Vivid Sydney 2025 will illuminate the harbour city and light up the imagination for its 15th anniversary with five curated zones taking over an expanded CBD area from 23 May to 14 June.
With the theme ‘Dream’, Australia’s largest event will introduce five connecting zones across the city – Circular Quay and the Rocks; Barangaroo; Martin Place and CBD; Darling Harbour; and The Goods Line and Inner City, encompassing Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
Martin Place returns to the festival for the first time since 2018, eight new buildings and landmarks will be illuminated, plus new Vivid Music venues City Recital Hall and Metro Theatre.
Music headliners include Japanese Breakfast, Beth Gibbons (Portishead) and Sigur Rós alongside local artists, UK rap, V-pop, German eDM and more.
Vivid Sydney 2025 highlights include celeb chef Nigella Lawson curating three Vivid Sydney Dinner events in Martin Place, collaborations with Sydney Writers’ Festival and Sydney Film Festival, TIME Magazine Creative Director D.W. Pine delivering the keynote, ‘Where Do Ideas Come From?’, and Stranger Things: The Experience debuting at Luna Park.
For Vivid Light, late artist David McDiarmid’s work, Kiss of Light (2025), will be showcased on the Sydney Opera House for Lighting of the Sails, Vincent Namatjira will present King Dingo on the facade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia while Sydney fashion label Romance Was Born will debut House of Romance on Customs House.
More than 75 per cent of this year’s program and 100 per cent of Vivid Light Walk will be free to enjoy.
This year, festivalgoers can interact with installations and 3D projections across the Vivid Light Walk, including voice-activated animation, suspended swings, whimsical seesaws, a tennis match with light and self-portraits turned into 3D projections by world renowned entertainment studio, Moment Factory.
Minister for Jobs & Tourism, Arts and Music & the Night-time Economy John Graham said: “Vivid Sydney continues to find exciting new ways and places to bring colour, creativity and fun to our city.”
“From surprising outdoor dining experiences to artistic light projections on our most famous landmarks and big free live shows, Vivid Sydney has something for everyone whether you’re a
visitor or a local.”
For more info, head to vividsydney.com
