New and improved, Vivid Sydney is just around the corner and brighter than ever – and its famous Light Walk is 100% free again.

What began as a smart light festival in 2009 has grown into a city-wide celebration of ideas, music and creativity synonymous with Sydney in winter.

“This year we invite you to go beyond your previous expectations of Vivid Sydney into a bold new festival designed to surprise, delight, challenge, entertain and fill you with joy," said Vivid Sydney Festival Director, Brett Sheehy AO.

“For 2026 we are expanding our program into new artforms including aerial performance, daytime public art, theatre and dance. These join our vast Vivid Minds, Light, Music and Food offerings to now make your Vivid Sydney one of the great comprehensive arts festivals of the world."

And what’s even better? In 2026 the entire Light Walk is 100 per cent free again.

“With more than 80 per cent of the program free to attend, Vivid Sydney is focused on making world-leading cultural experiences accessible to everyone," said Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper. “Whether it’s the entire 6.5-kilometre Vivid Light Walk, free live music at Tumbalong Nights or dynamic daytime programming, this year’s festival will bring colour and creativity to the city while delivering a significant boost to local businesses."

“Vivid Sydney 2026 will redefine how we experience our city, delivering a bigger and bolder event program that will come to life both day and night."

While there’s plenty to do, see and taste across the festivals 23 days, these are our top picks for 2026.

1. Wander the Light Walk

Where: Throughout Sydney

If you’ve attended in recent years, you’ll know that the introduction of ticketed entry to some of its light installations wasn’t popular among visitors. But in 2026, Vivid’s iconic Light Walk is going back to its roots again and will be 100 per cent free.

This year, it will be an unbroken 6.5‑kilometre journey featuring over 43 installations and projections created by acclaimed local and international artists. The route allows visitors to wander across Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, with two landmark centrepieces.

The first is Molecule of Light by British artist Chris Levine. To be found in Barangaroo, it will be the festival’s tallest installation at 23 metres. This laser and sound installation fuses single‑frequency beams, geometric light patterns and a solfeggio soundscape inspired by ancient healing frequencies.

The second is Melbourne collective Reelize’s Obstacle, one of the longest‑ever works stretching 45 metres along the harbour. This high‑resolution LED installation will create a pulsing corridor of colour and movement after dark.

Other notable works includes Vaiola, a powerful projection‑mapping work by Sāmoan‑Australian artist Angela Tiatia at The Museum of Contemporary Art Australia. And Opera Mundi by renowned French artist Yann Nguema, illuminating the Sydney Opera House sails.

2. Regional Dinner Series

Where: Throughout Sydney

A Regional Dinner Series joins the Vivid line up for the first time. It will bring regional culinary excellence to Sydney through a series of chef collaborations, spearheaded by A Shared Table with world‑renowned chef Yotam Ottolenghi.

“I’m coming back to Australia to be part of Vivid Sydney at such a dynamic moment in the city’s cultural calendar," shared Ottolenghi. “More than anything, it’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate the outstanding produce and beverages of New South Wales and to share the kind of food that I love and that also tells the story of the region’s creativity and generosity."

A Shared Table will bring together ingredients and flavours from across the state, creating a menu with regional identity.

This event sets the tone for the the wider Regional Dinner Series, all championing standout ingredients and artisans from across the state. Expect chef pairings such as Mindy Woods with Danielle Alvarez at the Sydney Opera House, Ben Devlin with Lennox Hastie at Firedoor and Christine Manfield with Sander Nooij at Yellow.

3. Have a boogie at Tumbalong Nights

Where: Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

Hosted in Darling Harbour’s Tumbalong Park, the aptly named Tumbalong Nights is the place to be for 23 nights of free and eclectic contemporary music. Artists and DJs from Australia and around the world, from global icons to emerging Aussie talents, will take to the stage to get your hips swaying.

The line-up is brimming with talent this year, including a special closing night performance from Matt Corby. Also expect the likes of Nigerian afrobeat royalty Seun Kuti & Egypt 80, KPop singer SHAUN, Jamaican reggae legends The Congos, Chinese rap sensations Billionhappy + SEBii with Korean producer Kimj, plus shows from Mallrat, Skeleten, Coterie and Moonlight Opera – a special concert presented by Opera Australia’s Young Artists Program.

4. Listen to Academy Award-winning filmmakers

Where: Throughout Sydney

Vivid Minds is a portion of the festival that’s all about sharing new and interesting ideas from those in the know. This year’s program features Academy Award-winning filmmakers Sean Baker (Anora, The Florida Project) and Chloé Zhao (Nomadland, Hamnet), alongside influential music industry tastemaker and broadcaster Zane Lowe, Pulitzer Prize–winning art critic Jerry Saltz and bestselling author Roxane Gay. These conversations are all about unpacking creative practice, cultural shifts and the forces shaping today’s artistic landscape.

Continue the conversation at Midweek Minds – a weekly series of rapid-fire keynote talks and discussions showcasing contemporary creative practice, think architect Dong-Ping Wong, designer and researcher Mindy Seu and The New Yorker creative director Nicholas Blechman.

5. Spice it up at the Vivid Fire Kitchen

Where: Barangaroo Reserve

Naturally, Vivid Fire Kitchen is back in 2026, this time at a new home in Barangaroo Reserve. Once again, expect global and local chefs in the same place for open‑fire cooking, demonstrations, tastings and conversations. In 2026, the program features leading Australian chefs like Mark Best and Luke Mangan, and expands for the first time to include celebrated food innovators and personalities like Julie Goodwin and Adriano Zumbo.

There will also be pop‑up dining experiences at Parliament House, The Mint and other venues around the city, alongside custom menus and special events at Aster Bar, The International, Shell House, Infinity and more.

6. Catch the drone show

Where: Cockle Bay

Cockle Bay will be home to the return of Vivid Sydney’s much‑loved drone experience, debuting under its new name, Star‑Bound: Vivid Sydney Drone Show . While the drones were missed in 2025, the newly refreshed show will light up the sky with 22 performances across 11 nights. Watch as 1000 drones work together to showcase the strange, beautiful ways that patterns repeat across plants, animals and our solar system.

7. Enjoy circus feats outside the Opera House

Where: Sydney Opera House Forecourt

Can’t resist a thrilling display of acrobatics? Head to the Sydney Opera House Forecourt for Cristal Palace . For 70 minutes, watch sweeping aerials and circus‑style performances over the June long weekend.

The show travels through 150 years of music and dance, so get ready for the waltz and polka through to rock’n’roll and techno (warning, you may be asked to join in the boogie).

8. Become part of the light show

Where: Australian National Maritime Museum

Grab the kids and head to Wonderverse to explore a universe of light and sound. This immersive, awe-inspiring and interactive adventure is aimed at kids between four and 10 years old (and their families) and their imaginations. It runs for the entirety of the festival, including daytime sessions.

9. Go gig-hopping at Vivid LIVE

Where: Sydney Opera House, Circular Quay

Live music lovers are in for a month of rhythmic bliss, as more than 50 cutting-edge and legendary international and Australian artists perform at the Sydney Opera House as part of Vivid LIVE 2026 . The line-up is practically bursting with talent, dipping into genres, moods and sounds that cater to all kinds of auditory tastes.

Watch 30th anniversary performances from Scottish post-rock pioneers Mogwai, rock on to Arnhem Land Yolŋu surf-rockers King Stingray, enjoy 1970’s cult California art-pop band Sparks, chill out to Danish-Portuguese pop-R&B sensation Erika de Casier and catch a rare double bill from Welsh art-pop visionary Cate Le Bon and US indie troubadour Cass McCombs.