Vivid Sydney has revealed its full program of Light, Music, Food and Ideas for 2025. This year, Vivid Sydney will run from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June, with the theme of "dream" running through the artworks, parties, feasts, pop-ups and more.
"Dreaming is as old as time and as universal as life itself. Dreams can be prophetic, life changing and inspirational, as well as trivial, hilarious or terrifying. These interactions are evident in every aspect of Vivid Sydney’s program this year," says Vivid Sydney festival director Gill Minervini.
Now in its 15th year, Vivid's program keeps the magic coming across key locations including Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Walsh Bay Arts Precinct, Barangaroo, The Goods Line, and Carriageworks, with Martin Place returning after a break since 2018.
In 2025 you can expect the usual breathtaking projections (with eight new landmarks and buildings being illuminated), dinners curated by Nigella Lawson, concerts from headliners like Sigur Rós with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Japanese Breakfast and Anohni, a Stranger Things experience taking over Luna Park, thought-provoking panels, and the return of the Vivid Fire Kitchen.
Feeling the cozzie livs pinch? Over 75% of the entire program, and 100% of Vivid Light is free this year; tickets for paid events are on sale now.
Here are the highlights of Vivid Sydney's 2025 program.
Vivid Light
The dazzling light projections are the most recognisable element of Vivid Sydney, and 2025's Vivid Light program packs plenty of wonder, with locations around the heart of Sydney illuminated with neons, installations, art projections, swing sets and more.
As always, First Light will launch the festival with a celebration of First Nations culture against the iconic backdrop of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, sharing vibrant song, dance, and Language.
The Sydney Opera House sails will be splashed with an artwork called Kiss of Light by the late Aussie artist David McDiarmid bringing colourful ‘90s motifs, while Vincent Namatjira will take over the Museum of Contemporary Art with King Dingo on the other side of Circular Quay.
Looking for the Vivid drone show? Unfortunately, due to concerns around crowd control after the huge numbers it pulled last year, it won’t be returning this year. Instead, check out House of Romance by Sydney fashion label Romance was Born on Customs House, the rippling and movement-responsive rods of SomniUs, and the magical Fly To The Moon photo opp with a swing to the night sky.
Kids will love the gamified Kickit Team Tennis light orbs with interactive footpads at Darling Harbour, The Cloud Swing, which debuted at Burning Man in 2019, and the 4-metre-long Starscape Tunnel taking over The Goods Line with over 700 stars.
See the full Vivid Light program and plan your visits.
Vivid Music
It wouldn't be Vivid Sydney without a banging soundtrack, and in 2025 we're welcoming some big names and local favourites to Sydney stages for live performances, concerts and DJ sets.
The Vivid LIVE program presented at Sydney Opera House this year features Japanese Breakfast, First Nations musicians Miss Kaninna and 3%, Icelandic post-rock trio Sigur Rós with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Aotearoa's Marlon Williams and trending LA-based singer-songwriter Ravyn Lenae. Parties curated by House of Mince, DUNJ, dstreet and dance music collective Mad Racket will bring dancefloor euphoria to the Studio.
At Carriageworks, the Vivid Music lineup features powerful American jazz musician Kamasi Washington, shoegaze faves DIIV, and Egyptian-Australian artist moktar, while a series of late-night supper clubs with themes like the ultimate Australian mixtape, celebrating Eurovision, and queer anthems will run at Mary's Underground.
As well as ticketed events, Tumbalong Nights will again host free performances from artists including Winston Surfshirt, Vietnamese pop artists Mỹ Anh and Chi Xê, Heartbreak High star Ayesha Madon and Prince collaborator MonoNeon, plus a community singalong night with various choirs and performers.
Check out the full Vivid Music program and get tickets.
Vivid Food
After a hugely popular first two years with the Vivid Fire Kitchen and more, Vivid Food is back for a third year in 2025—and it’s bigger than ever.
In 2025, free foodie hub Vivid Fire Kitchen returns to The Goods Line to celebrate the world’s spice-driven cuisines with live demonstrations and fire-cooked eats from the world’s best pitmasters, chefs and barbecue legends. It’ll be accompanied by a takeover of Maryanne Street, which will be closed to traffic for the whole festival for Spice Lounge, with fire pits and fire drums plus food from world-class chefs.
The queen herself, Nigella Lawson, will curate three exclusive dining experiences presented in Martin Place’s Muru Giligu Tunnel ($340pp), and top chefs including Neil Perry, Matt Moran and Paul Farag will present no-waste dinners at Refettorio OzHarvest ($110pp). Hollywood Quarter will host a Neon Trail running between its beloved venues, while Foster Street will close for a night for Hollywood Dreaming with exclusive dishes, small plates and festival specials plus live entertainment spilling out into the street.
Check out the full Vivid Food program.
Vivid Ideas
Vivid Sydney's Ideas segment rounds out the cultural festival's 2025 lineup, with a series of thought-provoking panels, talks, and in-depth discussions—and an immersive Stranger Things experience dropping visitors into 1986 with live actors and cutting-edge special effects. Spread over six rooms inside Luna Park's iconic Crystal Palace, there'll be big '80s vibes, a Scoops Ahoy pop-up bar and snack stand, a recreation of the Palace Arcade (where you can try to beat MADMAX's high score), a Surfer Boy pizza pop-up, and the chance to face off with Vecna.
In huge news for fans of cooking and home-styling goddess, best-selling author of 101 books, and all-around queen Martha Stewart, the woman herself will be appearing for Vivid Sydney 2025. She’ll reflect on her career, the evolution of her personal brand, and what it takes to stay relevant, and share candid insights on her time in the spotlight in an exclusive, one-off In Conversation event at the ICC Sydney on Wednesday 28 May. Tickets are on sale for $65, from 9am on Friday 4 April on Vivid’s website.
Major talks will feature TIME Magazine creative director D.W. Pine, world-renowned neuroscientist and sleep expert Professor Matthew Walker, and comedian, television presenter, and design expert Tim Ross talking The Australian Dream.
Free events for Vivid Ideas include Firetalk featuring First Nations writers, poets and songwriters on Wednesday nights, extended reality/virtual reality exhibition I Dream of Reality, and multimedia solo performance Endling, plus Art After Hours: Dreams at the Art Gallery of NSW.
Check out the full Vivid Ideas program.
For more of the best of what's on in Sydney, head over here.
Main image credit: Vivid Sydney | Supplied