Blog

This year, Vivid Sydney welcomes brilliant new Ideas and Special Events Curator, Mitchell Oakley Smith.   A dream fit for our 2025 theme, Mitchell brings his extensive experience as the former Executive Creative Director of creativity and design festival Semi Permanent and Editor-in-Chief of Esquire magazine to reimagine how we experience ideas at Vivid Sydney.  Under his curatorial vision, the 2025 Vivid Ideas program will move beyond lecture theatres, exploring new frontiers of performance, immersive screenings, exhibitions and more. 

Now that Vivid Sydney 2025 is on the horizon, get ready for the most imaginative, thought-provoking and visually stunning festival yet. From 23 May to 14 June, Sydney will transform into a dreamscape of surreal experiences and captivating events, as we explore this year’s theme: ‘Dream’. 

Vivid Sydney 2025 is all about dreams – as Light, Music, Ideas and Food converge to transform our city this winter and ignite bigger, bolder and broader thinking.   With driverless trains running every four minutes at peak times and fully accessible stations designed for prams, wheelchairs and festivalgoers of all walks of life, the Metro is the best way to glide through the glow of Vivid Sydney. 

Why rush home from work this winter when Vivid Sydney is transforming the city into a dreamscape of surreal experiences and fascinating events?   Not only are you already in the city, but weeknights are also the perfect time to visit the festival – the crowds are lighter than the weekends, restaurants are easier to book and you can explore everything at a more relaxed pace. Whether you're after a delicious meal, an awe-inspiring experience or a late-night adventure, we've got your weeknight plans sorted. 

Step into our world of extraordinary art, entertainment, dining and one-of-a-kind experiences as Vivid Sydney shines a light on the city from 23 May to 14 June 2025. Be sure to explore the full program and start planning your adventure now with our insider guide of where to eat, stay and play during Vivid Sydney. 

From 23 May to 14 June, Vivid Sydney returns to ignite creativity, spark wonder and celebrate the festival theme ‘Dream’ across Light, Music, Ideas and Food.   Over 23 nights, activations, projections, gigs, performances, talks and food will converge across five vibrant festival zones. The best part? Over 75% of the Vivid Sydney program is free for you to experience. Below find our guide to our top free Vivid Sydney events.    

Vivid Sydney is for everyone – especially kids! Whether it’s dancing under the stars at Tumbalong Nights, exploring dreamy light installations or indulging in global flavours at Vivid Fire Kitchen, there’s something magical for the whole family.  

Every year, Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest festival of Light, Music, Ideas and Food, transforms the city into a vibrant hub of creativity, imagination and technology. Over 23 nights, Sydney is reimagined through boundary-pushing installations, world-class performances, thought-provoking talks, and exclusive dining experiences. In 2025, the festival theme of ‘Dream’ invites you to step into a world of possibility, wonder and inspiration. 

It’s almost time for the skies above Circular Quay to be painted with 700+ drones for Love is in the Air, this year’s heart stopping drone show. Universal symbols of love will light up the night on the 8, 9 and 15 June at 9.10pm – it’s one of the festival’s most popular events so read on below to make the most of this stunning show directed by our Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini.

As Vivid Sydney 2024 lights up Sydney again for 23 nights of brilliance, the city welcomes some incredible installations to the harbour foreshore. This year, prepare to be wowed by light projections and installations that are truly larger than life, both in terms of size but also imagination and ambition. Evoking a sense of wonder and awe, these works are amongst some of the biggest we’ve ever showcased at Vivid Sydney. Read on below for our top picks of the large-scale light works that you can’t miss.

Located within Darling Harbour, Tumbalong Park is one of the Sydney CBD's most iconic public spaces. During Vivid Sydney, the area transforms into a dazzling playground of Light and Music for the 23 nights of the festival. Whether you visit for the lights, music, or near-by mouth-watering eats, there's something magical for everyone — families, friends or first dates — at every turn. Join us and be part of Sydney’s most vibrant cultural showcase with our top-Tumbalong highlights below.

As Vivid Sydney returns in 2024, we continue our tradition of celebrating the world's oldest continuing culture with an electrifying line-up of First Nations talent. This year, we've gone further to spotlight these incredible artists across our Light, Music, Ideas and Food pillars, from the atmospheric stages of Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House to brilliant nights under the stars at Tumbalong Park, we’re excited to celebrate Country and Culture this year.