General
Vivid Sydney, the Asia-Pacific's leading multi-artform festival, transforms Sydney into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and community connection. Over 23 nights, light installations, music, ideas and food inspire global audiences and drive cultural exchange. Attracting visitors and fuelling economic growth. Proudly owned by Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney showcases NSW's cultural vibrancy and positions it as a global leader in artistic innovation.
Vivid Sydney has been recognised by the International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) and received 15 accolades at the 2019 IFEA Pinnacle Awards including gold in the Grand Pinnacle category. Vivid Sydney was also voted Australia’s Best Tourism Event in 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and Best Cultural, Arts or Music Event in 2017 and 2019 in the Australian Event Awards.
Vivid Sydney will return on 23 May - 14 June 2025.
Follow our social channels and sign up to MyVivid to stay up to date with the latest information and be the first to know about the 2025 program.
Yes. The Vivid Sydney Light Walk is free for everyone to enjoy along with many other events and experiences.
There are also a number of ticketed events on the program, some you'll need to register in advance as they have limited spots, and some you'll need to purchase a ticket.
Visit
Sydney has a range of accommodation available from budget options through to five-star stays. To be close to the action, we would recommend you stay in The Rocks, Circular Quay, Sydney CBD, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Pyrmont or North Sydney – our Vivid Sydney blog has several hotel suggestions.
Visit our Deals & Experiences webpage to find exclusive offers for the festival period on accommodation as well as dining options, events, activities and more.
Destination NSW’s website Sydney.com also contains a wealth of information to help you to choose accommodation, and to find out what else is on offer in Sydney to enjoy during your visit. Visit our Vivid Sydney deals and experience webpage for accommodation deals.
If you're thinking about extending your stay, why not also plan a visit to regional NSW? For inspiration, go to VisitNSW.com.
Vivid Sydney is an all-weather event.
Public safety is our number one priority and should adverse weather conditions be experienced there may be restrictions on which areas are operational. We recommend keeping up to date via our website and Vivid Sydney social channels.
The Vivid Sydney Light Walk is very popular and attracts large numbers of people across the 23 nights of the event. Generally, Friday, Saturday, Sunday nights and the Monday public holiday night attract the largest crowds. Those with young families and strollers should also consider coming to Vivid Sydney on weeknights when visitor numbers are expected to be lower than the weekends, and earlier in the night. Lights On is at 6pm every night.
If you have lost something around Circular Quay or Darling Harbour during Vivid Sydney, visit The Rocks Police Station or call them 02 8220 6399. If you have lost something at another precinct or venue, Vivid Sydney suggests you call or visit the local police station in that area or the venue you were visiting.
Medical Posts and Volunteer Ambassadors at Information booths located on the Light Walk offer wristbands to parents and guardians of children to put contact details on, in case their child becomes lost. It is also a good idea to give your child a card with your contact details on it or write a contact number on your child’s arm. Vivid Sydney volunteers and security personnel will be briefed to look out for lost children and will contact parents wherever possible or the NSW Police if necessary.
Vivid Sydney is an incredibly popular event, and as such, dog owners need to ensure they have a good level of awareness of how their dog / animal behaves in crowds and meet their responsibilities under the Companion Animal Act. The City of Sydney has relevant information on its website.
It would also be worth contacting landowners, who are subject to the selected locations in the Vivid footprint, to access their guidelines and requirements for dogs at public events. Landowners include Property NSW, Port Authority NSW and City of Sydney. Contact details for each of these can be found on their website.
The RSPCA is also another authority you can contact for information on dogs and safety. You can find there website at rspcansw.org.au
Unfortunately, the Vivid Sydney App is no longer available. To keep up to date with Vivid Sydney, check back on our website, sign up to MyVivid or follow our social channels Vivid Sydney Facebook , Instagram or TikTok.
Information Kiosks will be open from 6pm to 11pm daily and are situated around Vivid Sydney for the public to obtain directions and information on the program.
Please refer to the interactive map for detailed locations of the Information Kiosks at Vivid Sydney.
Some of the best vantage points are The Rocks, Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour, Bradfield Park (under the Harbour Bridge at North Sydney), Luna Park, Lavender Bay, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, or on the harbour itself.
Yes. There are locations for accessible viewing.
Read more information on our accessibility facilities and services. You can also download our accessible festival map or toggle the accessibility view on our Interactive Map.
Various charter vessels offer harbour cruises during Vivid Sydney.
Some operators may be offering services via agents, direct sales and online deal websites. We kindly suggest you read all terms and conditions and relevant information before making a purchase. Also please read all information on your ticket including departure times, locations and other conditions.
Please note that Vivid Sydney does not operate any harbour cruises. If you have any questions about a cruise, please contact the operator directly.
Travel and Transport
Extra trains and buses will run on weekends to help you get to and from Vivid Sydney locations. With extensive road closures and parking restrictions in place, it’ll be the easiest way to get to the festival as all locations are easily accessible by public transport.
You can use the Transport For NSW Trip Planner to stay up-to-date with metro, train, bus, ferry and light rail information. You can also use one of the many real-time apps to track your service. Alternatively, you can call the Transport Information Line on 131 500.
You will need a valid Opal card or single-trip ticket to travel on public transport services to Vivid Sydney locations. Top up your Opal card online ahead of time to avoid the queues. You can top up your card via the Opal Travel App, top-up machines or at more than 2,100 retailers.
Alternatively, if you have a debit or credit card which displays the contactless payment symbol, or a card-linked device, you can use it to pay for your travel by tapping on and off at Opal card readers on all public transport services. Adult Opal fare pricing applies, and you will receive Opal benefits, including daily and weekly fare caps.
For more details on Opal card and contactless payment visit transportnsw.info
With road closures and special event clearways in place in the city each night during the festival, access to parking will be limited and traffic will be heavy. Some car parks in the Sydney CBD will be inaccessible while roads are closed and special event clearway parking restrictions will be in effect on most major roads each day of the event. These clearways are strict no-parking zones for all vehicle types and apply even for local residents or Mobility Scheme permit holders. Check signs carefully as vehicles left in clearways will be towed and a fee applies. If your vehicle is towed, it will be relocated to the nearest available parking space, call the Traffic Information Line on 132 701 to speak to an operator and find its location. For more details on special event clearways and their locations during Vivid Sydney, visit livetraffic.com
People with accessible requirements are encouraged to contact the Vivid Sydney Access & Inclusion Team at vivid.access@dnsw.com.au for guidance on how best attend Vivid Sydney or read our Access and Accessibility information.
Road closures will be in place in the city each night of the event. On weeknights closures will be in place around Circular Quay and on weekends closures extend into the Sydney CBD and Walsh Bay.
Anyone attending a Vivid Sydney event is strongly encouraged to leave their car at home and catch public transport as delays on roads are expected, particularly on the weekends. The city is no place for cars during Vivid Sydney and you can’t enjoy the installations from your vehicle. The road closures are in place to keep pedestrians safe and allow for an enjoyable Vivid Sydney experience. It is an offence to drive on or exit a carpark or driveway onto a closed road until the road has been safely reopened.
Detailed information on road closures, clearways and access is available at vividsydney.com/transport. For real-time traffic conditions and updates visit livetraffic.com, follow @LiveTrafficSyd or download Live Traffic NSW from the App Store or Google Play.
We have several maps that are available to be downloaded including an Accessibility Map and a map of the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. You can can download them here. New maps are available each year closer to the festival.
Feedback and Involvement
The Vivid Sydney team welcome your constructive feedback. To do so, please contact us online.
Yes. Vivid Sydney wouldn’t be possible without the support of its incredible team of volunteers. You can express your interest here.
If you are a restaurateur, bar or café owner, hotelier, retailer, entertainer, museum or gallery owner, tour provider or run a local attraction, you can get involved with the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program. You can register your interest here.
You can learn more and apply with your Expressions of Interest for Vivid Sydney Light, Music, Ideas, Food and Cross-Art Forms by clicking the link below.
From time-to-time Destination NSW does seek quotations for the supply of goods and/or services relating to Vivid Sydney for each of the contract opportunities, please visit the Work With Us page.
For expressions of interest for Vivid Sydney please visit the Work With Us page.
