“A dream is a wish your heart makes when you're fast asleep” - Cinderella
Yet in Sydney, dreams don’t wait for sleep — Vivid Sydney 2025 is where they come alive! The Southern Hemisphere's grandest festival of Light, Music, Ideas and Food is reimagining five city precincts, with the theme 'DREAM' at the heart of it all.
This year, expect dream-invoking talks, psychedelic Vivid Lights, free dance parties and some mouth-watering dining experiences. Want the ultimate Vivid Sydney experience? Skip the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds and join one of our Vivid Sydney Cruises.
So, if Vivid Sydney 2025 is already marked on your calendar (and it should be), here’s your ultimate guide to making the most of it.
When is Vivid Sydney 2025?
Vivid Sydney 2025 runs for three weeks from May 23 to June 14. The festival kicks off with First Light at Campbell’s Cove; then every night from 6:00pm to 11:00pm, Sydney turns into an open-air art extravaganza!
Where is Vivid Sydney 2025?
The magic unfolds across five precincts this year, including the long-awaited return of Martin Place to the lineup. Alongside it, you’ll find Vivid Zones at Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and Inner City.
These five zones are "its own hub of Light, Music, Ideas and Food", so don’t just stick to one — explore them all.
Getting Around The Festival
With road closures and limited parking in the city, it is best to explore the festival on foot. If you must drive, pre-book a parking spot in advance near Darling Harbour or Barangaroo. Use Sydney’s public transport network – train, bus, metro, light rail or ferry, if you’re not staying close to the CBD or Circular Quay.
Best Events to Look Forward To
Stranger Things: The Experience is finally making its debut in Australia! Step into Hawkins Lab, unleash your supernatural powers and take on the Upside Down in this thrilling immersive adventure!
Lighting of the Sails: Kiss of Light transforms the Opera House into a dazzling canvas celebrating David McDiarmid’s iconic 80s & 90s designs. For a dramatic perspective of this masterpiece, join a Vivid Sydney cruise!
Stem brings dreams to life in real-time, transforming your whispers, songs and talks into sprawling digital art. Watch as the dream-tree at Cadmans Cottage morphs with every sound you make.
Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House returns with a dream lineup of artists across various genres. Sigur Rós, ANOHNI and the Johnsons, Japanese Breakfast and Surprise Chef are some of the names that will bring the heat to Sydney's chilly winter evenings.
Vivid Sydney Dinners are getting bigger by the year! This year, global food icon Nigella Lawson curates three exclusive dinners at the new underground tunnel at Martin Place.
Colour The City with your very own art! That’s right! Unleash your creativity and have your artwork light up ASN Clock Tower! Each week, 150 unique pieces will be selected and showcased — download their colouring page template and submit!
For the budget-conscious, it was earlier announced that over 75% of the event is free and 100% of the light displays are open to explore at no cost! DREAM BIG mates!
Pro Tips for First-Timers
Vivid Sydney 2025 is set to transform the city into something straight out of a DREAM. Make the most of your festival experience and navigate smoothly with this guide! See you there!
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