Lights on tonight for the most important ever Vivid Sydney

New this yr, the pageant extends into the day with daytime activations throughout town, giving households and guests extra alternatives to expertise the pageant from morning by way of to nighttime.

The Minns Labor Government can also be proud to deliver again the most important drone present program in Vivid Sydney historical past, with a file 22 drone performances throughout 11 nights at Cockle Bay, essentially the most the pageant has ever delivered.

More than 80 per cent of Vivid Sydney is free to take pleasure in, together with the long-lasting 6.5-kilometre Light Walk stretching from Circular Quay to Darling Harbour, that includes greater than 40 spectacular mild installations alongside the route.

Millions of persons are anticipated to go to town over the subsequent three weeks, offering a serious increase for native companies, eating places, bars and accommodations throughout the winter months whereas persevering with to drive development within the NSW customer financial system.

Now in its sixteenth yr, Vivid Sydney continues to evolve as one of many world’s main celebrations of creativity, tradition and connection throughout Light, Music, Minds and Food.

Across the harbour, famend French artist Yann Nguema will unveil a serious new work, Lighting of the Sails: Opera Mundi by Yann Nguema, reflecting on the transformations present in nature and the forces that impressed Sydney Opera House architect Jørn Utzon.

World-leading culinary experiences will take centre stage by way of the Vivid Food program, celebrating the flavours, individuals and tales that outline NSW. The inaugural Regional Dinner Series will deliver main cooks along with regional producers and elements from throughout the state, together with ‘A Shared Table with Yotam Ottolenghi’. Collaborations throughout the collection embody Mindy Woods with Danielle Alvarez at Sydney Opera House, Ben Devlin with Lennox Hastie at Firedoor, and Christine Manfield with Sander Nooij at Yellow.

Meanwhile, the Vivid Fire Kitchen will debut at its new residence in Barangaroo the place the fusion of meals and theatrics will take over, delivering a full sensory journey the place the sights, smells and sounds of open-fire cooking and stay music rework the precinct into excess of a spot to eat.

Creativity and dialog will come collectively by way of a reimagined Vivid Minds program, designed to position daring concepts and world-leading cultural voices on the centre of the pageant. This yr’s line-up consists of Academy Award-winning filmmakers Sean Baker and Chloé Zhao, influential music commentator Zane Lowe, Pulitzer Prize-winning artwork critic Jerry Saltz and bestselling creator Roxane Gay.

Vivid Music will as soon as once more energise town after darkish, with Tumbalong Nights returning at no cost stay performances celebrating the various musical cultures that form Sydney. The program consists of headline reveals from Matt Corby, Nigerian afrobeat royalty Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, Melbourne storage rock royalty Eddy Current Supression Ring, Ok-pop singer SHAUN, Chinese rap sensations Billionhappy + SEBii with Korean producer Kimj, alongside Mallrat, Coterie, Boy Soda and extra.

At the Sydney Opera House, Vivid LIVE will welcome greater than 50 worldwide and Australian artists, together with singer-songwriter Mitski, Scottish post-rock pioneers Mogwai and Detroit techno icon Jeff Mills revisiting his legendary Liquid Room set.

Running from 22 May to 13 June 2026, Vivid Sydney continues to energy NSW’s customer and night-time economies whereas reinforcing Sydney’s status as a worldwide chief in immersive cultural experiences. Major occasions similar to Vivid Sydney play a key position within the NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which goals to develop the state’s customer financial system to $91 billion over the subsequent decade.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper mentioned:

“Tonight, Sydney becomes the canvas for one of the world’s greatest arts festivals, as Vivid Sydney once again transforms our city through Light, Music, Minds and Food.

“The Minns Labor Government is proud to ship a daring new artistic route in 2026 — an immersive, accessible program spanning 23 unforgettable nights, with greater than 80 per cent of occasions free to attend.

“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.”

Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO mentioned:

“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.

“Visitors can expect a more immersive and interactive experience that will encourage them to explore new locations, unexpected installations, and spend more time enjoying the festival – both after dark and during the day.

“We’ve gone back to the core of what Vivid Sydney is all about which is tapping into creativity, and through this, there’s this incredible platform to showcase leading Australian talent as well as a chance to bring legendary international talent to the Sydney stage too.”