Vivid Sydney is back for 2025! This annual festival of light, music and ideas is a much-loved attraction for families with plenty of different visual displays and activities to enjoy.
Wondering when is Vivid Sydney 2025? It runs from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June 2025 and will feature a program of Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
There’s no shortage of fun and interesting light installations to enjoy at Vivid Sydney. It’s worth a trip to check it out. Most of the activities relating to Vivid are free. There’s no charge to see the lights.
Vivid covers a massive 8.5km area covering Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Darling Square, Darling Quarter, The Goods Line and Central Station.
You can also enjoy free live music at Tumbalong Park including free family concerts on Saturday afternoons.
Here are our best tips to enjoy the 2025 Vivid Sydney with your kids.
What is Vivid Sydney?
Vivid Sydney is a multi-faceted festival with different streams.
- Light – This track includes light projections, artworks, reflections and illuminations to light up the winter night. The lights run from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June 2025 from 6pm to 11pm.
- Music – This track includes different musical performances, most of which are aimed at adult audiences but there are the family concerts on Saturday afternoons.
- Ideas – The track includes talks, debates and discussions from Australian and international presenters. Join them for a line-up of thought-provoking debates and deep-dive discussions seek creative solutions and inspire new ways of thinking.
- Food – A new pillar introduced in 2023 was Vivid Food with special events from world-class hatted chefs, restaurants, producers and venues. For families, head to The Goods Line for the Vivid Fire, which features flame-seared street food from around the globe.
When is 2025 Vivid Sydney?
This year, Vivid runs from It runs from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June 2025.
Where is 2025 Vivid Sydney?
Vivid Sydney is at different locations. There are activities at Barangaroo, Central Station and The Goods Line, Circular Quay and The Rocks, Darling Harbour, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, and Walsh Bay.
What are kid-friendly attractions at Vivid Sydney?
You’ll find lots of different Vivid light installations around Sydney. Take a tour of different locations.
Circular Quay & the Rocks
Of all the locations, Circular Quay & The Rocks have the largest number of light installations.
Chasing Dreams Tunnel – Travel through space and time as you step into Chasing Dreams Tunnel, an immersive passageway of programmable TWINKLY-powered fairy lights. This celestial canopy brings the dreams and artistry of renowned Bundjalung artist Dr Bronwyn Bancroft to life above and around you.
Colour The City – Paint our town red… green, pink, blue or whatever colour or pattern you dare to dream up! The ASN Clock Tower is transformed into a canvas for us all with this interactive and community-made projection. Each week, 150 unique artworks will be selected and showcased.
King Dingo – In this work by acclaimed First Nations artist Vincent Namatjira, a dingo stands tall, crowned in royal regalia, eyes alive with defiance. Landscapes flicker—empire dissolves into Country—as we are led through Australia’s colonial history through the eyes of the dingo, a First Nations everyman.
Soleil Night – Marvel at the brilliance of the sun and the mystery of the night with this impressionist painting-like installation. Two back-to-back mirror-encrusted discs—one representing the Sun, the other Night—capture the duality of human experience. These mesmerising, reflective surfaces shimmer and shift from day to night in an ever-changing display of light and motion.
Sound Walk – One night. One laneway, transformed. A free light and sound experience for all. Designed by Australian illumination specialists Mandylights, Sound Walk will see the Pitt Street end of the iconic city laneway Angel Place awash with light, sound and roving entertainment for one night only, free for all ages to enjoy.
Barangaroo
Bon(d)fire – Just like many big dreams, a bonfire begins with a spark. Step up to the glow of Bon(d)fire, share your story, reflection or idea and watch as it becomes part of something bigger and brighter. This stunning, interactive light installation reimagines the traditional bonfire as a living, evolving artwork. At its heart, a striking 8m tall LED structure is stylised to look like flames. Surrounding it, storytelling stations invite you to share your own tale, memory, or reflection into a microphone.
Fly to the moon – Before you looms a giant inflatable moon, its circular form glowing softly against the night sky. A swing is positioned in front of it, inviting you to gently swing, becoming the “man in the moon” for a fleeting moment. This interactive installation is a celebration of curiosity and ambition—a playful reminder to dream big, aim high and let your imagination take flight.
SomniUs – Gaze up at a sea of a thousand rods, suspended above you, rippling with waves of light and sound as you move beneath its surface. SomniUs is your invitation to be part of the artwork you’re staring up at. This fluid, interactive installation responds to every gesture and step you make, creating undulations that transform the canopy above into a living, breathing work of art.
Darling Harbour
Kickit Team Tennis – Step onto the court for a game of tennis like you’ve never experienced before—where the fluorescent yellow ball is replaced by a streak of pulsing light and volleyed back and forth across an orb-studded field. This patch of Darling Quarter becomes a court for pure play, with a game that’s both striking and collaborative. Step up to an interactive footpad to serve a pulse of light back to the team opposite.
Elysian Collection – Part mirage, part playground, this whimsical installation invites you to wander through its iridescent, tubular halls and re-discover the joy of art, architecture and play. This large-scale, inflatable installation transforms Tumbalong Park into a radiant Elysian Field—an otherworldly haven inspired by the gods’ paradise of Ancient Greek mythology. Come inside the glowing, tubular forms that stretch into iridescent tunnels.
Telephone – Approach one of several retro UK telephone booths and dial the dream line. A recording will prompt you to leave a message. You’ll have 30 seconds to share a dream, name an intention or simply leave an earnest message for someone special. These iconic booths, reminiscent of Doctor Who’s TARDIS, are a portal to the past and a call to connect with the present moment.
Central Station – The Goods Line
If you take public transport to Central Station, there are a couple of Vivid light installations to experience.
Quasar – A donut-like structure looms before you, illuminated by a hypnotic swirl of light continuously cycling inward on one side and outward on the other. At its centre lies a black mirror, where the light seems to vanish, yet you see your reflection and the world drawn in its dark surface. This central “coin” symbolises both a black hole and your place in the vast universe.
Starscape Tunnel – Step into a 40-metre tunnel illuminated by a galaxy of glowing stars. A stunning homage to both the night sky and the glow-in-the-dark decorations that sparked so many childhood dreams. Featuring over 700 stars, Starscape transforms Hay Street near The Goods Line into a dazzling constellation.
Are there family-friendly events for families at Vivid Sydney?
Get ready for some fantastic Vivid family concerts which will presented on Saturday afternoons. On Saturdays, presented as part of Tumbalong Nights, there are concerts especially for kids!
Head to Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour for 5pm each Saturday during the festival to the kids’ fun zone. See the stage light up with free music acts loved by children of all ages.
Saturday 24 May – PASIFIX
Come early for a powerful celebration of Australia’s Pacific Island community with PASIFIX. Kicking off at 5pm with a special cultural community performance that’s family friendly, before taking over the stage for a full night of live music, cultural performance and headline acts.
Saturday 31 May – Bennytime
It’s time to get goofy with Bennytime! Known for his cheeky humour and playful tunes, Bennytime turns every performance into an all-out dance party for kids and grown-ups alike. Expect catchy songs and a whole lot of wiggling and giggling.
Saturday 7 June – Whistle & Trick
ARIA-nominated duo Whistle & Trick are bringing their high-energy, interactive show to Vivid Kids! With playful storytelling and music that parents secretly love too, it’s a guaranteed good time for kids big and small.
Saturday 15 June – The Vegetable Plot
The Vegetable Plot serve up funky-fresh tunes, earthy grooves, colourful characters and truly rotten puns. Get ready for these ARIA-nominated roots musicians to plant seeds of joy and inspiration in the hearts of young and old.
How to get to Vivid Sydney?
Vivid Sydney brings in a lot of people into the city. If you want to drive and park in the city, be prepared for road closures, expensive parking and traffic congestion getting out of the CBD.
Major city road closures will be in place before the Vivid Sydney lights switch on each night. Extensive parking restrictions will also be in place, making street parking very limited, so it’s best to leave the car at home.
The best way to travel between Vivid Sydney precincts is by public transport. Avoid traffic delays and catch one of the many extra transport services. Extra bus, train and ferry services will be running throughout the festival. Just be prepared that it will be super busy on weekends. We visited on a weekend a few years ago year, and the trains and train stations were packed. Hold on to your kids!
Buses to and from the city will be diverting and using different stops while event road closures are in place. Check signs at bus stops for alternative stop locations and use the Trip Planner before you travel.
What accessible services & facilities are at Vivid Sydney?
Plan your trip to Vivid Sydney by visiting the Accessibility and Inclusion section on the Vivid website where you can find up-to-date information on accessible services and facilities such as; viewing areas, toilets & adult change facilities, pre-booked minibus parking, drop-off & pick-up zones and more.
How much are tickets to 2025 Vivid Sydney?
It’s free to see the light installations at Vivid Sydney. There are some free live shows as part of Tumbalong Nights. Vivid Sydney presents a curated contemporary music program at Tumbalong Park featuring some of Australia’s most exciting artists alongside Sydney’s hottest emerging acts. Tickets for Vivid Music, Vivid Food and Vivid Ideas attract a cost.
What are the best days and times to visit 2025 Vivid Sydney?
Not surprisingly, on weekends Vivid is packed with crowds. For this reason, we suggest going on a weekday, especially earlier in the week. (We attended Vivid mid-week last year and there was a lot less people than on visiting on a weekend).
Go early to see the lights switch on and get out before it gets crowded. Also, avoid the last week of Vivid as this is when it can be busy as people don’t want to miss out on the event.
Go as early as you can. The lights switch on at 6pm so arrive before then and get ready to enjoy the show. Then as it gets more crowded, you can leave and still get the kids to bed at a decent time.
If you have tweens and teens, do the opposite. Go see the lights at 9pm. By that time, the crowds have started to wind down.
If you’re planning to do Vivid, start by deciding which art installations you want to see. If you have the time, do one area e.g. Circular Quay one night and another like Central or Darling Harbour at a different time. This enables you to concentrate on one area and not have to battle crowds to move to a different location.
Plus, it’s not as overwhelming as when you’re trying to fit it all in on one night. Remember the Vivid Festival goes for 23 days from Friday 23 May to Saturday 14 June 2025. So you can do small bites of Vivid.
How to keep kids safe at Vivid Sydney?
Vivid Sydney is a popular destination and can experience HUGE crowds on busy nights. Be sure to keep an eye on your children. It’s easy for kids to get distracted or disoriented and wander in a different direction from you.
- Dress them in bright distinctive colours or stick coloured reflective tape on to their jackets. You can buy tape in red, yellow and white as well as silver so you can spot them a bit easier in a crowd.
- Choose a meeting location in case you get separated.
- Write your mobile number on your kid’s arm in permanent marker (you can easily remove the text with micellar water after the event). There are also free ID wristbands are available at Vivid Sydney medical posts that you can fill in with your phone number. Handy if your child gets lost.
- Vivid Sydney volunteers wear pink jackets so point them out to your kids as someone to contact if they get separated from you.
- For younger kids, use a backpack harness and give older kids a whistle that they can blow to attract your attention if they get lost.
- You can also attach an Apple Air Tag to their outfit so you can find them.
- Take a photo of your kid in their outfit in case you do lose them and have to show a photo of what they look like.
Where are public toilets for Vivid Sydney?
Always an important issue for those with young kids, incontinence conditions or who need baby change facilities. Here are the ones from the 2024 event.
- Barangaroo Reserve – near Towns Place Wharf
- Barangaroo at Exchange Place. Toilets are attached to the building on Barangaroo Avenue and Shelley Street.
- Bligh Barney Reserve in the Rocks – includes baby change facility
- Central Station
- Circular Quay – 2 blocks of public toilets. West Circular Quay One (includes baby change facility) and one near ferry terminal.
- Darling Harbour – toilets at Tumbalong Park (including baby change facilities)
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- The Rocks – on Suez Canal and Greenway Lane
- The Rocks – George St – at the intersection of Gloucester Walk
Why should we consider a harbour cruise for Vivid Sydney?
An alternative to being on the ground at Vivid is taking to Sydney Harbour. A number of cruise companies offer short cruises. It’s a great alternative to the Vivid crowds and lets you see a number of different light projections in a short time.
Captain Cook Cruises offer a 1-hour cruise with 360-degree waterfront views from spacious indoor and outdoor decks. This is ideal for families enabling you to see Vivid Lights from the water and skip the crowds. Their route covers the key precincts of Barangaroo, Luna Park, The Rocks and Circular Quay including Sydney Harbour Bridge and the sails of the Sydney Opera House. Tours leave at 5.30pm and 7.30pm – check availability for additional departures. Cruise is $29 per person.
Fantasea Cruises also offer kid-friendly 1-hour Vivid cruises departing from Circular Quay and Darling Harbour. See Sydney’s famous foreshore landmarks from the water and experience the full canvas of the massive shoreside projections from Fort Denison, Circular Quay, The Rocks, Walsh Bay and Darling Harbour.
Tours leave at 6pm and 7.20pm from Darling Harbour and 6:10pm and 7:25pm from Circular Quay. A family rate is $143 for 4 people. NRMA Members can save 10% on VIVID cruises on Sydney Harbour with Fantasea Cruising. Please enter your NRMA membership number when booking to redeem this offer.
You can also jump on the NSW State Ferries to see Vivid Sydney from the harbour. Jump on the ferry to Neutral Bay or around to Barangaroo or even the Manly ferry if you want a longer harbour ride.
What are other tips for Vivid Sydney?
Dress warmly and bring rain gear. As we’ve learned this year, the weather can be unpredictable and May and June can bring cold and rainy weather. Also, wear comfortable shoes as you’ll end up walking long distances.
In busy times, avoid using a stroller as it’s hard to get through crowds. For babies and toddlers, carry them in a backpack carrier or baby carrier.
What food options are available are available at Vivid Sydney?
There are a plethora of dining options in areas in The Rocks, Circular Quay and Sydney CBD. Take your pick of cafes, restaurants and fast-food spots. However, be aware that with the massive crowds, you might face long lines or a lengthy delay to wait for your food.
You’re better off bringing food, snacks and drinks with you to enjoy or eating dinner at home (or your hotel if you’re from out of town) and then heading in to enjoy Vivid Sydney.
Where to stay for Vivid Sydney?
If you want to avoid the Vivid crowds but still see the lights, book a hotel room that faces the harbour. (Avoid Fridays and Saturdays if you can – it’s cheaper on weekdays during Vivid).
A popular choice with Newcastle families is View Sydney in North Sydney. Friends have stayed in the Harbourview rooms during Vivid to see the lights right from their room. You can also book rooms with Metro Hotels at their properties in Metro Apartments on King, Metro Aspire Hotel and Metro Apartments on Darling Harbour. They have special deals for families attending Vivid with early check-in and late check-out, kids (up to 12yrs) stay free using existing bedding.
If you want to stay in the heart of all the action, choose Rydges Sydney Harbour in the Rocks. Some of the rooms have harbour views. If you want more space, book a Mantra apartment for your stay. They offer Mantra on Kent which is located near Town Hall and Darling Harbour and Mantra 2 Bond Street, a seven-minute walk from Circular Quay.
For a budget stay, book into the Sydney Harbour YHA in The Rocks. You can book a family room with ensuite which features a Queen bed and a set of bunks. You’ll have access to a communal kitchen and terrace whcih features million-dollar views of Sydney Harbour.
Is there an app for the 2025 Vivid Sydney?
There is no app for Vivid Sydney 2025. Keep saving your ‘must-see’ events by clicking on the heart icon on your device. This will save your selection while you are using the same browser.
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