Vivid Sydney 2024: Everything you need to know
It's on Sydney is alight again with the return of the popular Vivid Sydney festival.
And while the dazzling light installations are the most renowned part of the winter event, music and food and what the organisers call "ideas" also make up the program.
NEWS: Views of Global Rainbow light installation from Sydney Tower Eye's external Observation Deck. May 27th, 2024. Photo: Wolter Peeters, The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine
Organisers are hoping it will be even bigger than last year, when a record 3.48 million people attended from across Australia and even overseas.
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The highlight is going to be a 40km stretch of rainbow lasers emanating from the Sydney Tower, a universal symbol of hope by US artist Yvette Mattern. Supplied
The theme for 2024 is 'humanity,' and the city will be transformed into "a dynamic open-air art gallery."
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said: "Vivid Sydney 2024 is exploring what makes us uniquely human, with a diverse program designed to foster connections, spark imagination and showcase the multitude of ways creativity enriches our lives."
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When is Vivid Sydney 2024 dates
This year it is on from May 24 to June 15 - so you have 23 nights to get involved.
Vivid Sydney 2024 Events
There are key highlights everyone will want to see, all on the themes of Vivid Light, Vivid Music, Vivid Ideas and Vivid Food, across Sydney.
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2023 Archibald Prize winner, Julia Gutman will adorn the Sydney Opera House sails for an installation called the Lighting of the Sails: Echo (2024). Supplied
Vivid Light will dazzle with large-scale projections, immersive experiences and interactive artworks.
The highlight is the 40km stretch of rainbow lasers emanating from the Sydney Tower, a universal symbol of hope by US artist Yvette Mattern.
Meanwhile, 2023 Archibald Prize winner, Julia Gutman's art adorns the Sydney Opera House sails for an installation called the Lighting of the Sails: Echo (2024).
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Plus one of Australia's most-beloved artists, Reg Mombassa will reimagine the classic Aussie road trip in a take over of Customs House.
The iconic building will be transformed with retro-futuristic robots, one-eyed koalas and other strange creatures.
Sydney's skyline will transform for Our Connected City, uniting the city with kaleidoscopic colour and sophisticated lighting design across Sydney Harbour Bridge and through The Rocks, Circular Quay, the Sydney Opera House.
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The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney is alive for Lightscape, a multisensory journey of light, colour and sound, showcasing breathtaking works from acclaimed international and local artists.
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The epic drone show has also returned.
Love Is In The Air will dazzle Vivid Sydney on June 8, 9 and 15.
Plus, Vivid Music will "ignite" the city with a curated program of live performances, concerts and DJ sets across diverse venues, organisers say.
That includes Tumbalong Nights, 12 nights of free performances in Tumbalong Park at Darling Harbour.
French cult favourites Air will also celebrate their critically acclaimed debut album Moon Safari with an Opera House show, with many other musical acts heading to perform in Sydney.
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Vivid Sydney's brand-new pillar – Vivid Food. Daniel Boud
You can even singalong to your musical favourites at Club Broadway,
Vivid Ideas, meanwhile, will offer new ways experience ideas, with theatre, installations and discussions.
Highlights include After The Fact, a free, nightly deep-dive into current affairs and the news cycle featuring a rotating panel of high-profile change-makers.
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Vivid Fire Kitchen brings together Sydney's hottest dining concepts with local and internationally-acclaimed pitmasters and a collection of the finest NSW producers, curated drinks and fire-inspired cocktails. Destination NSW
The critically acclaimed A Thousand Ways: An Encounter from New York company 600 Highwaymen, puts festival-goers at the centre of a private 'performance'.
Vivid Fire Kitchen returns at The Goods Line near central Station every night of the festival for a celebration of the barbecue.
Plus you can try food from over 20 top chefs and restaurateurs at the Vivid Place Food Trail in Sydney Place and Bulletin Place laneways.
What is Dark Spectrum
One of the most exciting events on the bill is Dark Spectrum: A New Journey.
Visitors head into a 1km trail in the abandoned railway tunnels under Sydney's Wynyard Station to experience state-of-the-art lighting, laser and video effects.
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One of the most exciting events on the bill is Dark Spectrum: A New Journey. Supplied
A spectacle of illumination, the journey takes visitors through 300 rhythmic lasers and strobe lights, 500 hanging handmade lanterns, 250 search lights and 700 illuminated arrows within an intricate maze.
Vivid Sydney 2024 tickets / costs
Many events are free but others, such as Dark Spectrum: A New Journey and many of the concerts and shows, you need to pay for.
Get the details here.
