Travis De Vries spent years amplifying First Nations voices through his creative studio Awesome Black. Now he’s bringing that vision to 25 million festival-goers as Vivid Sydney’s first dedicated First Nations Curatorial Advisor.
Vivid Sydney 2026 runs from 22 May to 13 June with expanded First Nations programming across all four festival pillars. Light, Music, Minds and Food now feature Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander artists as headliners rather than additions.
The programming includes King Stingray’s Sydney Opera House Concert Hall debut, immersive tabletop roleplaying experience Dungeons & Damper, and the free Awesome Black Block Party. Over 80 per cent of events remain free to attend.
De Vries described his appointment as “a huge honour” and noted the global reach of the platform. “The global scale of Vivid Sydney makes it a vital platform for Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander voices, where they can step into the spotlight,” he said.
New experiences blend traditional storytelling with contemporary formats. Dungeons & Damper, created by Wonnarua sisters Maddison and George Coles, uses tabletop roleplaying to address environmental issues through Indigenous perspectives in the UTS Data Arena’s immersive technology space.
Light installations include Darrell Sibosado’s Manawan at Circular Quay and Mark Olive’s Saltbush and Starlight dining experience. The Awesome Black Block Party offers all-ages community celebration distinct from ticketed concert formats.
George Coles expressed enthusiasm about institutional support for Indigenous stories. “It means the world to us for Vivid to be so passionate in supporting First Nations stories,” she said.
The festival marks its first expansion into daytime programming while maintaining signature nighttime displays. De Vries hopes attendees will “make friends with someone they haven’t met before and walk away from the festival with a new experience and new friends.”
Dungeons & Damper sessions run 30-31 May with free tickets required for groups of 10. King Stingray’s Concert Hall performance follows their recent ARIA Award recognition and represents their Opera House debut.
Quick Facts
Awesome Black
A creative consultancy and studio founded by Gamilaroi and Dharug man Travis De Vries in 2020. The organisation is dedicated to reshaping contemporary culture through a First Nations lens, amplifying Indigenous voices across audio, visual storytelling, and curatorial practice.
Destination NSW
New South Wales’ tourism and major events agency that manages Vivid Sydney. The organisation coordinates the festival’s programming across Light, Music, Minds and Food pillars and works with cultural institutions across Sydney.
University of Technology Sydney
A public research university hosting the UTS Data Arena, where the Dungeons & Damper experience will take place. The Data Arena is an immersive 360-degree visualization facility used for interactive experiences and data visualization.