Everything you need to know about Vivid Sydney 2026

Vivid Sydney is back and brighter than ever. Australia’s biggest light festival is celebrating its 16th year with a fresh wave of colourful light trails, larger-than-life art and buzzing performances you won't want to miss.

We've got everything you need to know about Vivid Sydney 2026, including all the details that’ll make your visit stress free.

Mark your calendar because the Vivid Sydney dates for 2026 are 22 May to 13 June.

The festival will paint the city in vibrant colour for 23 days, giving you plenty of time to catch all the highlights and experiences by breaking down your visit over a couple of nights or weekends.

Exciting news for young families, the drones are back and better than ever. After a year off, Star-Bound will light up the sky with 22 exciting shows across 11 nights. With more shows than previous years, you've got even more opportunity to see them flying around in action at their new home in Cockle Bay.

You can also look forward to the famed Vivid Light Walk, plus the crowd-favourite Vivid Music, which will be filling up venues and spaces across the city with both local and international gigs. Vivid Kids will also serve up big fun for the little ones when they take over Tumbalong Park every Saturday from 5pm throughout the festival.

Then there's also the newest addition Vivid Minds, which is a real treat for the big kids and adults, with filmmakers, writers and other creative brains front and centre. And don't worry, your stomachs haven’t been forgotten. Vivid Food will be in full swing, with the Vivid Fire Kitchen (now calling Barangaroo Reserve home) serving up delicious feeds and treats the whole tribe will love.

Completely free and packed with things to see and do, the Vivid Light Walk is a no-brainer for families. This trail of art displays, 3D light projections, public art and activations stretches 6.5km across Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Cockle Bay and Darling Harbour, and is a great way to see all the highlights at your own pace.

If you're worried the little legs won't make the full distance, there's an easy workaround - Vivid cruises. A total game changer, you’ll get front-row seats to the festival while skipping the walk and the crowds. It’s a win-win for everyone.

Looking for a different way to enjoy the event? Make sure Vivid Sydney Kayaks are on your radar. Not only will you watch the show from a unique angle, but you'll feel like you’re part of the festival too with your kayak decked out in lights.

But that's not all. If you’d like to turn Vivid into a date night or night out with friends, we have plenty more fun experiences for friends and couples to enjoy.