Sydney CBD and Surrounds
It’s all business during the day; smartly dressed office workers bustling along the footpath and taxis zipping down one-way alleys. But at night, the soul of the city awakens and transforms the streets. Unassuming office buildings reveal hidden rooftop bars within, historic laneways pulse with live music and fine dining restaurants serve up cuisine from around the world.
City CBD and Surrounds
Sydney NSW 2000
Australia
The CBD is just a few steps from everything central Sydney has to offer – walk to the waterfront at Darling Harbour or Circular Quay; step back in time at The Rocks; stroll through the lush greenery of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Hyde Park or The Domain; or head for the glittering high rises of Barangaroo.
Branching out from the CBD are some of Sydney’s most diverse and interesting suburbs. Darlinghurst is the heart of the city’s LGBTQIA+ community and home to some of the best after-hours action. Hit up a nightclub along Oxford Street, a small bar in the maze of alleyways or an emerging gallery in a converted warehouse. Redfern and Eveleigh are thriving arts communities with an alternative twist. Ultimo, close to Central Station and Haymarket, is the place for education and ideas with its universities, TAFE, museums and more.
During Vivid Sydney, colourful projections wash central Sydney’s architecture in the glow of lights and vibrant installations pop up in unexpected spaces. Beyond the city’s harbourside heart you’ll find myriad halls, museums and underground spaces humming with music and ideas.
How to get there: Hop off the train at Town Hall, Wynyard, Martin Place or St James and you’ll be in the middle of the action. The light rail runs from Central Station down George Street all the way to Circular Quay and buses also run regularly into the city from the eastern and western suburbs. The northern end of George Street is a pedestrian thoroughfare, so you can also explore a lot of the CBD on foot.
Light Events
Future Natives
Take flight as you follow these feathered neon friends across the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. Guiding visitors since 2022, Future Natives is a series of stylised...
Dark Spectrum: A New Journey
The immersive sound and light phenomenon returns to Wynyard Tunnels with an entirely new experience, Dark Spectrum: A New Journey. It’s time to go deep...
Global Rainbow
Global Rainbow is a beacon of hope and inclusivity and a guiding light above the Vivid Sydney festivities.A spectrum of light reaches out from the Sydney...
Music Events
Black Milk
With special guest: Mali Jo$eStep into the innovative hip-hop soundscape of Detroit's own Black Milk. Known for his ability to blend a myriad of genres...
The Grand Silky Ball
You know you wanna be Silky! It’s time for a night of all-out-voguing, fantastical fashion and chosen-family revelry.Join the Elite Kiki House of Silky...
The Huxleys present Personality Crisis
Prepare for a night of extravagance, liberation, and queer celebration with Melbourne performance-art duo The Huxleys and their self-described “disco...
Tekno Train by Paul Mac
Bring new meaning to “it’s the journey not the destination” with a trip like no other. All aboard this immersive sound experience, as an everyday...
No Fixed Address
With special guests: Stray BlacksPrepare for an extraordinary night of resilience, culture and electric music at Machine Hall Precinct, with legendary...
Ngulmiya
Immerse yourself in the evocative sound of Arnhem Land’s Ngulmiya for an unforgettable evening of traditional storytelling through song.A Ngulmiya Nundhirribala...
CLUB 4A x Eastern Margins
Step beyond the everyday with a brilliant evening of cutting-edge music, performance, and visuals at CLUB 4A x EASTERN MARGINS, fusing music and art to...
Deerhoof
With special guests: Annie HamiltonDive into the eclectic world of San Francisco indie darlings Deerhoof, as we celebrate over two decades of their...
WavyLand presents Underscores
Immerse yourself in the electrifying hyper-pop sounds of San Francisco native underscores, brought to you by cutting-edge touring company and social collective...
Jen Cloher
With special guest: Ella HaberDive into the taut folk rock and introspective narratives of Jen Cloher for a soul-stirring night of exploration and storytelling.Drawing...
Ideas Events
A THOUSAND WAYS: An Encounter
You’re seated at a table, opposite a stranger, separated by a glass partition. A stack of instruction cards sits between you. This analog, interactive...
AI Will Destroy Humanity: A Future Science Debate
Comedy, calamity, and contemplation come together as we step into the heart of Sydney's legislative chamber for AI Will Destroy Humanity: A Future Science...
Place Branding Australia
Gather, engage, and explore the importance of local pride and cultural unity at Place Branding Australia. Bringing together experts from Australia and...
Art After Hours X Vivid Sydney
Art, at its best, reflects who we are. It explores the limits of the human condition. It can even alter our perception of what it means to be human.Explore...
Golden Age of Humanity Film Festival
Nine great Australians, nine remarkable films, nine nights at Surry Hills’ beloved Golden Age Cinema. Selected for their own connection to Vivid Sydney’s...
Champions of Change: Mackenzie Arnold and Tony Gustavsson
From the football team that united Australia in 2023, join Tony Gustavsson, head coach of the CommBank Matildas, and Mackenzie Arnold, celebrated CommBank...
Sex Work: A Social History Walking Tour
Red lights, late nights and neon silhouettes are the stereotypes that have long been synonymous with the sex industry, Kings Cross and Darlinghurst. This...
Free + Equal Human Rights Conference
Join this pivotal and timely conversation about human rights in Australia and help strengthen justice, equity, compassion and respect as cornerstones of...
Queeries
After a sold-out session at Vivid Sydney 2023, Queeries returns with seven of Australia's sharpest and silliest LGBTIQ+ creatives for a night of stories...
Food Events
The Charles x Sally Abé | Vivid Chef Series
Slide into a lush leather booth for this Chef Series pairing that fuses bold but refined British nostalgia with classic French decadence. Sally Abé...
Fred's x Max Coen | Vivid Chef Series
The allure of flame-cooking, seasonal produce and London cool meets a Sydney farm-to-table favourite in the cosy, rustic setting of Fred’s.Max Coen of...
Peter Gilmore | Our Shared Humanity
A dinner to remember with renowned chef Peter Gilmore. Inspired by nature, Peter's vegetarian menu will showcase his love for heirloom vegetables and innovative...
AALIA x Ivan Brehm | Vivid Chef Series
Modern European "crossroads cooking" meets the depth and breadth of Middle Eastern cuisine in the warm, elegant ambiance of AALIA.Gaze out on Martin Place...
Plates with Purpose - A Taste of Ukraine
Break bread (pampushka, a fluffy and crispy garlic roll, to be exact), immerse yourself in Ukrainian culture and pay your meal forward two-fold.A specially...
Messina Milk Bar
It’s time for a scoop of nostalgia. Rediscover the charm of the quintessential Australian milk bar, reimagined by the cult-gelato innovators at Messina...
The Porter House x Selassie Atadika | Vivid Chef Series
The vibrant flavours of West Africa meet modern brasserie cuisine in the stunning historic setting of The Porter House Hotel Sydney – MGallery for this...
Orazio D'Elia | Our Shared Humanity
Experience the warmth of Neapolitan cuisine and hospitality with a special evening with Orazio D'Elia. Born and raised in Naples, Italy, Orazio is renowned...
Mitch Orr | Our Shared Humanity
Join us for a night of innovative dining with Mitch Orr, the head chef at Ace Hotel’s Kiln. Known for his genre-bending culinary style, Mitch's vegetarian...
Alex Prichard | Our Shared Humanity
Discover a new respect for native products and small growers with Alex Prichard, head chef of the iconic Iceberg's Dining Room & Bar. Alex's vegetarian...
