drama Theatre Price: From: $59.00

Jen Cloher | Vivid LIVE

It's been six years since Jen Cloher released their acclaimed self-titled album, but at last the wait is over. With their fifth and latest record, I Am...

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Jen Cloher
Location: Sydney Opera House Price: From: $45.00

Squarepusher | Vivid LIVE

One of the true icons of modern electronic music, few artists have pushed the genre as hard as Squarepusher, the pioneering British composer, producer...

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Squarepusher
Location: Sydney Opera House - Joan Sutherland Theatre Price: From: $39.00

Becca Hatch | Vivid LIVE

Western Sydney has exploded with talented young hip-hop, RnB and dance-pop artists over the past few years, and they don't come any more exciting than...

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Becca Hatch
Location: Sydney Opera House - The Utzon Room Price: From: $29.00