Step into our world of extraordinary art, entertainment, dining and one-of-a-kind experiences as Vivid Sydney shines a light on the city from 23 May to 14 June 2025.
Be sure to explore the full program and start planning your adventure now with our insider guide of where to eat, stay and play during Vivid Sydney.
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drinks at Aster Bar at the InterContinental Sydney during Vivid Sydney
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying food and drinks at Aster Bar at the InterContinental Sydney during Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Vivid Sydney goes to sea, with our ferries and boats lighting up in unison with the city’s skyscrapers and the Sydney Harbour Bridge as they sail across our harbour.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Vivid Sydney goes to sea, with our ferries and boats lighting up in unison with the city’s skyscrapers and the Sydney Harbour Bridge as they sail across our harbour.
Feed Your Soul
Sydney’s dining and bar scene is as vibrant as the festival’s lights. Get inspired with these local favourites near (or inside) each Vivid Sydney location.
Barangaroo
For top-notch sustainable seafood, look no further than Golden Century at The Crown. Here, enjoy signature classics including peking duck and salt and pepper squid. Barangaroo House offers three levels of great vibes, with ground-level House Bar offering chilled waterside bar vibes, Level 1’s Japanese-inspired restaurant and vinyl bar Rekodo spinning great tastes and tunes and Smoke Bar being the perfect rooftop spot for a cocktail and share plate.
Carriageworks
Head over to the nearby South Eveleigh, a recently revitalised dining precinct in converted railway sheds. Grab a quick bite at North Sandwich & Burger; sit down for a hearty bowl of Pho from Eat Fuh or savour some Thai at Pepper Seeds. Nearby is also recently opened The Grounds Coffee Factory. Also be sure to grab a drink at Mountain Culture’s newest brewery which recently won the annual GABS Hottest 100 Aussie Craft Beer award with its Status Quo Pale Ale. Meanwhile, BrewDog comes complete with a taproom, bar and epic beer garden serving more than 20 craft beers on tap.
Central Station and The Goods Line
The Rover is a sophisticated cocktail bar with an upmarket British tavern feel and a focus on oysters, whisky, and organic and biodynamic wine. For something a little different, Butter offers a quirky combo of fried chicken, Champagne and hip-hop. Vivid Fire Kitchen is turning the heat up this year with live demonstrations showcasing the theme ‘Fire & Spice’: a bold new twist that celebrates the world’s most vibrant, spice-driven cuisines with flame-seared favourites.
Inspired by the Australian coastline, 1 Chef’s Hat-awarded Longshore serves ingredients from sea and land in a unique way. Spice Alley offers a comprehensive selection of six hawker-style Asian street-food eateries under a canopy of yellow lanterns, tucked away in a charming, paved alleyway in Chippendale.
Circular Quay
Gateway Sydney is a good place to start, a vibrant precinct with more than 30 casual eateries covering all types of cuisine. Hinchcliff House offers a range of unique venues including Lana, Grana, Martinez, underground bar Apollonia, and pasta and deli BAR MAMMONI. Mary’s Underground offers lobster and steak frites into the late night, perfect for a post Light Walk feast. And once the site of warehouse parties, Hickson House is now a lively craft spirit distillery, and offers tours. For dinner under the Sydney Opera House sails, it’s hard to imagine a more iconic spot than Opera Bar – and where better to watch the Vivid Sydney lights over the Harbour?
The Rocks
Step back in time for a G&T inside Frank Mac’s, with 1840s sandstone walls and charming table service. New restaurant Canvas Restaurant, based at the Museum of Contemporary Art, is the perfect spot to take in Vivid. Take your kids to Pancakes on The Rocks for an Americana take on the classic pancake, open until 2am on Fridays and Saturdays. For something special, Bay Nine is an omakase Japanese restaurant, with a daily changing menu of 11 courses served by an acclaimed chef. Recently renovated The Cut Bar & Grill combines heritage with modern elegance, providing an unforgettable steakhouse experience.
Darling Harbour and Darling Quarter
Fratelli Fresh offers fresh and fast family-friendly pizza and pasta – what's not to love? If you are after a date-night option, Atelier by Sofitel - a Two Chef Hatted restaurant - is an elegant space with an expansive wine list and beautiful local seafood. Fancy a late-night drink? Head to Lumière on Thirty Five, the Sofitel’s late night bar option (open 8pm-1am). Darling Square is a buzzing precinct for Asian deliciousness: dumplings, noodles, bubble tea and dessert.
Sydney CBD
Offering four venues in one, Shell House is all about Art Deco decadence, a luxe place to celebrate your Vivid Sydney night out – finish your evening with a drink at their rooftop bar. South-East Asian flavours come to party at MuMu in the always-pumping Ivy precinct. The International precinct overlooking Sydney’s Martin Place offers three distinctly international levels, including The Wine Bar (ground floor), The Grill (level 1), and The Panorama Bar (top floor).
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a drink at Opera Bar in Circular Quay.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Couple enjoying a drink at Opera Bar in Circular Quay.
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Vivid Sydney Supper Club at Mary's Underground, Circular Quay for Vivid Music during Vivid Sydney 2023
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Vivid Sydney Supper Club at Mary's Underground, Circular Quay for Vivid Music during Vivid Sydney 2023
Vivid Dreams: Where To Stay
A comfortable place to put up your feet after a night exploring is essential during Vivid Sydney, and the city has a room for everyone. Here are a few ideas:
Luxe
Located in the heart of the CBD, Sofitel Sydney Wentworth has reopened its doors after a stunning refurbishment to offer five-star luxury in the city, while Kimpton Margot Sydney fuses Art Deco ambience with modern luxe, with a glamorous rooftop bar and pool. Crown Sydney is a prime spot to access Vivid Sydney locations Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, and for twinkling harbour panoramas and full views of the Vivid Sydney lights, waterfront Park Hyatt or Shangri-La at The Rocks can’t be beat. Check out Capella Sydney: a heritage listed icon and one of Sydney’s newest and highly anticipated luxury 5-star hotels.
Family-friendly
There’s plenty of accommodation options that have what you need if travelling with little ones. The Novotel Sydney Darling Harbour makes the perfect base to explore Vivid Sydney along the waterfront, as well as being conveniently located to many family-friendly food options. Rydges Sydney Central is sleek, modern and right near Central Station. Head across the bridge and settle in for a slumber party with the animals at Taronga Zoo – their wildlife safari tents look out on the illuminated Sydney Harbour.
Designer Digs
After you’ve sparked your creativity exploring the festival, rest your inspired head at one of Sydney’s many designer-driven boutique hotels, right next to the beginning of the Light Walk at Central Station: Ace Hotel Sydney brings the Palm Springs brand’s artistic flair to the harbour city; Paramount House Hotel offers 29 unique rooms; or take a dip in The Old Clare Hotel’s luxurious rooftop pool. If waterfront is what you seek, check into one of Hotel Palisade’s eight guestrooms (some featuring Bridge views) or get even closer to the icon at Pier One Sydney.
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Views of the Vivid Sydney event captured from a suite in Crown Sydney, Barangaroo.
#feelnewsydney #vividsydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Views of the Vivid Sydney event captured from a suite in Crown Sydney, Barangaroo.
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Views of the Vivid Sydney event captured from a suite in the Park Hyatt, The Rocks
#vividsydney #feelnewsydney
Vivid Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Views of the Vivid Sydney event captured from a suite in the Park Hyatt, The Rocks
Vivid Sydney And Beyond
Show Stoppers
Catch a world-class musical such as MJ the Musical at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, Guys & Dolls on Sydney Harbour, Titanique at The Grand Electric, Hadestown at the Theatre Royal, or Annie the Musical at Capitol Theatre.
On The Harbour
Watch the morning sun illuminate the skyline on a Sydney Harbour Sunrise kayak safari with Sydney Harbour Kyaks.
Slow things down with a pedal past secret coves and over the magnificent Sydney Harbour Bridge with Sydney Harbour Bike Tours, or rise up for a bird’s-eye view of beautiful Sydney on a flight with Sydney Seaplanes. For more insight into Sydney’s colonial past and a taste of local beers in some of The Rocks historic pubs, head off on one of Dave’s Pub Tours. The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour, by Dreamtime Southern X, will show you another side of Sydney’s history – of the Gadigal people, and how their culture originated from the land.
As the sun sets, be mesmerised by Vivid Sydney’s lights reflecting across the water with a 60-minute evening cruise of the harbour with Fantasea or see brilliance from above as you scale to the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge in time to watch Vivid Sydney burst into life at 6pm. On the ground, learn how to capture the beautiful Vivid Sydney lights with a Vivid Photography Walking Tour with Picture Me Sydney.
For the full program and to plan your Vivid Sydney trip, visit: www.vividsydney.com
TItanique Credit: Titanique
he cult musical sensation that has all of New York scrambling for a ticket to take their seat on the ship of dreams. Setting sail for Australia, Titanique will play a limited season, exclusive to Sydney at The Grand Electric, from September.
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TItanique Credit: Titanique
he cult musical sensation that has all of New York scrambling for a ticket to take their seat on the ship of dreams. Setting sail for Australia, Titanique will play a limited season, exclusive to Sydney at The Grand Electric, from September.
Hadestown Credit: Opera Australia
Seen by three million, streamed by over 350 million and adored by fans all around the world, singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s acclaimed West End and Broadway musical phenomenon Hadestown will make its Australian premiere at Theatre Royal Sydney in February 2025. Presented by Opera Australia and JONES Theatrical Group, Hadestown won eight Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 2019, including Best Score and Best Director and is still playing to packed houses five years later.
#feelnewsydney
Hadestown Credit: Opera Australia
Seen by three million, streamed by over 350 million and adored by fans all around the world, singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell’s acclaimed West End and Broadway musical phenomenon Hadestown will make its Australian premiere at Theatre Royal Sydney in February 2025. Presented by Opera Australia and JONES Theatrical Group, Hadestown won eight Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 2019, including Best Score and Best Director and is still playing to packed houses five years later.
More Inspirational Stories
Sydney's leading cultural institutions are presenting an impressive lineup of creative activities, workshops, and exhibitions for children and families during the autumn school holidays in 2025. From opera for babies to engineering workshops, sustainable fashion, and interactive art installations, these programs cater to diverse interests and age groups.
Sydney Opera House Kids' Program
The Sydney Opera House has a packed autumn program featuring the Australian premiere of You are the Sun, an enchanting opera for babies from UK's Hurly Burly (March 15-22). This sensory experience for 0-2 year olds combines gentle classical singing and play.
For toddlers aged 2+, Denmark's Madam Bach presents You Are Here (April 19-24), a sensory-rich production using vivid imagery, live music, and poetic storytelling to help young children discover their place in the world.
Families with children 8+ can enjoy DOG MAN: The Musical (April 12-27), returning after a sell-out season in 2024. This musical adventure features beloved characters from Dav Pilkey's bestselling book about a crime-fighting hero with a dog's head and a policeman's body.
Mimi's Symphony with Justine Clarke (April 12-13) introduces children 3+ to orchestra sections through a joyous sing-along about a little magpie blown from her nest.
Creative workshops include the Comic Book Illustration Workshop (April 15 and 23) for ages 8-14 and Make-Believe Masters: Putting on a Show (April 24), a full-day theatre design workshop for ages 12-16.
Sydney Opera House, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a visit to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney.
#feelnewsydney
Sydney Opera House, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family enjoying a visit to the Sydney Opera House, Sydney.
Powerhouse Museum
The Powerhouse Autumn School Holidays program (April 12-27) offers in-depth workshops in engineering, sustainable fashion, and documentary making, plus drop-in creative sessions.
The three-day Creative Studio: Engineering workshops (April 15-17 and 22-24) teach students to build electronic devices using soldering irons and electrical components to create circuits, LED traffic lights, and more.
In Creative Studio: Sustainable Fashion (April 22-24), internationally acclaimed designer Hupfeld Hoerder guides students through fashion design processes inspired by patterns from the Powerhouse Collection.
Multimedia artist Miah-Tya Nungheena Gowland leads Capsule Documentary workshops in Parramatta (April 14-16) and Queanbeyan (April 22-24), where students create video collages inspired by Powerhouse Collection objects.
Families can participate in free drop-in Family Collage workshops with Eddie Abd (April 12-27), creating artistic family portraits inspired by the artist's work and the museum's collection.
See the full program here.
Museums of History NSW
Museums of History NSW presents Hope, a new digital projection artwork by multidisciplinary artist Hiromi Tango at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks from April 11. This installation uses the building's facade as its canvas, connecting historical stories with contemporary audiences.
All Museums of History NSW sites, including Hyde Park Barracks, Museums of Sydney, Vaucluse House, Elizabeth Farm, and Rouse Hill Estate, offer free entry throughout the school holidays.
Special events include Sonic Spaces at Hyde Park Barracks featuring Eric Avery (April 4), and History Kids programs at Elizabeth Farm (April 23) and Vaucluse House (April 24).
The Museum of Sydney will unveil the Seeing Sydney, Knowing Country exhibition from April 17, exploring the evolution of Sydney's landscapes through materials from the Museums of History NSW and Beat Knoblauch collections.
Museums of History NSW Credit: Joshua Morris for Museums of History NSW
Student in hammock room with Learning Producer
#ilovesydney
Museums of History NSW Credit: Joshua Morris for Museums of History NSW
Student in hammock room with Learning Producer
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia showcases 34 Australian artists across several new exhibitions, including Warraba Weatherall: Shadow and Substance, the first solo museum exhibition by the Kamilaroi artist, and The Intelligence of Painting, featuring work by 14 women artists. The 2025 Circular Quay Foyer Wall Commission presents The Civilisation of the Abstract by Diena Georgetti, alongside new displays from the MCA Collection highlighting 18 Australian artists.
Families with young children can enjoy MCA Art Play (various dates, 10-11am and 11am-12pm), unstructured creative play sessions for ages 0-5 based on the Reggio Emilia early learning philosophy. These free sessions invite adults and children to lead their own creative journey with materials and prompts inspired by current exhibitions.
The Family Space: Drawn Together (until April 27, 10am-4pm) invites families of all ages to draw inspiration from Julie Mehretu: A Transcore of the Radical Imaginatory at a free drop-in activity space. After visiting the major exhibition (free for those 17 and under), participants can experiment with drawing materials and explore Mehretu's practice of large-scale layering and works on paper, with all materials provided including canvas, crayons, and collage.
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia Credit: Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
The Intelligence of Painting
#ilovesydney
Museum of Contemporary Art Australia Credit: Museum of Contemporary Art Australia
The Intelligence of Painting
Australian Museum
The Australian Museum (AM) offers free general entry every day during the school holidays, with convenient access from Museum, St James, and the new Gadigal Metro stations.
On April 14, the Peruvian Metal Masters workshop invites children to learn metal embossing techniques inspired by ancient Peruvian artifacts from the "Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru" exhibition. Participants will craft their own wearable art pieces to take home.
Scientist for a Day: Geologist (April 15-16) is a full-day program where kids can conduct experiments, tour the collection lab, and meet experts Ross Pogson and Dayna McGeeney while exploring the science of rocks.
STEM Together: Sky High (April 17) is a family-friendly event where children and adults work as teams on challenges related to flight mechanics, problem-solving, and creativity.
The popular Scientist for a Day: Ornithologist (April 23-24) returns with behind-the-scenes access to the museum's specimen collection guided by Ornithology Technical Officer Emily Cave. Children will learn about bird anatomy, conduct experiments, tour the Birds of Australia exhibition, and survey local birdlife in Hyde Park.
For more school holiday inspiration visit Sydney.com.
Australian Museum, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family visiting the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibit at the Australian Museum in Sydney.
#feelnewsydney
Australian Museum, Sydney Credit: Destination NSW
Family visiting the Machu Picchu and the Golden Empires of Peru exhibit at the Australian Museum in Sydney.