Australia’s largest event will be back to transform the Harbour City this winter, with the 2025 edition of Vivid Sydney set to light up between May 23 to June 14. This year, organisers are promising us a refreshed and “reimagined” edition of the festival of light that “showcases Sydney’s creative pulse during winter”.
For starters, we can expect a redesigned festival footprint, with the light walk being presented across five distinctive zones including eight buildings and landmarks that have never been illuminated before (as well as the return of some old favourites, like Martin Place); an expanded Vivid Music program; an interactive Stranger Things experience at Luna Park; and, none other than the fabulous Nigella Lawson is on board to curate three Vivid Sydney Dinner events.
In good news for anyone whose bank account is struggling to keep up with all the cultural events coming up this year, we can confirm that the entire Vivid Light Walk will be free for everyone to enjoy this year. What’s more, 75 per cent of the events program is also free to attend.
New projections and locations for Vivid Sydney 2025
Our favourite light installations from Vivid Sydney 2024 will be a tough act to follow, but this year’s epic light projections and animations include exclusively commissioned pieces from the likes of the late Australian visionary, David McDiarmid, whose bold and unapologetic work entitled ‘Kiss of Light (2025)’ will be showcased on the Sydney Opera House for Lighting of the Sails; one of the most important painters working in Australia today, Vincent Namatjira will present ‘King Dingo’ on the facade of the MCA; and the team behind Sydney fashion label Romance Was Born will debut ‘House of Romance’ on Customs House in Circular Quay.
New buildings and landmarks that will feature as part of the festival this year include Museum of Sydney, The Bond in Barangaroo, and Challis House in Martin Place. Also making a welcome return is the Argyle Cut in The Rocks, and the CTA Building in Martin Place.
Vivid’s drone show is scrapped, but there’s loads more free events
It has been confirmed that Vivid’s popular drone show has been scrapped for 2025, with the festival citing safety concerns and rising costs as the main reasons. But, there are lots of interactive installations and 3D projections to explore this year. This includes 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. Attendees also have a chance to design their own projection, with 150 entries selected each week to feature on the ASN Co. Building’s Clock Tower in The Rocks.
Something called Stranger Things: The Experience will also debut at Luna Park Sydney. This “interactive adventure for all ages” promises to transport visitors to 1986 Hawkins, and blends supernatural mystery, nostalgia and iconic locations from the Netflix global phenomenon designed exclusively by the show’s creators.
Lots of exciting cultural collaborations in store for Vivid Sydney 2025
Revolving around the delightfully ambiguous theme of “Dream”, the 2025 program will also feature exclusive collaborations for a series of events with Sydney Writers’ Festival and Sydney Film Festival, as well as cultural institutions, venues and arts companies including Art Gallery of NSW, Australian Museum, Bangarra Dance Theatre, City Recital Hall, State Library of NSW, and Sydney Theatre Company.
There is a lot to take in from this initial announcement – D.W. Pine, the Creative Director of TIME Magazine, will deliver the keynote ‘Where Do Ideas Come From?’ for the Vivid Ideas program, and Vivid Fire Kitchen will return to The Goods Line as part of Vivid Food. The Vivid Music Program is also going to be bigger than ever – with everything from local pop darlings Winston Surfshirt playing on the Tumbalong Nights stage, German electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream at the City Recital Hall, Sigur Rós taking to the Sydney Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Skegss bringing their raw mix of surf and garage rock to Carriageworks, UK rap sensations Pete & Bas at the Oxford Art Factory, and loads more great gigs.
We will be deciphering the program and singling out the most exciting events and experiences in the lead up to Vivid Sydney. In the meantime, you can find more information, a full list of events, and start buying tickets over at vividsydney.com.
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