Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney is an annual celebration of creativity, innovation, and technology that transforms Sydney for 23 days and nights. In 2025, for its 15th year, Vivid Sydney will fuse art, innovation, and technology in collaboration with some of our time’s most boundary-pushing artists, musicians, thinkers, and culinary experts.

Mark the dates 23 May – 14 June 2025 in your calendar and explore the Light, Music, Ideas and Food program.

Brace yourself for a city illuminated with awe-inspiring art installations and 3D light projections, casting a magical glow upon Sydney’s iconic buildings and urban spaces. Expect live music and performances that transcend boundaries, with emerging and established artists sharing their stories through dance and song.

Immerse yourself in thought-provoking experiences and heartfelt discussions led by inspiring minds and free-thinkers addressing the big questions. We’ll also indulge your palate with pop-up markets and dining experiences that pay homage to the rich diversity of our community through delectable culinary delights.

General Information

The Vivid Sydney Light Walk is very popular and attracts many people across the 23 nights of the event. Generally, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday public holiday nights 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 on weekends and earlier in the night. Lights On is at 6 pm every night.

Getting There

All Vivid Sydney locations are easily accessible by public transport, and additional services will run throughout the festival. With major road closures and parking restrictions, public transport is the best travel method. Make sure you have a valid Opal card and top it up online before you travel to avoid queues at top-up machines. You can also use a contactless major debit, credit card or linked device to tap on and off transport services.

Buses and light rail services in the city will be affected, and different stops will be used while roads are closed for the event. Remember that ferries are a popular way to travel during Vivid Sydney and typically reach capacity on weekends, so plan a backup option.

Major road closures and parking restrictions will occur from 5pm each evening, and most roads will remain closed until 1am. Motorists are encouraged to avoid travel into the CBD and to expect delays as traffic will be heavy on detour routes.

Vivid Sydney runs day and night, and the projections and Lights On run between 6pm and 11pm. The best places to view the Vivid Light show are from the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Bradfield Park and Darling Harbour.

Event Program

While we have mentioned some of the most popular event highlights above, so many events are being held during the 23-day festival that it’s impossible to mention them here. Please check out the official website’s event program for information on each event, dates, times, venues and entry prices.