Sydney Transformed: Witness Humanity in Light at Vivid Sydney 2024!

Vivid Sydney 2024 commenced its 14th year with a spectacular opening night, transforming Sydney’s glittering harbour, iconic landmarks, and cityscape into a showcase of creativity and innovation for the next 23 nights.

Running from Friday, 24 May to Saturday, 15 June, the Southern Hemisphere’s premier multi-artform festival features the world’s most innovative artists, culinary experts, contemporary musicians, and thought leaders, all contributing to the 2024 program themed “Humanity.”

The festival’s ‘Lights On’ moment captivated audiences with over 30 light installations and 3D projections along the renowned 8km Vivid Sydney Light Walk. A standout highlight was the Sydney Opera House, which featured the stunning new digital artwork, Lighting of the Sails: Echo (2024). This projection, created by multidisciplinary Australian artist and 2023 Archibald Prize Winner Julia Gutman, in collaboration with creative technologists Pleasant Company, transforms centuries-old fabric-making techniques into a modern animated masterpiece.

Vivid Light

As evening falls during Vivid Sydney, the city will come alive with light installations, 3D projection artworks, and ticketed events, inviting visitors to explore a vibrant world of color and light along the 8km Vivid Sydney Light Walk.

For this year’s festival, Vivid Sydney has partnered again with Cinewav, allowing visitors to listen to soundtracks of selected projection artworks from any point on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. From nearly anywhere in the city, a 40km stretch of rainbow lasers will be visible, emanating from the Sydney Tower. This installation, titled “Global Rainbow” by US artist Yvette Mattern, symbolizes hope.

Among the highlights:

• Gumscape with Road and Creatures: Beloved Australian artist Reg Mombassa reimagines the classic Aussie road trip on Customs House.
• Sea, Sand and Stars: Celebrated Chinese Australian artist Guan Wei transforms the Museum of Contemporary Art with his signature iconography.
• Nest: A large-scale circular projection by Leila Jeffreys and Melvin J. Montalban at the Stargazer Lawn in Barangaroo, showcasing the brolga’s mating dance and humanity’s connection with nature.
• Omnivisu: At Tumbalong Park, the Omnivisu viewfinder lets visitors’ eyes become windows to the soul of the city.
• Horizon: Spanish artists Playmodes present a hypnotic, full-body experience with trance-like sounds and strobing lights at Harbour Park, Barangaroo.
• PORTAL: A towering 15-meter installation by Lucid Creates at Barangaroo Headland, featuring a glowing display of light and atmospheric sounds.
• Love is in the Air: The Vivid Sydney 2024 drone show will feature over 700 drones across three nights, creating a spectacular display over the harbor.
• Dark Spectrum: A New Journey: Returning to the Wynyard Tunnels, this installation promises a fantastic journey of light and sound.
• Lightscape: The internationally acclaimed multi-sensory experience of light, color, and sound returns to The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.

Vivid Food

The Vivid Chef Series makes a grand return to renowned restaurants Fred’s, AALIA, The Porter House, Firedoor, and The Charles Brasserie & Bar. These venues will host exclusive culinary collaborations with Michelin-starred chefs such as Max Coen, Ivan Brehm, Selassie Atadika, Niklas Ekstedt, and Sally Abé.

Vivid Fire Kitchen will also be back in 2024, now located on The Goods Line. This event will feature an array of delectable offerings, curated drinks and cocktails from Archie Rose and Starward, and entertainment through cooking demonstrations by local and international pitmasters, including Shalamar Lane, Christine Manfield, Mindy Woods, Lennox Hastie, Jess Pryles, and others.

Making its debut at Vivid Sydney 2024, the Messina Milk Bar will be an illuminated pop-up offering a menu of gelato-infused chocolate bars, dixie cups, custom-made milkshakes, and spiders from the famed gelato innovators at Messina.

A Culinary Canvas by Danielle Alvarez will highlight women in Australian gastronomy, hosted at the exquisite Yallamundi Rooms at the Sydney Opera House.

Plates with Purpose will provide a taste of Ukraine at Kyiv Social, with head chef Borys Chernyk, who brings over 30 years of experience in Ukrainian fine dining.

Visitors can also explore the VividPlace Food Trail, featuring over 20 top chefs and restaurateurs, or indulge in a bespoke bar snack and cocktail experience at Aurorae at Bennelong Bar, which offers stunning views of the lights across Sydney Harbour.

Vivid Music

Vivid Music will light up the city with a diverse program of live performances, concerts, and DJ sets across various venues, offering entertainment for all ages.

A unique event exclusive to Vivid Sydney, Tekno Train by Paul Mac, will turn a Sydney Trains ride into a dynamic sensory experience with sound and light.

For the first time, the reimagined 100-year-old substation Machine Hall will open to the public during Vivid Sydney 2024, featuring performances from Deerhoof, Jen Cloher, CLUB4A, and No Fixed Address.

Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour will be the hub for free, contemporary music during the festival on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights. The 12-night Tumbalong Nights lineup includes artists like Christine Anu, Sneaky Sound System, Forest Claudette, Teenage Jones, tiffi, Budjerah, grentperez, and more. Saturday nights will also feature DJs and programming for kids, all free of charge.

Mary’s Underground will transform into an intimate cabaret lounge for the Vivid Sydney Supper Club, hosted by comedian Rhys Nicholson and ARIA award-winning musician Georgia Mooney. The club will feature live performances and appearances from MO’JU, Don’t Thank Me Spank Me, Montaigne, Brendan Maclean, Mark Humphries, and more each Friday and Saturday from 9pm to 1am.

At Carriageworks, a variety of multi-sensory experiences await, with an electrifying lineup including Electric Fields, Yves Tumor, Yasiin Bey, and many more.

Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House will present more than 40 Australian and international artists. The program, curated by Sydney Opera House’s Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall, includes performances by Arca, Air, Underworld, Fever Ray, Devonte Hynes, Snoh Alegra, Sky Ferreira, Thelma Plum, and many others.

Vivid Ideas

The Vivid Ideas program invites audiences to explore new perspectives through theatre, installations, and engaging discussions that delve into themes of humanity, community, authenticity, respect, love, and lessons from the natural world.

One highlight is Champions of Change, featuring Tony Gustavsson, head coach of the CommBank Matildas, and Mackenzie Arnold, celebrated CommBank Matildas goalkeeper and captain of West Ham United. They will engage in an insightful conversation at Sydney Town Hall, facilitated by Matildas alumni and journalist Grace Gill.

Amy Poehler, the Golden Globe® and Emmy Award®-winning actress and comedian, will participate in a special In Conversation Ideas event at the Sydney Opera House. This event includes an exclusive preview of Disney and Pixar’s “Inside Out 2.”

After The Fact offers opportunities for free weeknight discussions on current affairs, featuring writers, journalists, former politicians, social commentators, artists, and academics. Notable participants include Annabel Crabb, Rhoda Roberts AO, Kim Williams AM, Lucy Turnbull AO, and Charles Firth.

Unique immersive experiences such as A THOUSAND WAYS: An Encounter, Window Dressing, and Shifting Perspectives will provide moments for connecting with strangers and self-reflection.

The Golden Age of Humanity will present nine selected films over nine nights at Surry Hills’ Golden Age Cinema. Curated by prominent Australians like Amar Singh, Saxon Mullins, Kylie Kwong AM, Kate McClymont AM, and Craig Foster AM, this series celebrates diverse perspectives and storytelling.

Vivid Sydney, the premier multi-artform festival in the Southern Hemisphere, turns Sydney into a lively center of creativity, innovation, and community connection. For 23 nights, the festival features light installations, music, ideas, and culinary experiences that captivate a global audience and promote cultural exchange. The 2024 theme, “Humanity,” encourages reflection and engagement, drawing visitors and boosting economic growth.