Vivid Sydney's 15th edition gets underway with light installations and immersive experiences

Vivid Sydney 2025 is underway, marking the 15th edition of a festival that this year is comprising over 200 events across five zones around Sydney’s CBD, all designed to inspire wonder, expand thinking and give each visitor the opportunity to see Sydney transform via innovative light installations and immersive experiences.

Under this year's theme of Dream, a world class curation of Light, Ideas, Music and Food await festivalgoers over 23 nights, until Saturday, 14th June.

Making Vivid Sydney more accessible than ever, over 75% of this year’s program is free to enjoy, including the entire Vivid Light Walk, Martin Place also makes a welcome return to the festival footprint after a seven-year absence. 

A testament to the international reputation of the festival, this year, the world’s biggest names in entertainment, food, and pop culture will feature, including, Martha Stewart, Nigella Lawson, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally, plus Portishead’s Beth Gibbons. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns advised “the tireless efforts from the many talented artists, technicians, event organisers and behind-the-scenes support crew to bring this year’s Vivid Sydney to life has been extraordinary. I congratulate all of those who have contributed to shaping this year’s event into what will be an unmissable Sydney experience.”

Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini shared “this year, we invite you to dream -without limits, without borders - as you immerse yourself in our most diverse, interactive and ambitious program yet.

“Wander through glowing installations and projections that invite you to play, reflect and connect. Soak up genre-spanning sounds, from free gigs to global icons. Expand your thinking through bold, original conversations and exclusive experiences. Follow your senses as leading local and international chefs serve up flavours from every corner of the globe.

“As my final year as Festival Director, this one is extra special. It’s a celebration of creativity, technology, big ideas and, above all else, connection. A festival built on the dreams we share and the joy we create together. Let’s light up our city - and our collective imagination - for the next 23 unforgettable nights.” 

Vivid Sydney 2025 commenced on Friday night  at Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay for the annual First Light ceremony, featuring performances by NAISDA dancers that honoured Yolngu culture in Arnhem Land. The ceremony culminated at 6pm as Sydney Harbour burst to life with pyrotechnics, projections and installations illuminating the city’s world-famous buildings and landmarks followed by First Light Live, a free concert honouring the power and pride of First Nations music.   

Vivid Sydney runs until 14th June. For more information visit vividsydney.com.

Vivid Sydney 2025 Highlights

• The late David McDiarmid’s bold and visionary work is showcased on the Sydney Opera House for Lighting of the Sails, entitled Kiss of Light (2025). 

• Vincent Namatjira presents King Dingo on the facade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia 

• Fresh from AFC Fashion Week, Sydney’s own Romance Was Born debuts House of Romance on Customs House.

• New buildings and landmarks illuminated for the first time, including: Admiralty House in Kirribilli, Museum of Sydney, The Bond in Barangaroo, and Challis House in Martin Place.

• Visitors are invited to interact with installations and 3D projections including voice-activated animation, suspended swings, whimsical seesaws, a tennis match with light, and self-portraits turned into 3D projections by world renowned entertainment studio, Moment Factory.  

Vivid Ideas 

• Lifestyle Icon Martha Stewart tells all at her In Conversation event at International Convention Centre Sydney.

• D.W. Pine, Creative Director of TIME Magazine, delivers the keynote ‘Where Do Ideas Come From?’

• Professor Matthew Walker presents ‘Why We Sleep’ to delve into one of the most important but least understood aspects of our lives.

• Comedy’s coolest couple Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally present Unscripted and Unfiltered on the closing night of the festival.

• An evening with Academy Award®-winning filmmaker, National Geographic photographer and New York Times bestselling author, Jimmy Chin in conjunction with Sydney Film Festival.

• Free Vivid Ideas events include the weekly Firetalk series at Barangaroo Reserve, and Endling, a major new physical theatre work performed by Sydney’s Legs On The Wall.

  Vivid Music 

• Tumbalong Nights focuses on free music in diaspora communities and First Nations artists, featuring Winston Surfshirt, Ayesha Madon, V-Pop's Mỹ Anh and Chi Xê, Grammy-winner Dobet Gnahoré, and Korea’s Stella Jang.

• Oxford Art Factory showcases UK rapping sensations Pete & Bas, Metro Theatre will see local labels Bad Apples and NLV Records celebrate their 10th anniversaries and City Recital Hall will host German electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream, Soccer Mommy and long weekend dance party, Sound Escape. 

• Vivid Supper Club returns to Mary’s Underground, with a new line-up reflecting contemporary cabaret.

• Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House boasts over 50 cutting-edge and legendary artists, including Anohni and The Johnsons, Beth Gibbons from Portishead, Sigur Rós with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and indie pop darlings Japanese Breakfast.

• Carriageworks will have performances by techno producer Mall Grab, Sydney based-Papua New Guinean artist Ngaiire, and Byron Bay duo Skegss. 

Vivid Food 

• Nigella Lawson will curate three sold out Vivid Sydney Dinners in the recently opened pedestrian tunnel Muru Giligu in Martin Place.

• Neon Dreams is a roller rink and plant-based American diner in Darling Harbour by Shannon Martinez and Trolley’d.

• Vivid Fire Kitchen returns to The Goods Line honouring fire and adding a Spice Lounge for 2025, plus Vivid Chef Series will see the world’s most innovative chefs collaborate with dining intuitions Ester and Eleven Barrack. 

• Surry Hills’ Hollywood Quarter will be home to street parties, Foy Lane Lights Up and A Taste of HQ sees Foster Street transforming into an al fresco food festival within a festival.

Vivid Sydney runs until 14th June. For more information visit vividsydney.com.

Images from top. The late David McDiarmid’s bold and visionary work is showcased on the Sydney Opera House for Lighting of the Sails, entitled Kiss of Light (2025); Vivid Sydney 2025 commenced on Friday night  at Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay for the annual First Light ceremony, featuring performances by NAISDA dancers that honoured Yolngu culture in Arnhem Land; Fresh from AFC Fashion Week, Sydney’s own Romance Was Born debuts House of Romance on Customs House. Credit: Destination NSW