Sydney’s big light festival, Vivid, returns in 2025 with more free events to make up for the loss of its wildly popular drone show. Drones were dumped for this year’s program due to safety concerns about overcrowding. Last year huge crowds struggled to leave the foreshore due to limited exit points.
So this year the organisers canned the best part of the show. As an aviation geek and tech lover, I’m really disappointed to see the demise of the drone display. But to be fair, a drone show is at the mercy of the elements. Thousands of small drones packed in a tight formation can only fly when there’s little or no wind and no rain. So every night was a lottery.
It’s probably the right call and there’ll be plenty to see in more areas.
From Friday, 23 May to Saturday, 14 June Sydney will light up in five zones.
- Circular Quay and The Rocks
- Barangaroo
- Martin Place and CBD
- Darling Harbour
- The Goods Line and Inner City
Each connected zone will feature events from each of the festival pillars; Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Gill Minervini said the festival’s Dream theme is something that we all experience, and it can be interpreted in a myriad of ways.
“Dreaming is as old as time and as universal as life itself. Dreams can be prophetic, life changing and inspirational, as well as trivial, hilarious or terrifying. These interactions are evident in every aspect of Vivid Sydney’s program this year.
“Captivating light installations and 3D projections for everyone, thought-provoking and enlightening experiences, awe inspiring performances from the world’s best musicians, along with cutting edge culinary collaborations and dinners in unexpected places, it can all be found at Vivid Sydney. “
What to expect:
- Introducing five connecting zones across the city encompassing Light, Music, Ideas and Food
- Over 75% of program and 100% of Vivid Light Walk free to enjoy
- Nigella Lawson to curate three Vivid Sydney Dinner events in Muru Giligu, Martin Place
- Creative Director of TIME Magazine, Stranger Things: The Experience confirmed for Vivid Ideas
- Martin Place returning to the festival for the first time since 2018
- Vivid Music expands with new venues City Recital Hall and Metro Theatre
- Eight buildings and landmarks illuminated for the first time
Visitors can interact with installations and 3D projections across the Vivid Light Walk, including voice-activated animation, suspended swings, whimsical seesaws, a tennis match with light, and self-portraits turned into 3D projections by world renowned entertainment studio, Moment Factory.
Attendees also have a chance to design their own projection, with 150 entries selected each week to feature on the ASN Co. Building’s Clock Tower in The Rocks.
This year the entire Vivid Light Walk is free for everyone.
