Vivid Sydney Festival 2025: A Quick Guide

This comprehensive guide to Vivid Sydney 2025 covers everything you need to know: where to find the best light installations, which performances to book, how to navigate the five festival zones, and insider tips for avoiding crowds. After attending every festival but one since 2009, I’ve learned the best ways to experience this spectacular event.

Whether you’re a first-timer or a regular visitor, you’ll find practical advice for making the most of Sydney’s winter festival of lights, music, and ideas.

The Vivid Sydney Festival runs 23 May to 14 June 2025

This year’s festival theme “Vivid Sydney, Dream” explores the power of dreams and what they mean to us through light, music and ideas.

This year also sees new cultural collaborations – you’ll find special events from Sydney Writers’ Festival and Sydney Film Festival, plus a fantastic lineup of performances and exhibitions at some of my favourite venues including the Art Gallery of NSW, Australian Museum, Bangarra Dance Theatre, City Recital Hall, State Library of NSW, and Sydney Theatre Company.

What’s New for Vivid 2025

I’m really excited about the changes for Vivid’s 15th year. They’ve completely reimagined the festival layout with five connected zones, making it much easier to plan your visit. Each zone brings together light installations, music performances, talks, and food experiences – and I love how you can easily walk between them all.

• The best news? More than 75% of events and the entire Light Walk are free
• Martin Place is back as a festival hub (and it looks like it will be fantastic!)
• Eight new buildings have joined the illumination lineup – perfect for those who have been every year and are looking for something new
• The five zones cover all my favourite parts of the city: Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo, Martin Place and CBD, Darling Harbour, and The Goods Line and Inner City

Light Walk Highlights

Major installations for 2025 include:

• David McDiarmid’s ‘Kiss of Light’ on the Sydney Opera House sails
• Vincent Namatjira’s ‘King Dingo’ on the Museum of Contemporary Art facade
• Romance Was Born’s ‘House of Romance’ at Customs House
• New illuminations at the Museum of Sydney, The Bond, and Challis House

Interactive Light Experiences

This is where the fun really happens in 2025!

New technology features heavily this year, with world-leading animation and projection technologies. You can even create self-portraits that turn into 3D projections, designed by entertainment studio Moment Factory.

Here’s what you can try:

• Voice-activated animations
• Suspended swings and fun seesaws
• Light based tennis matches
• Create your own projection for the ASN Co. Building’s Clock Tower (150 entries selected weekly)

These interactive elements make the Light Walk more engaging than ever, giving you the chance to become part of the art itself.

Where are the best spots to Enjoy Vivid

Each zone offers different perspectives of the festival. Here’s what you’ll find in each area:

Circular Quay and The Rocks

The festival’s main hub features this year’s major installations:

• Sydney Opera House featuring David McDiarmid’s ‘Kiss of Light’
• MCA showcasing Vincent Namatjira’s ‘King Dingo’
• Customs House with Romance Was Born’s ‘House of Romance’
• The returning Argyle Cut
• Interactive projections on the ASN Co. Building’s Clock Tower

Martin Place and CBD

Back in the festival for the first time since 2018, featuring:

• Returns to the festival for the first time since 2018
• New illuminations at Challis House
• CTA Building light display
• Muru Giligu tunnel hosting Nigella Lawson’s dinner events
• Museum of Sydney (first-time illumination)

Barangaroo Zone

Waterfront displays and events include:

• The Bond building (new for 2025)
• Weekly Firetalk series at Barangaroo Reserve
• Food and entertainment venues

Darling Harbour Zone

The most family-friendly zone

• Free Tumbalong Nights concerts
• Interactive light installations
• Family-friendly entertainment

The Goods Line and Inner City

The southern festival hub offers:

• Vivid Fire Kitchen
• Spice Lounge on Maryanne Street
• Connections to Surry Hills’ Hollywood Quarter
• New venue activations including City Recital Hall and Metro Theatre

Tips for Enjoying Vivid Sydney 2025

Based on my experience attending since 2009, here are practical tips to help you make the most of your visit:

Navigation Tips

Make the most of the five-zone layout with these strategies:

• Take advantage of the new five-zone structure to plan your visit
• Start in one zone and explore it fully rather than rushing between areas
• Use the connecting pathways between zones for a more organized experience
• Consider visiting Martin Place and CBD first, as it’s returning after a long break
• The Light Walk is completely free, so if you can, spread your viewing across multiple nights

Timing Your Visit

Choosing when to visit can make or break your Vivid experience. After years of trial and error, here are my recommended times:

• Try to visit on one of the first few days
• For weekend visits, aim for later in the evening (after 9pm)
• Sunday nights typically have smaller crowds than Friday or Saturday
• Allow enough time to experience the interactive elements, especially in The Rocks
• Food events like Nigella Lawson’s dinners and Fire Kitchen should be booked well in advance

Practical Advice

Essential tips for a smooth visit:

• Use public transport – the festival zones are well-connected by trains and buses
• Dress warmly – especially for harbour activities or late-night viewing
• Book any paid experiences (like music events or special dinners) early
• Consider mid-week visits for popular venues like City Recital Hall and Metro Theatre
• Take advantage of the free Firetalk series at Barangaroo Reserve for a unique perspective

Family-Friendly Tips

When visiting with children:

• Consider booking a early dinner cruise if visiting with young children or older members of the family
• The new interactive elements (swings, seesaws, etc.) are great for kids
• Consider arriving at 6pm with children
• Pack snacks and water – food venue queues can be long and pricy
• Plan rest stops in each zone

Choosing a Vivid Sydney Cruise

The three major operators on the harbour are Captain Cook, Journey Beyond and Sydney Harbour Tallships. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these.

Things get a little more difficult with the discount cruises. While the discount boats can be great, it is a bit hit and miss, and lots of operators hire vessels to run cruises during this time so it’s hard to know who is actually offering the cruise.

For this reason I don’t really recommend many of the cheaper boats, other than the Sea Sydney Harbour catamarans, I am not saying the others are bad but I can’t vouch for their reputation. If you are on a one-time visit to Sydney, I think it is worth paying a little more for one of the well-known operators.

Choose a Unique Vivid Sydney Experience

Vivid Moonlight Sea Kayaking Experience

Experience the Vivid Sydney lights from a unique water-level perspective in a sea kayak. Paddle through Darling Harbour as the city illuminates around you, getting an up-close view of the light installations while avoiding the crowds.

• A 1.5 hour guided kayaking experience with professional instructors
• Sunset departure timing to watch the city come alive with lights
• Mirage Sea Kayaks Touring doubles are used – they are very stable with a wonderful glide.

This weather-dependent activity requires a basic level of fitness and comfort on the water, as you’ll be actively paddling throughout the experience. While offering unique photo opportunities from water level, be prepared to get slightly wet and dress appropriately.

Departure Location: Darling Harbour
Date: 23 May to 14 June Wednesday to Sunday only
Price: From $155 per person
Note this tour is Non-refundable Get more details and book here

Vivid Lights Secret Bar Crawl

Visit 3 of Sydney’s best secret & small bars while exploring the Vivid Lights artworks! This 3 hour Vivid bar tour is a great option for solo travellers. Your guide will showcase some of the best light installations, while weaving in stories of the area and insider knowledge of Sydney’s nightlife.

Over three hours, you’ll visit three bars including some well-hidden ones, with one drink included.

This is a great way to have a fun & unique night out during Vivid while discovering some amazing hidden bars.

Book this tour or find out more

More than lights!

While the light installations are the most visible part of Vivid, the 2025 festival offers an expanded program of music, ideas, and food experiences across all five festival zones.

Vivid Music

The music program expands in 2025 with new venues including City Recital Hall and Metro Theatre. Highlights include:

• Free concerts at Tumbalong Nights featuring Winston Surfshirt, Ayesha Madon, and international artists
• Over 50 performances at Vivid LIVE in the Sydney Opera House, including Anohni and The Johnsons, Beth Gibbons, and Sigur Rós with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
• Special events at Oxford Art Factory, Metro Theatre, and Carriageworks
• The return of Vivid Supper Club at Mary’s Underground

Vivid Ideas

The Ideas program features thought-provoking experiences including:

• D.W. Pine, Creative Director of TIME Magazine, presenting ‘Where Do Ideas Come From?’
• Professor Matthew Walker exploring ‘Why We Sleep’
• Free weekly Firetalk series at Barangaroo Reserve with First Nations storytellers
• Stranger Things: The Experience at Luna Park Sydney

Vivid Food

The culinary program takes center stage with exclusive events:

• Special collaborations with Sydney’s top dining institutions
• Nigella Lawson’s three curated dinners in the Muru Giligu tunnel
• Vivid Fire Kitchen returning to The Goods Line
• The new Spice Lounge on Maryanne Street
• Food trails through Surry Hills’ Hollywood Quarter

Check out our guide to the best Vivid eats and cocktails

Photography at Vivid 2025

Getting great photos at Vivid requires planning and patience. Here’s everything you need to know to capture stunning images:

Best Photography Locations

Each zone offers unique photo opportunities:

• Circular Quay and The Rocks: Cahill Walkway and Overseas Passenger Terminal for elevated Opera House shots
• Martin Place: Building canyons create dramatic vertical perspectives
• Barangaroo: Waterfront reflections, especially on still evenings
• Darling Harbour: Cockle Bay water shows with city backdrop
• The Goods Line: Long exposure opportunities with moving lights

Technical Tips

• Use a tripod for sharp night shots
• Set your camera to manual mode
• Experiment with slow shutter speeds (1-30 seconds)
• Keep ISO settings low to minimize noise
• Arrive before sunset to capture the transition from day to night
• Consider bringing a wide-angle lens for architectural shots

Timing Your Shoot

• Sunday-Monday nights typically have fewer crowds
• Late evening sessions (after 9pm) offer clearer shots
• Early in the festival tends to be less crowded
• Allow extra time for interactive installations

Professional Help

Consider joining the Vivid Photography Tour:

• 3-hour walking tour with professional photographers
• Learn optimal camera settings for night photography
• Access prime shooting locations
• Technical guidance on-site
• Departure from Harrington Street, The Rocks

Sharing Your Photos

• Use official hashtag #vividsydney
• Tag your zone location for better exposure
• Follow @vividsydney for featuring opportunities

Vivid Photography Tour

A professional photographer leads this 3-hour walking tour from the National College of Photography, leading you to the best spots to shoot the Vivid installations. You will also get lots of tips to help you create the best photos in night conditions.

The tour is designed to visit the spots at the best times, so you can navigate the crowds and get amazing photos to take home. I did this tour two years ago and learned so much!

Departure Location: Harrington Street The Rocks
Get the full details here.

Vivid Accommodation

Book your accommodation early, as budget hotels often fill with tour groups during Vivid. Consider these options:

Recommended Areas to Stay

• Guide to Sydney areas – choose the best location for your needs
• Hotels with harbour views – perfect for watching the lights
• Budget-friendly options – our tested recommendations
• Family accommodation – suitable for groups

Feature image credit: Destination NSW

Have questions about things to see and do in Sydney?
Head over and join our Facebook Group and we will be happy to help.