Vivid Sydney is about to make Darling Harbour the most-watched patch of sky in Sydney. In 2026, the festival will stage its biggest-ever drone show program, with 22 Star-Bound shows turning Cockle Bay into a night-time theatre of light, sound and storytelling across 11 nights.
The large-scale drone spectacular marks a Vivid Sydney first, with the 22-show program making it the largest drone show schedule ever presented by the event.
Created by drone artistry company Sky Magic, Star-Bound will combine large-scale aerial light, storytelling and an original musical score commissioned from Australian composer Antony Partos.
Visitors watching from land or water will be able to tune in via a dedicated FM frequency to hear the soundtrack live, adding another layer to the Darling Harbour experience.
Vivid Sydney 2026 runs from 22 May to 13 June across Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
Darling Harbour gets the sky-high treatment
The drone show’s move to Cockle Bay is expected to bring major crowds into Darling Harbour after dark, with nearby restaurants, bars and hospitality venues set to benefit from the extra foot traffic.
Organisers are encouraging audiences to arrive early, with strong demand expected across the 11 nights.
Recommended viewing points include Cockle Bay’s eastern promenade, the southern boardwalk and Palm Grove, the western promenade and Pyrmont Bridge.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said the expanded drone program would be a major Vivid Sydney highlight.
“Vivid Sydney continues to raise the bar as one of the world’s largest arts festivals, and this year’s drone show program will be a spectacular highlight of the festival,” Kamper said.
“Delivering 22 shows across 11 nights is a major undertaking and reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to creating world-class experiences that attract visitors, support local businesses and showcase Sydney on the global stage.”
Kamper said Star-Bound would transform Sydney Harbour into a canvas of light and storytelling, while supporting the festival’s ambition to become the world’s most-attended comprehensive arts event.
A bigger story in the sky
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO said Star-Bound would take the festival’s drone shows into more ambitious storytelling territory.
“With Star-Bound, we’re evolving the Vivid Sydney drone shows from a sequence of singular images into a larger, poetic story, one that celebrates life, creation, hope and renewal,” Sheehy said.
“The journey begins with the smallest building blocks of life and gradually expands outward, moving through nature and into the cosmos, until an entirely new universe is born. It’s a show that is both intimate and epic, inviting audiences to experience something emotional, immersive and awe-inspiring.”
The Vivid Sydney Drone Show, Star-Bound, is sponsored by IREN, a Vivid Sydney Major Partner.
Vivid Sydney is owned and managed by Destination NSW. In 2026, the festival will bring the city to life by night and day, with programming across Light, Music, Minds and Food.
