Ultimate Guide to Vivid Sydney

Sydney isn’t a city short on spectacle: incredible beaches, lush parklands, Michelin star dining, that deep blue harbour known the world over. And come late May, all that ambitious splendour goes electric. This year Vivid Sydney, a fever-dream of lights, music, bright ideas, and food, turns Australia’s favourite postcard city into a neon carnival from the 23rd of May until the 14th of June.

Supercharged for the festival’s 15th anniversary, Sydney pulses under the glow of lasers, lights, and projections for 23 massive nights. This year’s theme, Dream, invites visitors to blur the line between reality and imagination and see the glowing city, quite literally, in a new light. Or a few thousand new lights. Here is everything you need to know about Vivid Sydney 2025.

Each night between 23 May and 14 June Vivid Sydney’s installations and projections light up from 6pm. A twinkly wonderland sprawled across five zones, the redesigned festival footprint has been carefully curated to keep the excited crowds flowing. 

Circular Quay and The Rocks remain the festival epicentre, where the city's heart beats in technicolour, and Barangaroo will be ablaze with surreal 3D light installations. Martin Place makes a grand return after sitting dark since 2018, Darling Harbour becomes a family-friendly hub of water and light, and urban jungle walkway The Goods Line is transformed into a neon corridor of culinary delights. 

The entire Vivid Light Walk, the longest continuous trail the festival has ever seen, will be completely free this year, with dozens of dazzling installations stretching from Central Station to Circular Quay. 

The opening act, the Lighting of the Sails at Sydney Opera House, showcasing David McDiarmid’s Kiss of Light, is an ecstatic series of fractalizing patterns in 90s disco palettes. Across the Harbour at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Vincent Namatjira’s glorious King Dingo brings Indigenous storytelling into provocative, contemporary focus, while beloved Aussie label Romance Was Born and animation mavericks Supergiant turns Customs House into an extravagantly colourful and sartorial surreal House of Romance.

This year’s tunnel of lights, Starscape Tunnel, features 40 metres of glowing stars along Hay Street, right by The Goods Line in Haymarket. In Barangaroo Bon(d)fire an interactive reimagining of the traditional bonfire reaches into the sky, while storytelling stations around the base invite you to share your own memories and stories into a microphone. At The Rocks you can also be part of the art by submitting your own version of the Colour The City template. Submit your work by the 16th of April and you might get to see it projected onto the iconic ASN Clock Tower.

Beyond the Vivid Light Walk a huge amount - over 75 per cent - of the line up in 2025 is completely free. Fly to the moon, let the kids run wild on a huge inflatable playground at Tumbalong Park with Elysian Collection, or play a surreal game of tennis with a ball of light at Darling Quarter with Kickit Team Tennis. Interactive art experience Telephone lets you step inside one of the iconic British red phone booths from a bygone era and leave a 30 second message, with a collection being chosen for display across the Vivid Sydney festival footprint.

Leaning into the multisensory nature of the festival, Tumbalong Nights will host a kaleidoscopic roster of free music from around the world. Grammy-winning Dobet Gnahoré, Afro-Latin beats from Gabriele Poso, psychedelic surf soul and funk from Winston Surfshirt, and South Korean indie-pop from Stella Jang. There will also be DJs from Sunday to Wednesday, with more live music from 7:30pm Thursday to Saturday, and kid’s shows each Saturday from 5pm.

The Art Gallery of NSW will be holding a special Art After Hours series through the festival, in sync with the 2025 Archibald Prize, and Sydney Film Festival will take over Martin Place with a giant outdoor screen showing acclaimed short films for free between June 4 and 15. Running concurrently Sydney Writers Festival is also getting in on the action with Firetalk. Set in the glow of the Bon(d)fire installation, Wiradjuri poet and artist Jazz Money will host music and storytelling every Wednesday night during Vivid.

Vivid isn't just about staring slack-jawed at incredible lights and jumping into art installations like a digital-age Mary Poppins, food also plays a huge part at the festival. Back and blazing on The Goods Line, Vivid Fire Kitchen invites festival-goers to enjoy flame-seared street food from around the globe. Breathe in the comforting smell of the barbeque as the finest international and Australian pitmasters cook local produce to perfection. There will be dishes from around the globe; brisket, sausage, First Nations tucker, and teppanyaki.

At the Two Chef Hatted Atelier by Sofitel you can take in the spectacular Vivid Sydney Light Walk glittering across the harbour from your exclusive window-side table. Or, escape the Circular Quay crowds with dinner at Q Dining at Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour, which has possibly the best views of the Harbour Bridge along with definitely the best martini in Sydney at their upstairs bar, Hacienda Sydney.

Every Thursday and Friday night of the festival Vivid Sydney Supper Club at Mary’s Underground serves up a speakeasy of music, cabaret, and midnight snacks. This year’s fun and fantastic events will include the likes of Angela Bishop, Luke Carrol, Amber Lawrence, Mark Humphries, and Alex Lee.

Finally, one of the Sydney Opera House’s most exclusive spaces will be transformed for intimate dining experiences throughout Vivid. Saltbush and Starlight Dining will pair a private large-scale light installation with a three-course First Nations inspired menu from Mark Olive.

Once you have a basic plan for Vivid 2025 then all that’s left to do is immerse yourself without restraint, walk until your feet bark, eat extravagantly, and dream vividly.

Vivid Sydney runs from 23 May to 14 June 2025. The nightly light shows begin at 6pm and turn off around 11pm. 

Once you’re in the greater Sydney area, public transport to Vivid’s Light Walk is excellent, with extra services running during the festival. Major train stations, light rail stops and ferry terminals are in every one of the precincts that make up the festival footprint, just make sure to check the Transport NSW website or app for schedules.

Yes, over 75 per cent of Vivid Sydney, including the incredible Light Walk installations, are completely free. The rest are ticketed and you can find prices on the official Vivid Sydney 2025 website here. 

Absolutely! Vivid Sydney is a family-friendly event with plenty of interactive installations and activities that kids will love, especially at Darling Harbour and Barangaroo.

Weekdays and early evenings are generally less crowded, making it easier to navigate the installations comfortably with little ones.

If you’re one of the out-of-towners heading in for Vivid Sydney then the sooner you book accommodation, the closer you’re likely to be to the action. If you’re on a budget, the vibrant ibis Styles Sydney Central, ibis Sydney Barangaroo, and ibis Sydney Darling Harbour put you within walking distance of the whole Light Walk, and some of the city’s best coffee shops and bars. The Sebel Martin Place or the Mantra 2 Bond will put you in the centre of the festival and for first-class views of the light installations, Pullman Quay Grand Sydney Harbour or The Sebel Quay West Suites offer exclusive vantage points of the light show.

Parking can be challenging during Vivid Sydney, so public transport is recommended. However, paid parking options are available around Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, and The Rocks. Book early or use parking apps to secure a spot and always check ahead of time for road closures on the Transport NSW website.

Public transport is your best bet. Trains, buses, ferries, and the light rail all provide extra services during Vivid. Check the Transport NSW website or app for updated timetables and routes.

Yes, Vivid Sydney offers accessible viewing areas, wheelchair-friendly routes along the Light Walk, and audio-described tours for visually impaired visitors. Detailed accessibility guides are available on the official Vivid Sydney website. 

Vivid Sydney recognises that the festival’s spectacular installations may trigger sensitivities or conditions like photosensitive epilepsy. Certain installations feature flashing lights, strobe effects, or sudden intense illumination. These activations are typically accompanied by clear advisory signage detailing the nature of the lighting effects and potential triggers.