Vivid Sydney is a major part of the NSW Government’s tourism strategy. Photo: NSW Government.
The NSW Government is betting big on Vivid Sydney, with more than 80 per cent of the festival free across the event’s biggest program ever.
Vivid Sydney runs from 22 May to 13 June and is in its 16th year, evolving as a world-renowned celebration of light, culture and creativity.
“The Minns Labor Government is proud to deliver a bold new creative direction in 2026 — an immersive, accessible program spanning 23 unforgettable nights, with more than 80 per cent of events free to attend,” Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said.
“From the iconic Light Walk and the festival’s biggest-ever drone show to world-class music, food and cultural conversations, this year’s program gives locals and visitors more reasons than ever to experience Sydney in completely new ways.”
In this year’s Vivid, French artist Yann Nguema will unveil a major work, Lighting of the Sails: Opera Mundi, which reflects on the inspiration for Australia’s most famous building, the Sydney Opera House.
Beyond sight and sound, taste is a key part of Vivid, with world-class culinary experiences taking centre stage in the food program.
The inaugural Regional Dinner Series brings together chefs and regional producers to create an exciting dining experience.
The Vivid Fire Kitchen combines visual spectacle and flavour in Barangaroo, where the excitement of open-fire cooking and live music will create a delight for all the senses.
Culture and the arts form another pillar of the festival, with the Vivid Minds program bringing leading voices to Sydney, including Academy Award-winning filmmakers Sean Baker and Chloé Zhao, Pulitzer Prize-winning art critic Jerry Saltz and bestselling author Roxane Gay.
The festival will also feature a first for Vivid: daytime activities across the city, giving families and tourists more options in how they choose to enjoy the celebration.
Music will bring energy to the harbour too, with free live performances from the likes of Matt Corby, Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, K-pop singer SHAUN, Mallrat and more.
At the Opera House, Vivid LIVE welcomes more than 50 international and domestic artists, including singer-songwriter Mitski, Mogwai and Jeff Mills.
Vivid Sydney festival director Brett Sheehy AO said: “This year marks the start of an exciting evolution of Vivid Sydney. We’ve expanded the program across all pillars and have opened up the brief for artists and removed the creative limitations of needing to centre around one key theme.”
Night-time events are still central to the festival’s appeal, with this year’s iteration boasting its largest drone show program, with 22 performances scheduled across 11 nights at Cockle Bay.
More than 40 installations will light up the 6.5-kilometre walk from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour.
Over three weeks of Vivid, millions of visitors are expected to take part, providing massive benefits for local businesses, bars, hotels and restaurants during winter.
Vivid is a major event on the Sydney calendar, playing a vital role in the State Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which aims to grow tourism to $91 billion over the next 10 years.
