Vivid Sydney 2026 Unveiled

Our national network works with Traditional Owners, Elders, Aboriginal Knowledge Holders, artists, performers and cultural educators to deliver culturally safe programs connected to local Country, community knowledge and respectful protocols. For over 25 years, we have worked side by side with Aboriginal artists, dancers, musicians, educators, cultural practitioners and Knowledge Holders from many Nations to create authentic, respectful and culturally safe experiences. Many critics also repeatedly point to Grande Exhibitions commercialising classical art and have too obvious intentions of wanting this to be the next viral thing on Instagram and social media platforms. To this, I would say which art gallery and exhibition doesn’t use social media to promote in the hopes that things will go viral and attract more people? Which gallery doesn’t sell prints and merchandise of their latest feature exhibit of a well-loved artist? Everyone these days commercialise classical art to some degree so let’s put those high horses back into their stables and let them rest.
While the Powerhouse Ultimo is temporarily closed for renovations, the institution continues to offer engaging exhibitions at its other locations, focusing on science, innovation, and design. This fascinating exhibition depicts the development of the NSW colony through a carefully curated selection of historical maps, plans, sketches, artworks and objects. Visitors can trace Sydney’s evolution while gaining insight into the deep connection between First Nations people and the land. “When those lights come on Vivid Sydney gives the world a technicolour reminder of our city’s vibrant creative side. “With over 75 per cent of the program free to attend and the entire Vivid Light Walk open to everyone, it is one of the most accessible events in the country, and this year’s program has something for everyone. “Vivid Sydney continues to grow in scale and impact, drawing in millions of visitors and reinforcing Sydney’s position as the interactive attractions sydney premier destination in the Asia Pacific.

Get ready for an experience that delights all ages and transforms the ordinary into something truly magical. Now, coming to the third portal, Infinite Possibilities, it focuses on hands-free photography. Visitors can take selfies by waving their hand thanks to Galaxy’s Palm Selfie feature. After walking through all three portals, visitors enter the Creative Studio area. Discover exclusive stationery, apparel and gifts inspired by the artist plus the official exhibition book.
This permanent exhibition celebrates the world’s oldest living cultures with an extensive collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artifacts, artworks, and interactive displays. Visitors can explore the rich cultural heritage of Australia’s First Nations peoples through stories, objects, and digital experiences. The immersive experience stems from a 25m, 8k resolution, interactive digital canvas. Curated to the human rhythm, the canvas expresses Sydney’s light and movement through the digital artworks of local and international artists, animators and cinematographers. The works of Claude Monet and a host of other impressionist artists, including Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas will be the subject of a huge new multi-sensory exhibition that will take over the Royal Hall of Industries in March. It involves a meticulously assembled multi-screen audiovisual presentation that takes you through Van Gogh’s art practice, drawing on diaries and letters, with bonus 'fragrances'.
More than 80 per cent of the festival program will be free to enjoy, making Australia’s largest festival accessible to everyone. Pack the snacks, load the playlist, and prepare for at least one "are we there yet?" before you've left the driveway — a 2-hour Sunday drive from Sydney is a very wholesome way to rescue the weekend. Check out our list of 40+ playgrounds spanning east, west, north, and south, catering to all tastes and energy levels. We love a good Aldi middle aisle browse, and Saturday holds the holy grail of Aldi bargains. Saturday's Special Buys are back this Saturday, 13 June, and is geared towards keeping the whole family warm this winter.

Meet at pristine Freshwater Beach for Foraging at Dawn or Dusk with Seadrift Distillery. The tour is led by Yaegl man Clarence Bruinsma, who shares knowledge about local sea botanicals and traditional foraging techniques. Guests will learn how to sustainably harvest seaweed before heading to the distillery to discover how seaweed and other botanicals are distilled in Seadrift’s award-winning non-alcoholic spirits. Natcha Cultural Tours is an Aboriginal-owned organisation grounded in healing and connection to Country, community and self. Along the way, you’ll learn about enduring traditions that have been passed down for tens of thousands of years, including language, bush medicine and song.
Sydney Arts Guide acknowledges the traditional land and its owners and the contribution of the First Nations People of Australia, past, present and evolving. My highlight of the exhibition was the sight of ‘mountains’ of letters flying down the screens. It was a brilliant way of describing the vast number of letters that were exchanged between Vincent and his brother Theo.

Currently, he is the Asia head of restructuring for the renowned global law firm, Milbank, based in Singapore. Antoinette is dedicated to supporting teams, fostering collaboration and championing the essential role of the creative arts in society. Robin Wagner brings a wealth of experience and expertise in mentorship and creativity, and says providing an exceptional dining experience for guests with diverse dietary needs will be central to his approach. Expect seasonal, sustainable ingredients, and new dishes that leave an impact long after you leave the table.
Step into the Levitation Station, where an upside-down train illusion plays tricks on your sense of gravity. Peek behind the curtain in the Movie Magic Room and discover how cinematic soundscapes and visual tricks come to life. With installations that blend light, sound, scent, and touch, no two moments feel the same.
Whether you prefer your venues big, iconic or small, and whatever genre you’re into, the Harbour City has the gig for  you. All ages are welcome to this experience, and the space is accessible for prams/strollers. Prams need to be parked in a designated area at the exhibit entrance.

Vincent was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2025 for service to arts administration. Peter was educated at Elizabeth West and Enfield High Schools, University of South Australia, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, and was elected valedictorian at Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. Alongside her husband and business partner Sam Hill-Smith, Margo has demonstrated a strong commitment to supporting arts philanthropy through close relationships spanning several decades. In 2022, Wagner was recognised as the winner of the San Pellegrino Young Chef Pacific Final Awards. Robin Wagner began his career in Germany, gaining invaluable experience in Michelin-starred restaurants across the globe before moving to Australia.
The most significant aspect of this exhibition may be the official seal of approval from the Vatican itself. The use of authorized imagery and the direct collaboration with the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney elevate this project beyond a simple commercial venture. It represents a deliberate and strategic move by one of the world's oldest institutions to engage a modern, and increasingly secular, public through cultural diplomacy. And if you're wondering how popular the experience has proven so far, more than 8.5 million people have visited it in 80-plus cities worldwide. This new Sydney season of Van Gogh Alive will pop up in The Grand Pavilion's huge 70 metre by 25 metre bespoke marquee, which also includes a themed bar and cafe space.

Digitally projected at unimaginable scales, the vast canvas allows you to admire the beloved artist's most famous works in a whole new world of detail that will take your breath away. Accompanying photographs and videos allow an insider’s peak at the creative process of the gang, including Camille Pissarro and Pierre-Auguste Renoir. Monet and Friends ­– Life, Light and Colour celebrates the lush brushstrokes of Claude and co, the Impressionists who swept up the world in their effervescent depictions of light, love and life. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions. We have works by more than 50 of Australia's best contemporary artists on display and works by the nation’s top indigenous artists too.
Thisyear's festival of lights isn't just a visual feast; it's an epicureanadventure across Sydney's most dynamic dining destinations. Whether you'reafter historic elegance, theatrical teppanyaki, avant-garde cocktails orrefined Modern Australian fare, these restaurants are pairing Vivid’s spectaclewith gastronomic flair. Here’s your guide to five exceptional venues that offerimmersive dining experiences as vibrant as the city itself. Experience The Starry Night, Sunflowers and a number of other images as they swirl, sway and soar in a digital projection.