If you’re visiting Sydney this winter, then prepare yourself to experience one of the most spectacular festivals in the world – VIVID Sydney. VIVID is an absolute must-see event, featuring incredible light shows, wicked music performances, interesting conversations, and much more. Running from Friday 24 May to Saturday 15 June 2024, the event takes over much of Sydney’s city – from Circular Quay, to Barangaroo, to Central Station and beyond. Trust us when we say, it is one of the best times to be in Sydney!
To help you make the most of VIVID Sydney, we’ve put together our top 11 experiences that we think you’ll love. A lot of these are free events, and some require paid tickets. Ready for an unforgettable winter in Sydney? Let’s dive in!
VIVID Sydney Light Installations
Love Is In The Air
CIRCULAR QUAY & THE ROCKS // From 8 June // 9:10pm – 9:20pm
What does the world need right now? Love! And this show will be blazing plenty of it in the sky. VIVID’s ‘Written In The Stars’ is a drone show of epic proportions. Over 700 drones will form universal symbols of love in a totally dazzling display above Circular Quay and The Rocks.
Details:
- Circular Quay (look up in the sky above)
- 8 June, 9 June, 15 June May, 31 May, 4 June, 7 June, 12 June, 14 June; from 9:00pm
- Free
VIVID Light On Sydney Harbour
The ferries and boats in Sydney’s gorgeous harbour will light up in unison with not only the city’s skyscrapers, but with the Sydney Harbour Bridge as well! Take in the sights, which are just incredible, spanning sea, land and sky. We love nothing better than to find a spot to sit or stand in Circular Quay, and simply cast your eyes across Sydney Harbour – it is a colourful spectacle like no other!
Details:
- Circular Quay and The Rocks
- 24 May – 15 June; 6pm – 11pm
- Free
Dark Spectrum
In this experience, you’ll enter abandoned railways tunnels underground the city. Once inside, lose yourself across eight different chambers, with 300 kaleidoscopic lasers, 500 handmade lanterns and over 250 searchlights. To top it off, an epic soundtrack filled with dance tracks and club hits will be pumping throughout the experience.
Details:
- Wynyard Tunnels
- 24 May – 15 June; 12pm – 11pm
- From $35
Lightscape
Lightscape is a 2.1km journey through the Royal Botanic Garden of Sydney. Here, you’ll feel like you’ve entered a spellbinding and multi-sensory world. Stroll beneath towering tree canopies illuminated in mesmerising colour, be awestruck by larger-than-life flowers and travel through gorgeous glowing tunnels. We recommend planning for a 90 minute visit, in order to experience everything Lightscape has to offer.
Details:
- From 24 May
- 5:00pm – 11:00pm
- $30
Global Rainbow
SYDNEY TOWER // From 24 May // 6pm -11pm
Having already lit up the skies of London, Berlin, Toronto, and Northern Ireland, Global Rainbow is now here in Sydney. Extraordinary beams of rainbow light will fan out from the iconic Sydney Tower, for up to 40km, lighting up the night for all of us to see. This is a sight well worth looking up for!
Light Walk
VARIOUS LOCATIONS // From 24 May // From 6pm
A self guided Vivid Sydney Light Walk is undoubtedly one of the best ways you can experience the magnificence of this festival. Taking you through Central, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, The Rocks and Circular Quay, this walking tour is going to let you see a huge number of free light installations at your own pace.
VIVID Sydney Music Performances
Vivid Sydney Supper Club
MARY’S UNDERGROUND // Thursday & Friday nights // 9pm – 1am
When you combine a comedian and musician as your hosts, and Mary’s Underground as the venue, you’re in for a good night. Vivid Sydney Supper Club does just that, with a different themed show every Thursday and Friday night of comedy, music and story-telling. We have our eyes on Up-Late Play Date: the best adults only kids’ party you’ve ever been to.
dsreet Studio Party
SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE STUDIO // 25 May // 9pm – 2:30am
A studio party at the Sydney Opera House? Sign. Us. Up. Back when we entered our first week of lockdown, a bunch of residents on a Sydney street joined forces to spin tracks out of their share-house living room. Since then, they’ve spent four years throwing warehouse parties with high energy dancefloors. This is the first time they’re throwing an event in a licensed venue – and you bet it will be the best yet!
Tumbalong Nights
This is your go-to spot for free music and live DJs, every night of the festival! Some of our favourites to check out include:
- Mallrat + Tiffi bringing their timeless pop and dreamy tunes, on Friday 24 May
- Bare Necessities creating street party vibes and high energy antics with worldly music, on Friday 31 May
- Budjerah (who won National Indigenous Music Awards 2023 Artist of the Year) + Jem Cassar-Daley lifting us up with their alt-pop and soulful storytelling
VIVID Sydney Talks and Ideas
AI Will Destroy Humanity: A Future Science Debate
PARLIAMENT HOUSE // 7 June // 7pm – 8:30pm // From $49
If we’re going to talk about AI during VIVID, it’s not going to be your usual discussion. At this event, expect both comedy and contemplation to intertwine. Australian scientists and researches will be part of the debate, along with comedians, for a night that explores one of society’s current biggest dilemmas.
Details:
- Sydney, Home The Venue
- 16 June; 8pm – 3am
- $60
Queeries
MACHINE HALL PRECINCT // 14 June // 6:30pm – 8pm // From $20
Their Vivid Sydney show in 2023 was a total sell out. So let’s preface this by saying you might want to get your tickets to Queeries ASAP! Featuring journalists, pop stars, poets and more, Queeries is a literary night turned on its head, where performers explore and prod what it means to be human through a queer lens
Where To Stay During VIVID Sydney?
Book your accommodation in the heart of the VIVID action. Wake Up! Sydney is located directly opposite Central Station, which will be pumping with light projections, installations and music events across the terminal building and along the walkway. Standing tall with both shared dorm rooms and private rooms, Wake Up is a favourite hostel destination from travellers around the world. Use Wake Up as a base for your own solo adventures, or make friends during our daily activities and experience the magic of VIVID festival together! Book direct on wakeup.com.au for best rates, free cancellation, no deposit and no booking fees.
- Bondi Beach Walking Tours
- Free Pizza Nights
- Wine & Cheese social Nights
- City Orientation Tours
- Karaoke
- Meetups
