Welcome to Vivid Sydney in the iconic precincts of Barangaroo and the Sydney CBD! This year, immerse yourself in a spectacular fusion of art, light, and technology that transforms these bustling areas into a playground of Light, Music, Ideas and Food.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Sydney Harbour, Barangaroo is an area steeped in history yet pulsating with contemporary energy. It is a hub for top-notch dining, vibrant nightlife, and cutting-edge architecture. During Vivid Sydney, Barangaroo transforms into a canvas of brilliant lights, where visitors can immerse themselves in interactive light installations and large-scale artworks that reflect both Australia’s ancient cultural heritage and its contemporary innovations.

At the core of Sydney, the CBD is not only a bustling business district but also a cultural and social heartbeat of the city. From historic landmarks to modern skyscrapers, the area embodies Sydney's spirit. During Vivid Sydney, streets and laneways become pathways to discovery, with inspiring Light, Music, Food and Ideas events around each corner.

GETTING THERE

Barangaroo and the CBD are easily accessible via multiple modes of transportation. Whether you're coming by train, bus, or ferry, you'll find yourself steps away from the action, with Circular Quay and Wynyard stations offering the closest links.

FAST FACTS

• Number of Vivid Light installations: 7
• Number of Vivid Music venues: 1
• Number of Vivid Ideas venues: 4
• Number of Vivid Food venues: 6
• Closest public transport hub: Wynyard or Town Hall

VIVID LIGHT

PORTAL

• Artist: Lucid Creates (United Kingdom)
• Location: Walumil Lawns

Interactive

PORTAL invites you into a surreal, breathtaking moment in time where anything is possible. Towering over 15 metres tall, this commanding installation evokes the Surrealist movement with its otherworldly display of glowing light and atmospheric, movement triggered soundtrack. Re-frame your perspective on the world around you.

Encounters before the Tree

• Artist: Javier Riera (Spain)
• Location: Walumil Lawns

The Natural World

Explore our connection to nature in a geometric light display that asks you to see beyond the canopy. Watch as a mesmerizing projection, inspired by nature’s mathematical sequences, slowly moves across a series of Eucalyptus trees. The effect of transforming something natural into something strange and unknown is disconcerting and reminds us of nature’s hidden beauty and the parallel patterns that exist within all living things.

Stateless

• Artist: Sinclair Park (Austraia)
• Location: Nawi Cove

The Human Experience

This moving and thought-provoking installation features over 4000 solar-powered LED candles placed along the sandstone blocks of Nawi Cove. Each candle stands for the increasing number of stateless people around the world and is an invitation to acknowledge their plight and tenacity.

Chairwave

• Artist: VOUW Studio (The Netherlands)
• Location: Watermans Cove

Great for families | Interactive

Take a seat! Chairwave is an innovative, kinetic, and illuminated seating system that responds playfully as you approach, making a seat available for you and several 'strangers'. Once you accept, the adjacent seat opens, enticing the next person to join. Chairwave invites you to spark a conversation, embrace our shared humanity and see where the night takes you. So go on, take a seat.

Nest

• Artist: Leila Jeffreys & M.J. Montalban (Australia)

• Collaborators: James Roden (Australia) / Feathered Friends Sancturary (Australia) / Chris Bryan (Australia) / Photoplay FIlms (Australia) / Florence Tourbier (Australia) / Ravi Wasan (Australia) / Jackson Milas (Australia) / Sonar Music (Australia)
• Location: Stargazer Lawn

The Natural World | The Human Experience   

An expansive circular structure welcomes you to bear witness to the ritualistic mating dance of the Brolga, the only crane species native to Australia. Projected onto a transparent surface, the huge bird apparitions appear to float in the air. Lose yourself in the movement of these hypnotic, larger-than-life cranes, as you reflect on our deep connection to nature and the creatures within it.

Horizon

• Artist: Playmodes (Spain)
• Location: Harbour Park, Walumil Walk

Enter the Horizon for a hypnotic, full-body experience. Here, trance-like sound and strobing lights play with your spatial perception and offer a glimpse beyond everyday reality to the limits of human potential.

Global Rainbow

• Artist: Yvette Mattern (USA)
• Location: Sydney Tower

Global Rainbow is a beacon of hope and inclusivity and a guiding light above the Vivid Sydney festivities. Beams of rainbow lasers fan out from the iconic Sydney Tower for up to 40km, uniting us all with Vivid Sydney.

VIVID IDEAS

Champions of Change: Mackenzie Arnold and Tony Gustavsson

• Location: Sydney Town Hall
• Tickets from $89

From the football team that united Australia in 2023, join Tony Gustavsson, head coach of the CommBank Matildas, and Mackenzie Arnold, celebrated CommBank Matildas goalkeeper and captain of West Ham United, for this insightful conversation hosted by Matildas Alumni and now journalist Grace Gill. Examine their remarkable journeys on and off the pitch—from Mackenzie's rise from third-string goalkeeper to a national icon and Tony's strategic leadership that has propelled the Australian Women’s National Football Team to unprecedented success on the global stage.

After The Fact

• Location: Rekodo, Barangaroo House
• FREE

React in real time, delve beyond click-bait headlines and understand humanity better. Every weeknight of Vivid Sydney, kick back with a drink and watch the city’s brightest minds dissect and debate the breaking stories of the day. This free, nightly deep-dive into current affairs is moderated by the brilliant Tom Wright and features a rotating panel of high-profile change-makers, analysts and experts. The perfect way to start your Vivid Sydney Light Walk.

The Golden Age of Humanity

• Location: Golden Age Cinema
• Tickets from $24

Nine great Australians, nine remarkable films, nine nights at Surry Hills’ beloved Golden Age Cinema. Selected for their own connection to Vivid Sydney’s 2024 theme — humanity — nine notable Australians including Bernard Collaery, Kylie Kwong, Craig Foster, and Kate McClymont will introduce a film they have specially selected that connects with their idea of what it means to be human.

Queeries

• Location: Machine Hall Precinct
• Tickets from $20

Featuring journalists, comedians, pop stars, poets and more, Queeries is a literary night turned on its head, where performers explore and prod what it means to be human through a queer lens, inspired by Vivid Sydney 2024's theme, Humanity.

VIVID MUSIC

Machine Hall

• Location: 183 - 185 Clarence Street
• Tickets from $20

Machine Hall is your destination for diverse, dynamic and visionary music. From the intimate to the extravagant, the traditional to the avant-garde, each night offers a unique exploration of the limits of what music can be. Join us at a reimagined 100-year-old substation for an unforgettable exploration of sound, culture, and community. With the support of both Machine Hall and the City of Sydney, we invite you to explore visionary voices and cutting-edge performances in this unique heritage venue.
 

• WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE: WAVYLAND PRESENTS UNDERSCORES
  Start your Machine Hall experience with a bang as Sydney’s underground party trailblazers WavyLand present Underscores. Join us for a night of hyperpop mash-ups, pop punk and electroclash from the visionary mind of San Francisco’s April Harper Grey.
   
• THURSDAY 6 JUNE: JEN CLOHER
  Join us for an introspective journey with Jen Cloher, as they offer a folk-rock infused look at the fluidity of identity and the endless possibilities of rock music.
   
• FRIDAY 7 JUNE: CLUB 4A
  CLUB 4A transform the night into an electrifying and arty celebration. Join us for performance, electronic beats and innovation from the Asian diaspora presented by the 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art.
   
• SATURDAY 8 JUNE: THE GRAND SILKY BALL
  House of Silky brings the glamour and sass of ballroom culture to Vivid Sydney, promising a night of fabulous fashion, fierce voguing and community celebration.
   
• SUNDAY 9 JUNE: TRACKWORK X SUMAC PRESENT + WINDCHILL
  Join us for +WINDCHILL, a visionary evening curated by Sydney record labels Trackwork and SUMAC. This collaborative showcase features a boundary-pushing blend of RnB, electronic music, live instrumentation, and visuals, spotlighting artists who defy genres to create something entirely new.
   
• TUESDAY 11 JUNE: BLACK MILK
  Step into the innovative hip-hop soundscape of Detroit's own Black Milk. Known for his ability to blend a myriad of genres — from funk, soul, jazz, and hip-hop to electronic and gospel — Black Milk's music defies expectations.  
   
• WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE: NO FIXED ADDRESS
  Experience the legendary stories and reggae-rock sound of No Fixed Address and Stray Blacks, a night celebrating the powerful legacy and future of First Nations music.
   
• THURSDAY 13 JUNE: DEERHOOF
  Deerhoof takes the stage with their unique blend of experimental noise and indie rock, offering an innovative sound and unbridled performance that defy categorisation.
   
• FRIDAY 14 JUNE: NGULMIYA
  Be moved by the soul-stirring calls and melodies of celebrated Arnhem Land songman and ceremony leader Ngulmiya, as he shares stories and songs that resonate with the spirit of the land.
   
• SATURDAY 15 JUNE: THE HUXLEYS PRESENT PERSONALITY CRISIS
  The Huxleys' Personality Crisis closes out the program with a “disco-infused exorcism”. This celebration of queer hope features a brilliant array of performances, art, and joyous, well-dressed rebellion. The Huxleys are a celebrated performance art duo from Melbourne.

VIVID FOOD

Vivid Chef Series

• Location: Various
• Tickets from $85

Vivid Chef Series is a celebration of collaboration and fusion — the two ingredients that make Sydney’s dining scene so exciting and diverse. In a series of special dinners two leading chefs, one cutting-edge international name and one local Sydney icon, are brought together to craft a truly unique and delicious meal. Specifically selected for their distinct but complimentary cultural backgrounds and techniques, each chef pair will create a never-to-repeated menu that celebrates the best NSW produce and suppliers.

The line-up:

AALIA x Ivan Brehm

• 11 - 12 Jun 5:30pm - 11pm
• Tickets from $200

Modern European "crossroads cooking" meets the depth and breadth of Middle Eastern cuisine in the warm, elegant ambiance of AALIA. Gaze out on Martin Place as you travel the globe and across history with a spectacular meal from Nouri's Ivan Brehm and AALIA's Paul Farag. United for two dinners only, this exclusive menu will bring together the melting pot of Ivan’s culinary knowledge and Paul’s passion for the lesser-known flavours of the Middle East. 

The Charles Brasserie & Bar x Sally Abé 

• 28 - 30 May 12pm - 11pm
• Tickets from $85

Slide into a lush leather booth for this Chef Series pairing that fuses bold but refined British nostalgia with classic French decadence.  Sally Abé of London fine-dining star The Pem will join former colleague and friend Billy Hannigan for three unmissable lunches and dinners in the grand setting of The Charles Brasserie and Bar. 

Firedoor x Niklas Ekstedt

• 11 June 6pm - 11pm
• SOLD OUT

Legendary Michelin-starred Swedish chef Niklas Ekstedt will join Sydney pitmaster Lennox Hastie of two-hatted Firedoor for one night of flame-led fine dining.

The Porter House x Selassie Atadika

• 14 - 15 June 6pm - 10pm
• Tickets from $180

The vibrant flavours of West Africa meet modern brasserie cuisine in the stunning historic setting of The Porter House Hotel Sydney – MGallery for this unique Chef Series pairing. In the elegant ambience of Dixson & Sons, within The Porter House, Ghanaian chef Selassie Atadika, renowned for her pioneering New African Cuisine, will collaborate with executive chef Steven Hartert.

Plates with Purpose – A Taste of Ukraine

• Location: Kyiv Social
• Tickets from $160

A special 10-course degustation on 4 June offers an unparalleled opportunity to experience the authenticity and abundance of a Ukrainian family table at Kyiv Social. As part of Plate It Forward, a social enterprise dedicated to addressing social inequity through food, Kyiv Social provides employment, training and meals for Ukrainian refugees.

Our Shared Humanity

• Location: Refettorio OzHarvest
• Tickets from $110

Join us at Refettorio OzHarvest for a series of exclusive, leading chef-curated dinners that celebrate culinary creativity and our shared human experience. Refettorio OzHarvest, a collaboration between OzHarvest and renowned chef Massimo Bottura's charity Food for Soul, will transform into a feast of creativity for Vivid Sydney. Each night of the series, one of Australia’s best chefs will work with OzHarvest to plate up their unique take on a vegetarian three course menu with snacks, using rescued, NSW ingredients and weaving the theme of humanity into every dish. By sharing in a meal at Refettorio OzHarvest, you’ll help feed Sydney’s vulnerable communities.

Line-up:

FRIDAY 24 MAY: CHRISTINE MANFIELD

SOLD OUT

Christine Manfield leads a vegetarian dinner inspired by NSW's cultural diversity, focusing on sustainability and community, the first of Refettorio OzHarvest and Vivid Sydney’s Our Shared Humanity series.

WEDNESDAY 29 MAY: ORAZIO D'ELIA

Tickets from $110

Enjoy Orazio D'Elia's authentic, vegetarian Neapolitan feast at Refettorio OzHarvest, reflecting his passion for communal dining and the power of food to unite people.

THURSDAY 30 MAY: GUILLAUME BRAHIMI

SOLD OUT

Guillaume Brahimi brings French sophistication to Refettorio OzHarvest, preparing vegetarian dishes with rescued ingredients, highlighting his commitment to sustainability and culinary excellence.

WEDNESDAY 5 JUNE: ALEX PRICHARD

Tickets from $110

Iceberg’s Dining Room & Bar head chef Alex Prichard’s dinner at Refettorio OzHarvest showcases the richness of locally sourced ingredients, emphasising the stories of the people behind the produce with his vegetarian menu.

THURSDAY 6 JUNE: DARREN ROBERTSON

SOLD OUT

Darren Robertson from Three Blue Ducks offers a dining experience that combines ethically sourced NSW produce with his passion for real food, presenting a refined vegetarian menu at Refettorio OzHarvest.

WEDNESDAY 12 JUNE: MITCH ORR

SOLD OUT

Mitch Orr, head chef at Ace Hotel Sydney’s Kiln, crafts a fusion vegetarian menu at Refettorio OzHarvest, blending traditional flavours with modern culinary techniques for a unique dining experience.

THURSDAY 13 JUNE: PETER GILMORE

SOLD OUT

Peter Gilmore concludes the Our Shared Humanity series at Refettorio OzHarvest with a vegetarian menu that showcases his love for heirloom vegetables and innovative cooking.

For more information and to keep updated about the program, go to vividsydney.com

MEDIA CONTACT:

Destination NSW 

• James Toovey – PR Manager Vivid Sydney 
• PH: +61 407 828 310 
• james.toovey@dnsw.com.au 

Ogilvy PR 

• Jacqueline O’Neill  
• PH: +61 449 107 774 
• jacqueline.oneill@ogilvy.com 

ABOUT VIVID SYDNEY 

Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival, transforms Sydney into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and community connection. Over 23 nights, light installations, music, ideas and food inspire global audiences and drive cultural exchange. The 2024 theme, ‘Humanity,’ sparks reflection and engagement, attracting visitors and fuelling economic growth. Proudly owned by Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney showcases NSW's cultural vibrancy and positions it as a global leader in artistic innovation.

ABOUT DESTINATION NSW 

Destination NSW is the champion and voice for the visitor economy within the NSW Government. Spearheading a whole-of-government approach to visitor economy growth, Destination NSW influences and shapes the visitor economy through strategic research, policy and thought leadership, stakeholder engagement and consultation, commercial partnerships and investment in visitor experiences, business support, marketing and events. Destination NSW is also the major investor in Business Events Sydney (BESydney) for the purpose of securing more international and domestic conventions, incentive travel reward programs, corporate events and exhibitions.