The Minns Labor Government is unveiling the biggest Vivid Sydney festival yet. The refreshed 23-day program signals the next step in the festival's evolution, as Sydney continues to cement its reputation as a global destination for immersive cultural experiences.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper today joined Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO and Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones at the State Library of NSW to officially launch an even bigger and bolder Vivid Sydney for 2026.
From 22 May to 13 June, Vivid Sydney will once again draw millions of domestic and international visitors, powering NSW's visitor and night-time economies and cementing Sydney's status as a global leader in immersive cultural experiences across Light, Music, Minds and Food.
Vivid Sydney plays a vital role in supporting hotels, restaurants, retailers and venues across the city, delivering a major boost to businesses during the traditionally quieter winter months.
For the first time, Vivid Sydney will come to life both night and day, transforming the city through art installations, talks, performances and events that redefine how visitors and locals experience the festival.
Cockle Bay will also host the return of Drone Shows as part of the Vivid Sydney program, back for the first time since 2024 with 22 shows across 11 nights, delivering the highest number of drone shows in the festival's history. The shows are aptly named Star-Bound.
A nightly laser show named Laser Lightfall will illuminate Cockle Bay, making it the most ambitious free outdoor laser show ever staged by Vivid Sydney, while the festival also presents its tallest structure and one of the longest installations to date.
More than 80 per cent of the festival program will be free to enjoy, making Australia's largest festival accessible to everyone.
The 6.5km Vivid Light Walk is free for all, and will feature 43 light installations in a streamlined, continuous format, delivering a more user-friendly and impactful visitor experience, stretching from Circular Quay and The Rocks through to Barangaroo and Darling Harbour.
The reimagined festival pillar - Vivid Minds - will pull back the curtain on creativity, welcoming some of the world's leading filmmakers, writers, architects, photographers, designers and technologists to share insights into their worlds. Headline voices include Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao, Pulitzer Prize-winning critic Jerry Saltz and bestselling author Roxanne Gay, to name just a few.
In 2026, Vivid Food becomes a powerful multicultural storyteller, celebrating the distinctive flavours and cultures of NSW. The beloved Vivid Fire Kitchen will debut at its new home on the Stargazer Lawn at Barangaroo Reserve, while at the heart of the new Regional Dinner Series is A Shared Table with Yotam Ottolenghi, where the world-renowned chef will bring together ingredients and flavours from across the state.
Vivid Music features a specially curated program of artists from around the globe, alongside interactive experiences and exclusive performances. Tumbalong Nights returns for 23 nights of free live music, showcasing local and international artists.
With a target of growing the state's visitor economy to $91 billion across the next decade, the NSW Government's Visitor Economy Strategy 2035 relies on major events like Vivid Sydney to drive economic, social and cultural impact for communities statewide.
Showcasing Sydney's creative pulse during winter, Vivid Sydney will also feature exclusive collaborations with cultural institutions, venues and arts companies including the State Library of NSW, Sydney Opera House, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Carriageworks, City Recital Hall, Australian Maritime Museum, The Mint and more.
Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by the NSW Government's tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
For more information on the Vivid Sydney program, go to www.vividsydney.com
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said:
"Vivid Sydney 2026 will be bigger and bolder than ever, transforming the city day and night with an incredible program of light, music, ideas and food."
"For the first time the festival will expand into daytime experiences, while the spectacular drone shows return to Cockle Bay with the highest number in the festival's history."
"With more than 80 per cent of the program free Vivid Sydney makes world-class cultural experiences accessible to everyone."
"Just as importantly, Vivid Sydney delivers a major boost to Sydney's visitor and night-time economies, supporting hotels, restaurants, retailers and venues across the city during the quieter winter months."
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO said:
"For 2026 we are expanding our program into new artforms including aerial performance, day-time public art, theatre and dance. These join our vast Vivid Light, Music, Minds and Food offerings to now make your Vivid Sydney one of the great comprehensive arts festivals of the world.
"This year we invite you to go beyond your previous expectations of Vivid Sydney into a bold new festival world designed to surprise, delight, challenge, entertain, and fill you with joy.
"Whether you encounter Vivid Sydney as a happy observer, an eager participant, or someone keen to engage with one of our dozens of interactive opportunities, we can promise you a festival of a lifetime."
Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones said:
"Today's program launch confirms we're creating a more dynamic experience for visitors while reinforcing Sydney's reputation as a creative, forward-looking and globally connected city.
"Vivid Sydney 2026 reflects Destination NSW's ambition and collaborative approach, bringing together leading artists, industry partners and local businesses to attract visitors, create jobs and advance the targets set out in the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035."
