23 May 2025

Let There Be Light: Vivid Sydney 2025 Kicks Off in Spectacular Fashion

The Harbour City has awakened in colour and creativity tonight as Vivid Sydney 2025, Australia’s largest event, has officially begun for its 15th year. Under this year's theme of Dream, a world class curation of Light, Ideas, Music and Food await festivalgoers over 23 nights, until Saturday, 14 June. 

This year, the festival comprises over 200 events across five unique zones around the city’s CBD, all designed to inspire wonder, expand thinking and give each visitor the opportunity to see Sydney in a new light. 

Making Vivid Sydney more accessible than ever, over 75 per cent 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.  

Premier of New South Wales Chris Minns said: “Vivid Sydney is our city’s living legacy and the world’s focus will once again be on our beautiful Harbour City as it’s transformed into a canvas of innovative light installations, immersive experiences and cutting-edge artistry. 

“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.” 

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said, “Sydney is ready to shine! As we mark 15 years, this world-class event continues to showcase the very best destinations and creative talent our city has to offer.  

“Vivid Sydney continues to grow in scale and impact, drawing millions of visitors and reinforcing Sydney’s position as the premier destination in the Asia Pacific. 

“With over 75 per cent of the program free to attend and the entire Vivid Light Walk open to everyone, it is one of the most accessible events in the country, and this year's program has something for everyone. 

“It’s a festival that unites communities, supports local businesses and boosts our visitor and night-time economies. We can’t wait to see the city light up tonight!” 

Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini said, “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 kicked off 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 from Friday, 23 May to Saturday 14 June. For more information visit vividsydney.com. 

Vivid Sydney 2025 Highlights 

Vivid Light comes to life like never before with exclusively commissioned pieces featuring world- leading animation and projection technologies.  

• 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 continues to offer an array of engaging and exclusive experiences designed to push boundaries, inspire awe and entertain.  

• 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 amplifies our collective dreams through sound and song, with a specially curated program of artists from around the globe. 

• 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, in its third year as part of the festival, has never been more enticing.  

• 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 Partners 

Returning as Major Partners for 2025 are Samsung Electronics Australia and Kia.  Samsung will activate on both land and water in Cockle Bay with Space to Dream, including an unmissable and dramatic light show on the water, exploring the boundless potential of creativity inspired by Galaxy AI.  

Kia will display its new and highly anticipated EV3 electric vehicle along the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. Official Partners include Estée Lauder, returning for its second year, with their installation: While You Were Dreaming—a radiant fusion of science, beauty and imagination, along with Ausgrid, powering Vivid Sydney’s Tumbalong Nights program. 

Airbnb is once again Vivid Sydney’s Community Partner, supporting the volunteer program, while the festival’s Charity Partner for 2025 is Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and responsible for Dream Scene in Darling Harbour, a digital canvas where children's dreams come alive in an evolving dreamscape.  

Vivid Sydney Supporting Partners include, Event Engineering, Dexus, Kennards Hire, Mandylights, Nova, Port Authority of NSW, SBS, Stan, The P.A. People, TDC, and Transdev. 

 - Ends - 

Media assets, images and video can be viewed here. 

Media Contact: Vivid.media@dnsw.com.au  

More information on Sydney and NSW is available here. Sign up for Destination NSW’s Uncovered Media Newsletter here.   

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. 

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 2025 theme, ‘Dream’, sparks imagination 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.