Sydney has officially switched on the lights—literally and metaphorically—as Vivid Sydney 2025, Australia’s largest and most iconic festival, kicked off its 15th anniversary edition in spectacular fashion. Under this year’s expansive theme of “Dream,” the Harbour City has been transformed into an electrifying canvas of colour, light, ideas, music and flavour, captivating locals and global visitors alike for the next 23 unmissable nights, running until Saturday, 14 June.
At 6pm sharp, a packed crowd gathered at Circular Quay’s Overseas Passenger Terminal to witness the soul-stirring First Light Ceremony, a powerful celebration of First Nations culture. Dancers from NAISDA honoured Yolngu traditions from Arnhem Land, setting the tone for a festival rooted in both ancient storytelling and bold innovation. Moments later, Sydney Harbour exploded into a sensory symphony—sky-splitting pyrotechnics, kaleidoscopic projections, and immersive installations lit up the Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Customs House, and the city skyline in a breathtaking welcome to Vivid Sydney 2025.
A City Reimagined: Over 200 Events Across Five Festival Zones
This year, Vivid Sydney sprawls across five distinct festival zones within the CBD—Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, The Rocks, and the newly returned Martin Place, which reclaims its place in the spotlight after a seven-year hiatus. From these hubs, a dynamic program of over 200 events blends art, activism, architecture, technology, and global culture into a nightly program designed to entertain and enlighten.
The beloved Vivid Light Walk, a 8km trail of jaw-dropping light installations and 3D-mapped projections, once again anchors the festival and—true to its inclusive spirit—remains completely free to explore. This year’s trail is more interactive than ever, featuring highlights such as:
- “Dreamscape,” an immersive, dreamlike LED garden that responds to touch and movement.
- “Elysian Skies” at Barangaroo, where drones dance in synchrony to orchestral scores overhead.
- “Reflections,” a hypnotic installation of mirrored lights floating on Darling Harbour.
- A reimagined Opera House sails projection, created by a collaboration of AI and Aboriginal artists, visualising ancient Dreamtime stories through generative digital art.
Over 75% of this year’s program is free to enjoy, ensuring Vivid Sydney continues to be a festival for everyone—locals, tourists, families and dreamers alike.
Ideas, Icons and Original Voices
The Vivid Ideas stream continues to push boundaries with bold conversations, live panels, and intimate salon-style events. Some of the most recognisable names in global pop culture are headlining this year’s ideas platform, including:
- Martha Stewart on lifestyle, legacy and reinvention
- Nigella Lawson on food as memory, ritual and art
- Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally in a candid conversation on love, fame and storytelling
- Beth Gibbons of Portishead offering rare insights into music, emotion and resistance
In a world grappling with change, Vivid Ideas is a space to explore future-thinking, social innovation, sustainability, mental health, AI, and human potential—all tied into this year’s central theme of Dream.
Music That Moves the Soul
From intimate jazz lounges and electronic club nights to world-class stadium performances, Vivid Music pulses through the city like a heartbeat. Expect headlining acts and breakthrough artists alike, with a diverse lineup representing every genre and generation.
Pop-up stages, underground venues and architectural icons like Sydney Town Hall and Carriageworks will host everything from psychedelic soul to ambient techno. Global stars and Australian icons are joined by rising First Nations voices, ensuring the soundtrack to Vivid 2025 is one of unity and transcendence.
A Feast for the Senses
Vivid Food returns as one of the festival’s fastest-growing and most talked-about pillars. Across Sydney, more than 60 chefs and culinary creatives are participating in a globally inspired program of food pop-ups, tasting experiences, collaborations and ticketed dining events.
Highlights include:
- Vivid Fire Kitchen: A waterfront flame-cooking spectacle at The Goods Line, featuring fire-pit feasts and smoky cocktails
- Chefs on the Harbour: Celebrity chef collaborations aboard luxury vessels cruising Sydney Harbour
- A plant-based immersive dining series at Carriageworks, paired with live soundscapes and storytelling
- Night Market events showcasing street food, craft cocktails, Indigenous ingredients, and live performances
A Dream Realised: 15 Years of Vivid
“This year, we invite you to dream without borders, to see Sydney in a whole new light,” said Gill Minervini, Festival Director of Vivid Sydney. “We’ve designed this program to immerse, provoke and delight—to connect people with culture, ideas and each other through the simple power of imagination. From visionary installations and pop culture icons to gourmet dining and transformative talks, Vivid Sydney 2025 is a dream realised.”
Whether you’re seeking inspiration, celebration, connection or a little magic, Vivid Sydney 2025 promises a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the intersection of art and energy.
Vivid Sydney 2025 runs from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June. For full program details and ticket info, visit…
