Vivid Sydney 2026: Your Guide to the Epic Events Lighting Up Sydney this Winter

It may be getting cold outside but Vivid is set to be the hottest ticket in town, lighting up Sydney’s chilly nights with its epic line-up of events.

Running for 23 nights from Friday 22nd May to Saturday 13th June 2026, you can expect hundreds of amazing events across various locations. It’s undoubtedly the best thing to do this winter in Sydney, as we pay tribute to our iconic harbour city with events themed around light, music and ideas.

So, grab your winter woolies, pop on your comfiest walking shoes and start mapping out your Vivid Sydney 2026 game plan as we wrap up the very best things to do, see and eat at Vivid this year. 

Vivid Sydney 2026 Events: Most Unique

Vivid Sydney Harbour Cruises

The harbour is always beautiful, but during Vivid, it’s otherworldly. Needles to say that experiencing it from the water is in a completely different league to walking the foreshore. There’s a few different options to suit every kind of mood and taste, but some of our favourites include:

• The Tall Ship Dinner Cruise which has a lovely rustic feel and even the chance to help the captain steer the ship.
• The Private Cruise which holds up to 70 and allows you to book out the entire boat for a special occasion or just because you feel like it!
• The Penfolds 6 Course Degustation Dinner Cruise which will appeal to any foodie and feels truly indulgent.
• The BYO Catamaran Cruise with Snacks which allows you to bring any drinks of your choice and enjoy an Italian inspired antipasto spread onboard.

There’s no bad choice but don’t be too indecisive because these sell out fast!

Vivid Sydney Night Photography Workshop

This interactive night photography workshop takes you into the heart of the city with a lesson from an award-winning photographer, teaching you how to use your camera settings to capture incredible images of the Sydney skyline during Vivid. Class sizes are kept small so you receive personalised attention, and the workshop runs from the Opera House area through the best Vivid routes. It’s suitable for both beginners and more experienced photographers alike; just be sure to bring your camera, a tripod and a fully charged battery.

Spirits of The Rocks: Sydney’s Dark Past Tour

Everyone walks through The Rocks during Vivid, but not everyone knows about the laneways, tunnels and convict-era history hidden beneath the light installations… The Spirits of The Rocks: Sydney’s Dark Past Tour takes you through hidden laneways and historic routes across the city, uncovering each location’s spooky past, while the Vivid lights illuminate the streets around you. It’s Sydney’s oldest neighbourhood at its most atmospheric, and a really great activity for any history buffs who like something a little different.

Vivid Sydney 2026 Events: Free

The Vivid Light Walk

The Light Walk feels like the heart of the whole festival, and better yet, it costs nothing! The 6.5-kilometre continuous route winds through Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour with large-scale projections, interactive installations and digital art transforming some of Sydney’s most iconic landmarks.

Installations switch on from 6pm nightly, with the new Day-Light program also making some experiences accessible throughout the day at Circular Quay.

Sitchu Tip: Friday to Sunday draws the largest crowds, so mid-week visits are your best bet for a quieter experience.

Lighting of the Sails: Opera Mundi

Every night of the festival, renowned French multimedia artist Yann Nguema (known for his mesmerising projections onto significant buildings around the world) brings his unique fusion of science, music and computer programming to the Sydney Opera House sails. It’s part of his major new work titled, Opera Mundi.

Produced by his animation studio Anima Lux and scored by Romanian classical and electronic composer Mischa Blanos, the breathtaking original commission is a powerful ode to transformations in nature and in land, sea and sky, that inspired Opera House architect Jørn Utzon.

Vivid Sydney 2026: Vivid Minds

Vivid Minds is a new part of the Vivid lineup for 2026, and is where Art, Performance and Ideas intersect.

Academy Award-winning filmmaker Chloé Zhao, known for Nomadland and Hamnet, makes her first appearance in Australia as part of the program. She’ll be discussing her creative process, her collaborative approach to storytelling, and how she has maintained a singular voice while moving from independent filmmaking to global productions.

28th May, 7:30pm

Purchase tickets here

Loved this edit of must-attend events at Vivid Sydney 2026 and already planning your next adventure? Check out our round-up of the best things to do in Sydney on a rainy day. Or if the weather is playing ball, have a squiz at our round-up of Sydney’s best secret beaches.

Writer

Olivia Storrie

11 May 2026

Armed with an Arts Degree in History and Psychology from the University of Sydney, a natural curiosity and a ravenous appetite, Olivia is your go-to for restaurant recommendations across the city. She also has a keen interest in hiking, patting other people’s dogs, travelling, curating her maximalist home and reading every book she can get her hands on.