7 Things To Experience At Vivid Sydney, The World's Largest Festival Of Light, Music And Ideas

Vivid Sydney is back for the tenth year to offer visitors from Australia and around the world a mesmerising experience once again.

From 25 May to 16 June, the festival will paint the Harbour City in the colours of Vivid Light, take over stages electric performances and collaborations in Vivid Music, and provide space for creative and thought-provoking discussions at Vivid Ideas.

With larger installations and fascinating music and ideas waiting for you, we suggest that you start planning your trip to Sydney to catch some of Vivid Sydney’s exciting line-up this year!

#1 Light Walk at Luna Park

The festival’s stunning ‘Light Walk’ extends to amusement park Luna Park for the first time this year.

Visitors will be greeted with a large-scale projection on the façade of Coney Island, as history, magic, creativity, engineering, fantasy and imagination all come to life at this very place.

Besides that, Luna Park’s iconic Ferris Wheel will also be lit for the first time at the festival. After facing a LED refit, you can bet that the wheel will be super LIT!

#2 Colourful pathways the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney will be illuminated by bright and colourful lights once again at Vivid Sydney this year.

The interactive light and sound installation called ‘Parrot Party’ will take visitors through an exciting nocturnal environment as they birds chatter, tweet, chirp and sing.

‘Aqueous’, an interactive landscape of twisting pathways will flow and glow, enticing visitors to come step and play.

You can also take a thousand photos at ‘The Bloom’, a giant electric metallic flower with petals decorated with mirrors to refract and reflect light.

And if you want to feel how it’s like to surf a wave, check out the ‘He’e nalu’.

#3 Lighting of the Sails at the Sydney Opera House

The world heritage Sydney Opera House stands as the centre of the Vivid Light Walk as the building’s sails are transformed into a bold and dynamic display of morphing digital sculptures inspired by Australian motifs and everyday objects.

The ‘Lighting of the Sails’ is created by award-winning Australian artist Jonathan Zawada.

#4 Art meets technology at Darling Harbour

Enjoy a water foundation, light and laser show and go on a dream-like dive in the ocean at Darling Harbour.

The Australian National Maritime Museum rooftop will also be projected with BBC Earth and Sir David Attenborough’s Blue Planet II for front-row seats to the world beneath the ocean.

#5 Watch puppetry at Barangaroo

The surrounding waterways of Sydney’s new harbour foreshore playground, Barangaroo will glow under layers of light and sound through the art of puppetry.

See first-hand as the breathtaking and giant luminescent creature come alive along the waterfront in a theatrical display of sound and light.

#6 Stellar performances at Vivid LIVE

Vivid Music will see the Sydney Opera House play host to some of the biggest music acts in the world as well as some Opera House debuts.

This year’s festival highlights include American pop icons Mazzy Star, the godfather of West Coast rap Ice Cube, Grammy award-winning artist Solange, acclaimed indie rock singer-songwriter Cat Power, and many more.

#7 Global forum by James Cameron

Filmmaker James Cameron will explore his passion for science and technology in a Vivid Sydney exclusive at ‘Game Changers and Creative Catalysts’ this year.

Did you know that Cameron is also a marine explorer and conservationist?

He will share about how his different passions have influenced his work as a film director and environmentalist.

The man behind Avatar will also be joined by Adam Spencer to open the ‘James Cameron – Challenging the Deep’ exhibition at the Australian National Maritime Museum.

These are just a small handful of all the events that will be happening for more than 23 nights at Vivid Sydney 2018. You can also check out the official website for the full programme.