The best free things at Vivid Sydney 2024

Where? Sydney Opera House

Seeing the Opera House light up for Vivid is one of the festival's undeniable highlights (ahem). This year, the aesthetically textural work of Sydney-based artist Julia Gutman (one of Time Out Sydney’s Future Shapers for 2024) is lighting up the sails: with a powerful moving artwork that nods to the story of Narcissus, interrogating what it means to truly see yourself. Gutman’s specially-commissioned work Echo lights up the sails until 11pm every night. To see the lights turn on each night, situate yourself with a view of the Opera House at 6pm any night until Sunday, June 15. You can find out more over here.

Where? Customs House, Circular Quay

Colourful, surrealist art in Reg Mombassa’s signature playful, cartoonish style paints a story of a classic Aussie road trip turned on its head across the walls of Customs House until June 15. You can learn more about Mombassa’s Gumscape with Road and Creatures over here.

Where? Circular Quay

On Saturday June 8, Sunday June 9 and Saturday June 15 (the final night of Vivid Sydney 2024), 700 drones will light up the sky above Sydney, forming universal symbols of love across the night sky. You can learn more about the Vivid drone show over here.

Where? Barangaroo Reserve

This fascinating light display will appear on the lawn at Barangaroo Reserve, offering a unique perspective on the mating dance of the native Aussie Brolga bird. You can learn more about what to expect at Nest over here.

Where? Barangaroo Cove

This interactive light feature is changing the way we interact with strangers. Take a seat on one of the luminous chairs at Barangaroo Cove, and when a seat next to you lights up and a stranger takes a pew, open up rather than turning away (or going on your phone). Learn more about Chairwave over here.

Where? The Goods Line

Yes, peering into a stranger’s window is technically always free, but it’s not always socially-acceptable. Window Dressing is an interactive art piece allowing visitors to catch a glimpse into the ever-fascinating world that plays out inside our homes. This one is located right next to Vivid Fire Kitchen, so you can grab some fire-cooked street food and escape into another world. Learn more about Window Dressing over here.

Where? Rekodo, Barangaroo House

This (almost) daily event series will see leading thinkers join a panel discussion about the matters of the day: deep-diving into the news cycle so you can go forth and explore the lights feeling illuminated about (and by) the world. Learn more about After the Fact here.

Where? University of Technology Sydney

This thought-provoking discussion will examine the importance of names: how so many names are mispronounced and anglicised by Australians, and why we should think before changing the way we address someone. You can learn more about Say My Name over here.

Where? Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

As part of the Vivid music program, Tumbalong Park is playing host to twelve nights of free music at Sydney’s brand new $10 million live music venue. Headliners include Mallrat, Budjerah, Battlesnake, and more. You can learn more about Tumbalong Nights and plan your musical evening over here.

We’ll be sharing more guides to Vivid Sydney over the next few weeks – including reviews and round-ups of our favourite events and experiences. In the meantime, these are the key things you need to know, and you can see the full program over here.

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