Vivid Sydney 2026 runs for 23 days starting 22 May, but this year families won’t need to wait until dark. For the first time in the festival’s 16-year history, art installations, performances and interactive experiences will come alive during daylight hours.
More than 80 per cent of the program remains free, but new daytime offerings mean parents can explore creativity and interactive installations with children well before the famous lights switch on at dusk.
“Families are at the heart of our festival and play an important role when shaping the program,” Sheehy said. “This year, we have curated a number of wonderful family friendly experiences – many of which are free to enjoy, and are focused on imagination, creativity and play.”
The standout ticketed experience for younger children is Wonderverse, created by Australian children’s theatre company Patch Theatre. Running Wednesday to Sunday from 21 May to 13 June at the Maritime Museum’s Lighthouse Gallery, the 40-minute immersive theatre experience combines light, sound and interactive play for ages 4–10. Sessions run every 20 minutes from 10am–12pm on selected dates and 5pm–9pm.
Tumbalong Kids takes over Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour every Saturday at 5pm during Vivid. Former Play School host Jay Laga’aia joins the Mik Maks, Benny Time and Angie Who for performances built around singing, dancing and energetic silliness designed specifically for young audiences.
The free Light Walk has been redesigned as a single 6.5km route that is fully pram accessible. It begins at 6pm each night and connects three main precincts without the disconnected stops that frustrated families in previous years.
Cristal Palace arrives direct from France as a free, open-air spectacle at the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. The 70-minute production features an overhead chandelier installation with musicians performing high above the audience, combining aerial acrobatics, dance and circus performance.
Star-Bound, the Vivid Sydney Drone Show, expands to its longest season yet with 22 shows across 12 nights in its new home in Darling Harbour. The shows run every Sunday to Wednesday night through the festival.
The expansion into daytime programming reflects growing demand to make Vivid accessible to families beyond evening hours. The family focus serves both accessibility goals and economic strategy, targeting new visitor demographics during Sydney’s winter months.
Vivid Fire Kitchen returns at Barangaroo Reserve with chefs cooking over open flames and food demonstrations. The interactive culinary experience offers free entry and hands-on elements designed to engage children alongside the cooking displays.
The festival runs until 13 June 2026, building on 2023’s record attendance of 3.48 million visitors to what organisers call the world’s largest festival of Light, Music, Minds and Food.
Quick Facts
Vivid Sydney
Australia’s largest festival of Light, Music, Minds and Food, held annually in May–June over 23 nights. Vivid Sydney transforms Sydney Harbour precincts with large-scale light installations, live music performances, culinary events and ideas talks. In 2023, it attracted 3.48 million visitors.
Destination NSW
The NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency. Destination NSW owns, manages and produces Vivid Sydney and is responsible for driving the state’s visitor economy strategy targeting $91 billion by 2035.
Brett Sheehy AO
Vivid Sydney Festival Director since 2026. Sheehy brings two decades of experience leading major festivals and arts companies across Australia and is reimagining Vivid as a comprehensive multi-art festival with daytime programming and expanded family offerings.