Header: Courtesy of Destination NSW
The Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival Vivid Sydney will run from Friday, May 24 to Saturday, June 15, featuring the world’s most innovative artists, culinary talent, contemporary musicians, and thought leaders as part of its 2024 programme under the theme of humanity.
The “Lights On” moment wowed onlookers with over 30 light installations and 3D projections across the famed 8-kilometre Vivid Sydney Light Walk, highlighted by the Sydney Opera House featuring the breathtaking new digital artwork, Lighting of the Sails: Echo (2024). Created by multidisciplinary Australian artist and 2023 Archibald Prize Winner Julia Gutman with creative technologists Pleasant Company, the projection on the Sydney Opera House Sails digitises centuries-old fabric-making techniques into an animated, modern epic.
“It is such a privilege and honour to direct this year’s programme, and we’re so excited to bring festival-goers a calibre of Australian and international talent that not only maintains the standard we’ve set in previous years but takes the programme to new heights.”
Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Gill Minervini
Vivid Sydney Highlights
VIVID LIGHT. As the sun goes down each evening during Vivid Sydney, the city will transform with light installations, 3D projection artworks, and ticketed events for visitors to immerse themselves in a new world of colour and light across the 8-kilometre Vivid Sydney Light Walk.
- Vivid Sydney has again partnered with Cinewav, enabling visitors to listen to the soundtracks to select projection artworks wherever they are on the Vivid Sydney Light Walk.
- From almost anywhere in the city, visitors will witness a 40-kilometre stretch of rainbow lasers emanating from the Sydney Tower, a universal symbol of hope by US artist Yvette Mattern titled Global Rainbow.
- One of Australia’s most-beloved artists, Reg Mombassa, will reimagine the classic Aussie road trip on Customs House for Gumscape with Road and Creatures.
- Celebrated Chinese Australian artist Guan Wei’s signature iconography will transform the Museum of Contemporary Art for Sea, Sand, and Stars.
- Nest, a collaboration between Leila Jeffreys and Melvin J. Montalban, features a large-scale circular projection at the Stargazer Lawn in Barangaroo, spotlighting the ritualistic mating dance of the brolga and humanity’s connection with nature.
- Step up to the Omnivisu viewfinder in Tumbalong Park, and let your eyes become the literal windows to our city’s soul.
- Horizon from Spanish artist Playmodes is a hypnotic, full-body experience complete with trance-like sounds and strobing lights at Harbour Park, Barangaroo.
- Towering over 15 metres tall, PORTAL from Lucid Creates frames Barangaroo Headland with a glowing display of light and atmospheric sounds.
- The Vivid Sydney 2024 drone show Love is in the Air will feature more than 700 drones over three separate nights for another fan-favourite Vivid Sydney spectacle over the harbour.
- Dark Spectrum: A New Journey returns to the Wynyard Tunnels in new and fantastic ways to take us on a journey of light and sound.
- The internationally acclaimed multi-sensory experience of light, colour, and sound, Lightscape, returns to The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney.
“Since 2009, Vivid Sydney has been a global platform showcasing our vibrant culture, bustling nightlife, and creative talents.”
Minister for the Arts, Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy, and Minister for Jobs and Tourism, John Graham
VIVID MUSIC. Vivid Music will ignite the city with a curated programme of live performances, concerts, and DJ sets across diverse venues, with something for the whole family, at any age.
- Exclusive to Vivid Sydney, Tekno Train by Paul Mac is a one-of-a-kind event that will transform a Sydney Trains ride into a moving, sensory sound and light experience.
- The reimagined 100-year-old substation Machine Hall will be open to the public for the very first time during Vivid Sydney 2024, pulsating with performances from Deerhoof, Jen Cloher, CLUB4A, and No Fixed Address.
- On Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights of the festival, Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour will become the Vivid Sydney go-to for free and contemporary music, right in the heart of the Light Walk for Tumbalong Nights. The 12-night line-up features artists such as Christine Anu, Sneaky Sound System, Forest Claudette, Teenage Jones, tiffi, Budjerah, grentperez, and more, plus DJs and kids programming on Saturday nights, all free of charge.
- Comedy darling Rhys Nicholson and ARIA award-winning musician Georgia Mooney will transform Mary’s Underground into an intimate cabaret lounge for the Vivid Sydney Supper Club, featuring 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 9 p.m. to 1 a.m.
- Diverse and multi-sensory experiences await at Carriageworks, with an electrifying line-up including Electric Fields, Yves Tumor, Yasiin Bey, and many more.
- The Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House line-up features more than 40 Australian and international artists. Arca, Air, Underworld, Fever Ray, Devonte Hynes, Snoh Alegra, Sky Ferreira, Thelma Plum and many more will take to the stages of the world-famous building in a programme curated by Sydney Opera House’s Head of Contemporary Music, Ben Marshall.
VIVID IDEAS. The Vivid Ideas programme sparks curiosity with new ways to experience ideas through the exploration of humanity, community, authenticity, respect, love, and lessons learned from the natural world—with theatre, installations, and engaging discussions just the beginning.
- From the football team that united Australia in 2023, Tony Gustavsson, head coach of the CommBank Matildas, and Mackenzie Arnold, celebrated CommBank Matildas goalkeeper and captain of West Ham United, will be hosted in an insightful conversation, Champions of Change, facilitated by Matildas alumni and now journalist Grace Gill at Sydney Town Hall.
- Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian Amy Poehler will step inside the Sydney Opera House for a special and unmissable In Conversation Ideas event and a special first look at Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2.
- After The Fact will offer opportunities to engage in free weeknight discussions on current affairs with writers, journalists, ex-politicians, social commentators, artists, and academics, including Annabel Crabb, Rhoda Roberts AO, Kim Williams AM, Lucy Turnbull AO, Charles Firth, and more.
- Unique experiences, including A THOUSAND WAYS: An Encounter, Window Dressing, and Shifting Perspectives, will offer immersive moments to connect with both strangers and ourselves.
- The Golden Age of Humanity will showcase nine selected films over nine starry nights at Surry Hills’ beloved Golden Age Cinema, curated by nine great Australians, including Amar Singh, Saxon Mullins, Kylie Kwong AM, Kate McClymont AM, Craig Foster AM, and more.
“For the next 3 weeks, Sydney will showcase the magical lights, art, and fun of Vivid Sydney. There is something for the whole family, so I encourage everyone to come along and make the most of Vivid Sydney this year.”
NSW Premier Chris Minns
