Vivid Sydney opens with daytime art installations on 22 May for the first time in its 16-year history. The festival that built its reputation on nighttime light spectacles now welcomes families, older travellers, and accessibility-focused visitors during daylight hours.
The festival runs until 13 June across five zones spanning from Circular Quay to Carriageworks. Over 80 percent of the program remains free, including the 6.5-kilometre Vivid Light Walk featuring 43 installations.
Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO said the expansion addresses audiences beyond night-owl crowds.
“For 2026 we are expanding our program into new artforms including aerial performance, daytime public art, theatre and dance,” Sheehy said.
The shift includes Wonderverse, an immersive theatre experience at the Maritime Museum designed for ages four to 10. Sessions run daily from 10am to 12pm on selected dates, then 5pm to 9pm Wednesday through Sunday. Tickets cost $25 for the 40-minute experience.
Cristal Palace brings free 70-minute aerial circus performances to the Opera House Forecourt over the June long weekend. Free Saturday concerts for families start at 5pm each week at Tumbalong Park.
The Light Walk is now fully stroller-accessible from 6pm.
Star-Bound drone shows return with 22 performances across 11 nights — the highest number in festival history. The shows run Sunday through Wednesday at 7.30pm and 9.30pm after being cancelled in 2025 due to safety concerns.
The festival now spreads deliberately across five zones rather than concentrating in one precinct. Visitors can explore Circular Quay and The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Barangaroo, Sydney CBD, and the Opera House-Carriageworks corridor as separate experiences.
Jobs and Tourism Minister Steve Kamper emphasised the family focus.
“Vivid Sydney offers families the chance to enjoy a fun night out in the city, with more than 80 per cent of the program free to enjoy,” Kamper said.
The 2026 program reflects strategic goals within the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035, which aims to grow the state’s visitor economy to $91 billion over the next decade. Vivid drew a record 3.48 million visitors in 2023.
The festival’s Regional Dinner Series pairs regional NSW chefs with Sydney restaurants, while Yotam Ottolenghi headlines a shared table event. The programming signals a deliberate celebration of NSW produce beyond Sydney’s cosmopolitan dining scene.
Accommodation prices surge during Vivid due to consistent high demand. Major music acts including Mitski’s four Opera House shows sold out by mid-May, with other headliners at Carriageworks expected to reach capacity quickly.
Quick Facts
Vivid Sydney
Australia’s largest annual festival of light, music, ideas and food. Founded in 2009 as Smart Light Sydney and rebranded in 2010, it transforms Sydney’s iconic landmarks and harbourfront precincts over 23 nights each winter. In 2026, it expands into daytime programming for the first time, featuring over 80% free content across five zones.
Destination NSW
NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency that owns, manages and produces Vivid Sydney. Works to grow the state’s visitor economy and position NSW as a global leader in creative and cultural experiences.
Sydney Opera House
Iconic 1973 UNESCO World Heritage building and cultural venue. In 2026 Vivid Sydney, the sails are the canvas for ‘Opera Mundi,’ a major projection by French artist Yann Nguema exploring elemental forces of nature and the architecture’s inspiration.