Sydney’s annual light festival Vivid has already begun lighting up the city through creative and mind-blowing light installations and musical performances, from some of the most innovative artists, thinkers and musicians.
From 6-11pm nightly, as the sun goes down, the city comes alive, from the Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Central Station, Walsh Bay and more!
Running until Saturday 18 June, we think it’s definitely worth a trip to Sydney to see what all the fuss is about and experience the soul of the city in a landscape of technicolour.
Here are the must-see light installation and musical performances that you’ll want to hit off when you explore Vivid.
LIGHT
Lighting of the Sails – Sydney Opera House
Each year, an internationally renowned artist is commissioned to create an original artwork for projection onto the Sydney Opera House that captures the spirit of the iconic landmark.
Known as Lighting of the Sails, this year’s projection is a Martumili collective painting Yarrkalpa, a visually striking and complex painting with vibrant colour and energy, depicting the Parnngurr community and surrounding landscape. It represents an intimate connection with country, cataloguing seasons, traditional burning practices and regrowth, hunting and resources, as well as abstracted ancestral stories.
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Macula – Darling Harbour
Wander through a spiralling tunnel of bamboo at Macula in Darling Harbour and see how each pole is precisely mapped with kaleidoscopic, geometric patterns that are synced to a layered organic soundtrack of the Australian bush.
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Vivid Reflections – Central Station
Experience a magical and experimental journey of the city through an interactive projection experience at Vivid Reflections. Lighting up Central Station, the projection experience uses motion capture technology to turn your movements into animation action, then beams them onto the landmark clock tower.
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House of Bombay bar – Darling Quarter
Partnering with Vivid Sydney, Bombay Sapphire is inviting you to stir your creativity with an incredible sensory experience alongside a creative cocktail offering. With happy hour $10 cocktails available from 5-6pm every night, sample the ‘Vivid Spritz’ or warm up to the ‘Hot Gin Toddy’. Food is also available to order to your table from the Darling Quarter street food vendors, including a full street food degustation.
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Wild lights at Taronga – Taronga Zoo
Once again, Taronga Zoo will be glowing with a vibrant artistic animal adventure after dark. A larger-than-life brilliance of biodiversity, creatures from land, sky and sea will emerge through a rainbow of colour.
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MUSIC
Heaps of Gay Qweens at Luna Park – Luna Park
Heaps Gay are reimagining their annual Qweens’ Ball with a carnival of extravagant fun at Luna Park. Bring your more elaborate costume and enjoy a huge dress-up ball full of debauchery and twisted surprises with a magical live performance party.
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Atomic Bar and DJ Sets – Carriageworks
Local, award-winning brewpub Atomic will be serving hopped-up beers and Altos tequila-based cocktails in a pop-up bar during the Carraigeworks’ live music program. Plating up teriyaki-glazed pork bao buns, turmeric and kaffir lime-infused sausage rolls, spicy fries and more, the entire precinct will transform into an immersive feast for the senses. A light installation, live bands, performance art and a rotating line-up of local DJs will also perform across the six epic nights.
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Tumbalong Nights – Tumbalong Park
This year Vivid is presenting a curated contemporary music program at Tumbalong Park featuring some of Australia’s most exciting artists alongside Sydney’s hottest emerging acts.
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Analogue Discogue Listening Bar – York Lane
Vivid welcomes you to a hi-fi dance party amplified through a vintage sound system of vinyl DJ sets. Inside a cosy, pop-up venue at York Lane in the style of the slow listening and audiophile bars found in Tokyo and London, rediscover how good music can be if top-quality sound equipment is at the forefront.
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Ministry of Sound: Testament 2022 – The Rocks
Celebrate Ministry of Sound’s three decades at the forefront of clubbing and dance music culture. Over three nights, dive deep into the history of dance music with over 70 DJs playing the best of the 90s, 00s and now, in a multi-room immersive experience.
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Want to create your own personalised itinerary? Head to Vivid Sydney to check out all there is to see at this year’s festival.
