Vivid Sydney
22
May
13
Jun
A Celebration of Creativity

Vivid Sydney

Vivid Sydney will illuminate Darling Harbour with art, light, creativity and exploration.
When
Friday,
22 May 2026
Saturday,
13 Jun 2026

Get ready for the glow-up. For Vivid Sydney 2026, Darling Harbour is turning into a vibrant electtic playground. We’re talking the biggest free laser show Australia has ever seen - Cockle Bay ignites with sweeping beams of light choreographed to music, illuminating the water in dazzling motion.

The Vivid Light Walk isn't just a stroll; it’s an invitation to get lost in imagination. Whether you’re diving into interactive tech or snapping the perfect shot against a backdrop of neon projections, this is where the festival shines brightest. Don’t just watch the magic - walk right into it.

Star-Bound drone show

Lighting up the night skies in a show-stopping blockbuster, the popular Vivid Sydney Drone Show returns with 22 shows across 11 nights at in its new home in Darling Harbour.
Glittering above the waters of Cockle Bay, this technological feat is an ode to universal connection as 1000 drones work as one to showcase the strange, beautiful ways that patterns repeat across plants, animals and our solar system.

Hypnotic and dazzling, these ‘stars’ in the sky soon flock together in unison like a murmuration – the astonishing sight where thousands of starlings fly through the sky like a shape-shifter. But that’s just the beginning, as they shift into gigantic waves, growing Fibonacci shells and nebulas, in an astonishing journey across galaxies in-sync with a stirring orchestral score with pulsating electronica by acclaimed Australian composer Antony Partos.

Every Sunday to Wednesday night during Vivid Sydney at 7.30pm and 9.30pm, except for Sunday 7 June.
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Vivid Light Walk

Tumbalong Park
Afterimage: A Projection Mapping Mural
Street art and projection collide in this 3D-animated graffiti mural on a stack of shipping containers — an ode to Cincinnati’s vibrant graffiti scene and its preferred canvas. Afterimage: A Projection Mapping Mural is a gorgeous, gritty mural by day and a living, breathing artwork at night.
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Cockle Bay
Laser Lightfall
Choreographed light transforms the sky anew with Vivid Sydney’s first outdoor laser show, free each night over Cockle Bay. In-sync to a propulsive score, watch lasers dance across the night sky and seas, building to an explosive finale of pure energy, colour and joy.
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Chinese Garden Forecourt
Continuum
Reality’s redesigned with Contiuum, a series of 25 monolithic mirrored columns bouncing back-and-forth each other’s reflections, creating a Sydney that shifts as you walk through. Inviting play, these motion-sensor-equipped mirrors emit ripples of light and sound as you approach.
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Tumbalong Reflection Ponds
Lumiverse Transporter
Enter the Lumiverse, an enclave of towering electronic ‘trees’ created with sixteen radiant columns. Standing 4.8 metres tall, each glows and hums with the vibrant bird-sounds, experimental electronica and swirling colours of an enticing, otherworldly forest. Lose yourself in this otherworld of light, transforming the everyday space of Tumbalong Boulevard.
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Cockle Bay Wharf
Musical Mind
Unleash your inner maestro or just jam it out in this melodic playground for all ages, no matter your musical background. Glowing with possibility, this world of pipes, bulbs, and buttons across three interactive panels is intuitive from the very first touch. It’s proof we all have a song inside us.
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Australia National Maritime Museum rooftop
Mythical Mashup: Cosmic Chase
’80s sci-fi, 8-bit video game icons and Indigenous legends meet in Cosmic Chase, an animated adventure projected onto the Australian National Maritime Museum’s rooftop.
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Australia National Maritime Museum (waterfront and lighthouse)
Mythical Mashup: Floating Realm
Monumental tentacles, fishermen and soy sauce fish bottles clash in Floating Realm, three irreverent LED sculptures rising from the seas in front of the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM).
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Tumbalong Park
Pendulum
What’s more mesmerising than a Newton’s Pendulum – you know, those office toys where five spheres, suspended in a line, knock each other back and forth? What about a supersized version with a whole lot of energy, light and sound waiting to be set off? Ready for a show? Give Pendulum a push. This work was first commissioned by River of Light, Liverpool.
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IMAX Forecourt
Piano Walk
Step, skip and snake across Piano Walk — an S-shaped supersized set of ivories that sings out in song and colour with every press! Each five minutes, everyone’s movements create a one-of-a-kind composition, complete with a dazzling dance of light across the keys. This work was first commissioned by River of Light, Liverpool.
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Pier St Underpass
The Daydream Machine
Powered by an AI “dreamer”, this Machine creates surreal portraits of anyone who stands in front of it, just by analysing their movements. Strange and continually shifting, these daydreams are inspired by your presence. Strike a pose, bust a move or stand super still, and see where the Machine takes you next.
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Tumbalong Park
Voxelevated
Enter the AI mainframe with Voxelevated, an archway of light that’s equal parts awe-inspiring and ominous. Soak in the endless information that shines down from this glowing grid with floating LED cubes (or voxels, the 3D equivalent of pixels), as images move between AI’s dystopic and utopic potential in-sync with a soundtrack reminiscent of a glitchy hymn.
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Tumbalong Nights

Crowd favourite Tumbalong Nights returns with 23 evenings of free live music and DJs, transforming Tumbalong Park into Sydney’s ultimate open-air winter music hub. This year’s series spans pop, R&B, K-pop and more.

Thursday nights spotlight rising Australian talent, while weekends turn up the heat with globally recognised acts.

Families can also enjoy free kids’ shows every Saturday from 5pm, before the mainstage comes alive with headline sets from 7.30pm.

Tumbalong Kids

Who said the adults should have all the fun? Round up the little ones and start your Light Walk journey in Tumbalong Park at 5pm each Saturday during the festival as the stage lights up with FREE children’s acts ahead of a night of live music.

Vivid Minds
Australian National Maritime Museum
Wonderverse
Explore a universe of light in this immersive and interactive adventure for young children and their families across worlds of colour, imagination and light. Created by acclaimed Australian children’s theatre company Patch Theatre, Wonderverse blends theatre, spectacle and play to create an awe-inspiring experience with engaging guides, interactive light design and an epic soundtrack.
  • Wednesday - Sunday through festival
  • $25
Image credit: MorganSette
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Australian National Maritime Museum
Sea Gathering: Myth & Modernity
Join the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM) for a lively Sea Gathering – a night of hands-on workshops, performances, talks and art, inspired by the work of Torres Strait artist Brian Robinson.
  • Tuesday 2 June
  • FREE
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Australian National Maritime Museum
Beyond the Bleach

The Great Barrier Reef’s demise is widely seen as a foregone conclusion – but is that framing limiting our imagination of what comes next? Explore beyond the bleach at the Australian National Maritime Museum (ANMM), in an invigorating panel and mixer with marine biologist Emma Camp, Torres Strait artist Brian Robinson and moderator Emily Jateff.

  • Wednesday 10 June
  • $30
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Best restaurants & bars with Vivid Sydney views

Looking for things to do in Sydney? Enjoying a few drinks and soaking in the Vivid views at one of Darling Harbour’s best cocktail bars should be top of your list! To get your evening started we’ve concocted a list of the best restaurants and cocktail bars with stunning views of the show in Darling Harbour.

Where To Stay

Plan ahead for Vivid Sydney and stay at the heart of it in Darling Harbour! Book your luxury or budget-friendly accommodation today & enjoy easy access to light-filled attractions, family-friendly entertainment, waterfront dining, & vibrant nightlife. Discover the best places to stay in Darling Harbour during Vivid Sydney & make memories that will last a lifetime.
Sofitel Sydney Darling Harbour
French sophistication meets Aussie culture in this luxury Sydney hotel by Sofitel.
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Novotel Sydney Darling Square
Want to stay in luxury near all the action? Novotel Sydney Darling Square is the place for you.
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Crowne Plaza Sydney Darling Harbour
Sydney's newest upscale hotel in the heart of the city and only a short walk to both the Darling Harbour precinct and CBD.
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Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour
Experience elevated comfort and city skyline views at Novotel Sydney on Darling Harbour
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Hotel Kith
Welcome to Kith Hotel Darling Harbour. Your home away from home. Stay, Work, Play – All in a Day at Kith Hotel.
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THE HOTEL WOOLSTORE 1888 – Handwritten Hotel Collection
Edgy design and modern luxury inside a historic character building.
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PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney
Located on the city-side of Darling Harbour, the PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney offers premium accommodation for both work and play.
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Vibe Hotel Darling Harbour
This Darling Harbour hotel boasts a central location, trendy Manhattan-inspired decor and a rooftop bar.
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Getting to Vivid Sydney

Travelling to Darling Harbour is easy, it’s leaving that’s hard! Discover our guide navigating you to Darling Harbour with ease. We'll cover all your travel needs, from zipping in on public transport to exploring with little ones in tow. Plus, we'll share hot tips to stay ahead of the crowd and make your Vivid Sydney experience truly unforgettable!

How To Get To Vivid Sydney

See more of Vivid Sydney

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