A bunch of cool new things happening at Vivid Sydney this year, including food

The annual Vivid Sydney festival, May 26 to June 17, is expanding its program with new food events to accompany the evening lights. 

The 23-day festival features more than 300 events showcasing artists, musicians, and thought leaders while also recognising the significant contributions of First Nations people.

This year’s theme is “Vivid Sydney, Naturally” and festival director and light curator Gill Minervini said it’s all about celebrating what really matters – connection, authenticity, love, and nature.

“Nature provides a sense of discovery, a celebration of authenticity, an invitation to connect and a chance to create, all experiences we can share at Vivid Sydney,” she said.  

“This year, I’m excited that we have our biggest and boldest light works to date from both world-famous artists and local talents, as well as our rich program of ideas, music, and, for the first time, food.”

Vivid Sydney, Lighting of the Sails

When the sun sets, Sydney will transform with more than 50 lustrous light installations, 3D projection artworks, and ticketed events for visitors to lose themselves in the hypnotising wonderland of light and colour.

Vivid Sydney Light Walk’s signature Sydney Opera House Lighting of the Sails will feature the vibrant works of one of Australia’s most famous artists, John Olsen. 

The Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House line-up will feature more than 40 Australian and international artists, including José González, Yaeji, Ella Mai, Cat Power, and Devonté Hynes.

The program has been curated by Sydney Opera House’s head of contemporary music, Ben Marshall.

This year’s Vivid Music program will spotlight First Nations and Australian voices. The late Archie Roach will be celebrated with an incredible night of performances.

There will be 12 nights of free music at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, featuring Yothu Yindi, Dan Sultan, and cult Japanese artist Cornelius.

British author Jeanette Winterson will headline Vivid Ideas and reflect on questions of identity, sexuality, religion, and more to unpack the idea of nature in LIFE AND MARS: The Future of Human.

And the new Vivid Food will broaden the creative spotlight to include culinary favourites and innovative food events, including street food and BBQ delights crafted by renowned pitmasters for Vivid Fire Kitchen at Cutaway in Barangaroo. 

For a more upscale dining experience, there’s the Vivid Sydney Dinner at the Ivy Ballroom, curated by acclaimed chefs Ben Greeno and Danielle Alvarez.

Vivid Sydney

Last year’s Vivid attracted around 2.58 million attendees.

The 2023 Vivid Sydney drone show, “Written in the Stars,” will be the Southern Hemisphere’s largest, with over 1,000 drones and six performances.

After the success of the youngest-ever Vivid Sydney artist at Vivid Sydney 2022, the festival introduces Vivid Kids this year.

The new projection will see a group of young artists aged 7–14 working closely with content studio Spinifex to animate, bring to life and project their works onto one of Sydney’s oldest buildings.

Vivid Sydney festival locations include Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House, The Rocks, Walsh Bay, Barangaroo, King Street Wharf, Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, The Goods Line, Central Station, the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, Carriageworks, Taronga Zoo and more.

Tickets are on sale now.