The 10 Newest and Brightest Things to Do and See at Vivid Sydney This Year

Diana Vidovic

Last updated 20 Apr 2023

Image credits: Dark Spectrum, Klook at Vivid Sydney 2022 and Dark Spectrum, Vivid Sydney 2023

From 26 May to 17 June 2023, Australia’s best-known city will become illuminated again for Vivid Sydney, with an 8.5km Light Walk, dazzling cruises on Sydney Harbour, beautiful projections on the Sydney Opera House and much more.

Every year, Vivid Sydney seems to get bigger and better – so once again, you can expect the best edition yet this year with new drone shows, a light installation fresh from Burning Man, a new "Vivid Food" segment and more secret underground tunnels in Sydney's CBD.

But before we jump into our list of the top 10 things to do and see, let's answer some key questions about Vivid Sydney.

I'm new here! What is Vivid Sydney?

Vivid Sydney is Australia's largest festival of light, culture and immersive experiences. The entire Vivid Sydney experience includes four pillars: Vivid Light, Vivid Music, Vivid Ideas and the brand-new Vivid Food. Vivid Sydney is brought to life by Destination NSW.

When does Vivid Sydney start and end?

Vivid Sydney kicks off winter in the city with a bang, launching on Friday, May 26 at 6pm. It runs for three weeks and finishes on Saturday June 17.

Where are the best spots to see the Vivid Light show?

Lights and activations will take place across 11 key precincts in Sydney CBD, with the main spots being Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and Central Station. There are also events happening this year at The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, the old Wynyard Tunnels and Carriageworks.

Some other nearby sites also participate in the Vivid Sydney experience, with Taronga Zoo allowing night entry and lighting up their gardens with a Wild Lights walk, as well as the Sydney Harbour Bridge offering a special Vivid Sydney Bridge Climb.

Where does Vivid Sydney Light Walk commence and end?

The best way to see Vivid Sydney is on foot, covering the beginning to the end of the Light Walk. Begin your Light Walk at Sydney Opera House in Circular Quay and finish at Central Station, via The Goods Line tunnel.

Do I need a map for Vivid Sydney?

Most of the installations you will stumble across, as long as you stay in the Sydney CBD and follow the Light Walk through from Circular Quay to Central Station. However, the event organisers do provide a nifty interactive map on this link.

Typically, the main installations tend to be clustered between Circular Quay and Sydney Harbour Bridge and then Barangaroo to Darling Harbour. So many people choose to break it up, if they prefer not to do the entire Vivid Sydney Light Walk in one night.

Often people will do the walk up to Darling Harbour and then catch public transport from Town Hall back home or continue walking through to Central Station.

I'm ready to see Vivid Sydney!

Now you know everything about the Vivid Sydney festival, it's time to figure out what you want to do, see, hear and eat! The top 10 things we recommend at Vivid Sydney 2023 are:

Watch the biggest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere, Written in the Stars
Eat at a bespoke Vivid Food event
See Lightscape at the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney
View The Last Ocean, an installation that appeared at Burning Man in 2022
See the Sydney Opera House in all its glory with Lighting of the Sails: Life Enlivened, by John Olsen and Curiious.
Hear a range of eclectic contemporary live music at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour
Watch a cabaret show at Vivid Sydney Supper Club
View performances by First Nations artists at the return of First Light in The Rocks
Explore the abandoned Wynyard tunnels in Dark Spectrum
Hop on a cruise

1. Watch the biggest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere, Written in the Stars

One of the most anticipated events of Vivid Sydney this year is the epic drone show. There will be six shows in total that will feature more than 1,000 drones for what will become the biggest drone show in the Southern Hemisphere to date.

Vivid Sydney has created a Facebook event for this incredible spectacle so audiences can stay updated in case the weather turns and the event needs to be cancelled or postponed.

You can see the Vivid Sydney Drone Show Written in the Stars in the sky above Circular Quay for free from 9:10pm on the following dates:

Sunday, 28 May 2023
Wednesday, 31 May 2023
Sunday, 4 June 2023
Wednesday, 7 June 2023
Monday, 12 June 2023
Wednesday, 14 June 2023

2. Eat at a bespoke Vivid Food event

This year will feature the first ever Vivid Food pillar and boy are we excited. After the great success of last year’s sell-out Vivid Sydney Dinner, Vivid Sydney decided it is time for food to get its own special mention. The issue is just choice, which event should you attend?!

Ranging from high-end immersive experiences to pop-ups, we've detailed them here so you can decide what suits your flavour:

Vivid Fire Kitchen at The Cutaway Barangaroo (every night from 6pm, free entry): BBQ lovers and smoke enthusiasts, ahoy! The world's best pitmasters are putting it all on display each night at The Cutaway, with a range of delicious flame-fuelled bites and sips on offer
Vivid Sydney Dinner (3 June from 6:30pm - ticketed ~$292): a partnership with Merivale, hosted at The Ivy Ballroom fusing light, music, and cuisine from Sydney chefs Ben Greeno and Danielle Alvarez, with entertainment by Eddie Perfect, Christine Anu, and more One for the mega foodies.
Carriageworks Night Market (16 June from 5pm - ticketed ~$15): a one-night only event curated by chef Matt Stone and featuring more than 50 of Sydney's top restaurants, bars and producers. Pick this if you want variety!
Vivid Chef Series (from 26 May - ticketed): renowned local chefs pair up with famous global chefs in top Sydney venues including Fred’s, Yellow, Kiln, and Bar Morris to create their own special culinary experience. A chance to travel the world via your tastebuds!
Light Up Your Senses at the Pylon (select dates from 26 May from 5:45pm - ticketed): Luke Mangan is combining cheese, wine and the Harbour lights of Vivid Sydney at his new restaurant on top of one of the Pylons of Sydney Harbour Bridge.

3. See Lightscape at the Royal Botanic Gardens

Lightscape will transform The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney into a 2.1km journey through sparkling tree canopies, glowing tunnels and towering flowers. Think Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, but Vivid Sydney-style. The event is ticketed from $30 and available nightly over the festival, starting at 5:30pm until 10pm from 26 May.

4. View The Last Ocean, an installation that appeared at Burning Man in 2022

From 6pm each night at Barangaroo, you'll be able to view this spectacle created by Jen Lewin that featured at Burning Man in 2022. Inspired by protecting the nature and the ocean from plastic and rubbish, you'll be able to metaphorically and physically step onto Antarctica through this installation without harming it.

5. See the Sydney Opera House in all its glory with Lighting of the Sails: Life Enlivened, by John Olsen and Curiious.

A classic and must-view every year at Vivid Sydney. Particularly poignant this year, the Sydney Opera House will see the beloved late artist John Olsen’s (1928 – 2023) work come to life across the sails each night in a projection titled Life Enlivened (2023). Best viewing spot? We recommend at the tip of the cruise terminal pier, right near Squire's Landing.

6. Hear a range of eclectic contemporary live music at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

The Vivid Music pillar never fails to deliver. And this year it won't again, with Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour coming alive Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights of the festival for Tumbalong Nights.

There'll be a range of eclectic contemporary artists from African to Japanese sounds and a great pit stop along the Light Walk as you move from Darling Harbour to Central Station. It can also be a great end to the night, if you prefer to get home from Darling Harbour (Town Hall) then progressing to Central Station.

If you're seeking a different type of Vivid Music fix, Sydney Town Hall will celebrate the music and legacy of the late Archie Roach AC in a one-off concert titled A Bend in the River on 9 June. The night of tribute performances will feature Australian artists like Paul Kelly, Emma Donovan and Dan Sultan and tickets start at $87.

7. Watch a cheeky cabaret show at Vivid Sydney Supper Club

If you missed it in 2022, don't miss it in 2023 - Mary's Underground will host an intimate cabaret lounge featuring divine drag performances, jazz, burlesque, comedy, and everything in between on Friday and Saturday nights during the festival. End your Light Walk with a diva boogie and cocktail in hand. Tickets start from $69 (fittingly).

8. View performances by First Nations artists at the return of First Light in The Rocks

First Light returns in 2023 to honour and celebrate First Nations people and culture. Kicking off with a Welcome to Country at Campbells Cove in The Rocks, the ceremony is followed by performance from dance groups Muggera and Jannawi Dance Clan, alongside a Haka from Te Aranganui.

If you can't make it to The Rocks to witness this special moment, don't worry - it will be broadcast across the entire Vivid Sydney Light Walk on opening night.

Artists and musicians will then share their stories and there will also be a unique Calling Country, where ancient chants invite residents to call the land their home and share their responses.

9. Explore the abandoned Wynyard tunnels in Dark Spectrum

An exciting new addition to this year's festival line up, following the success of the Goods Tunnel theming last year, is Dark Spectrum – an electronic labyrinth in the abandoned railway tunnels below Wynyard Station. Filled with sensory experiences and euphoric lighting, this is one Vivid Light experience not to be missed. Access is available daily from 12pm to 9:15pm with tickets starting from $35.

10. Hop on a Cruise

One of the best ways to see Vivid Sydney is to hop on a cruise, either at Darling Harbour or Circular Quay, to see the festival from the sea! There are many operators that offer a Vivid Sydney Cruise with different elements - from booze included to BYO - so we've detailed them all this in article below!

If you're visiting Vivid Sydney with a group of people and don't necessarily want to be roaming around Sydney CBD, other options include a Vivid Sydney Jet Boat ride (don't worry, it slows down the pace so you can take in the Harbour in all its beauty) or a Vivid Sydney Bar Crawl. Or if you want something really intimate and special with the best vantage points, a Vivid Sydney Helicopter Cruise!

2023, the biggest Vivid Sydney yet

Destination NSW claims this will be the biggest Vivid Sydney yet and we're excited! With new concepts for all pillars - Light, Music, Ideas and now, Food - we're looking forward to seeing Sydney CBD come to life this winter once again.

Whilst the above is just a list of the official events and installations, many local vendors and other businesses will also jump on board so you can expect a bright and brilliant time wherever you go.

Sydney Australia

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