Vibrant Sydney 2026 program unveiled | News
The 23-day program runs from Friday 22 May to Saturday 13 June and brings together the full breadth of the city’s creative identity through Vivid Light, Vivid Music, Vivid Minds and Vivid Food. More than 80 percent of the festival remains free, including the entire Vivid Light Walk, a continuous 4-mile journey featuring more than 43 installations and projections created by acclaimed local and international artists.
Minister for Employment and Tourism Steve Kamper said Vivid Sydney will be bigger and better than ever before.
“No other city in the world can host Vivid, because no other city in the world has what Sydney has to offer. Vivid Sydney 2026 will redefine the way we experience our city and deliver a bigger and more powerful program of events that will come alive day and night.
“With more than 80 percent of the program now free to attend, Vivid Sydney is focused on making leading cultural experiences accessible to everyone. Whether it’s the full 6.5km Vivid Light Walk, free live music at Tumbalong Nights or dynamic daytime programming, this year’s festival will bring color and creativity to the city while providing a significant boost to local businesses.”
Vivid Sydney 2026 marks Brett Sheehy AO’s first year as festival director; a creative homecoming after twenty years of leading festivals and arts companies across Australia.
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO said this year’s program represents a bold new horizon for the event.
“For 2026, we are expanding our program into new art forms including aerial performances, daytime public art, theater and dance. These join our extensive offering of Vivid Minds, Light, Music and Food to make Vivid Sydney now one of the largest comprehensive arts festivals in the world.
“This year we invite you to go beyond your previous expectations of Vivid Sydney to a bold new festival designed to delight, delight, challenge, entertain and fill you with joy.
“Whether you encounter Vivid Sydney as a happy observer, an enthusiastic participant or someone eager to take part in one of our dozens of interactive features, we can promise you a festival of a lifetime,” said Mr Sheehy.
Vibrant Sydney Partners
Kia will return as a Major Partner for the fifth consecutive year in 2026, with a new installation along the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. Vivid Sydney’s supporting partners include City of Sydney, Event Engineering, Kennards Hire, Mandylights, The PA People, Technical Direction Company and Transdev.
Vivid Sydney program partners include Carriageworks, the Sydney Opera House and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Vivid Sydney’s venue partners include the Australian Maritime Museum, Cockle Bay Wharf, Placemaking NSW, Port Authority of New South Wales and State Library of New South Wales.
Tickets for Vivid Sydney are on sale now. For more information and a full list of events, visit Vividsydney.com
