Vivid Sydney, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest multi-artform festival, has unveiled a captivating program for 2024, exploring the theme of ‘Humanity’ through Light, Music, Ideas and Food.
Australia’s largest event will transform Sydney with mesmerising light installations and 3D projections from Circular Quay to The Goods Line from 24 May to 15 June.
The festival promises 23 nights of unforgettable experiences, genre-spanning music performances and creative showcases; a formidable Vivid Ideas program featuring experiences that will open minds; and a mouth-watering Vivid Food program.
Vivid Light will dazzle with large-scale projections, immersive experiences and interactive artworks. Witness a 40km stretch of rainbow lasers emanating from the Sydney Tower, a universal symbol of hope by US artist Yvette Mattern. Immerse yourself in the captivating display of the 2023 Archibald Prize winner, Julia Gutman, adorning the Sydney Opera House sails for Lighting of the Sails (pictured main): Echo (2024). Reg Mombassa, Guan Wei, Leila Jeffreys and many more join the line-up, transforming the city into a dynamic open-air art gallery.
Festival Director and Vivid Food curator Gill Minervini said Vivid Food would return to Vivid Sydney in 2024 in a celebration of the rich diversity of Sydney and NSW’s culinary scene.
“In its second year, the festival’s newest pillar Vivid Food explores how food is often at the core of the human experience, acting as both a vibrant expression of diversity and a powerful connecter,” said Minervini.
“Blending internationally celebrated cuisine with authentic local food experiences, Vivid Sydney 2024 presents renowned and culturally diverse food cultures in Sydney to the world.”
- Bennelong will present Aurorae at Bennelong Bar, a bespoke bar snack and cocktail offering by award-winning chef Peter Gilmore.
- 2024 will see the return of the popular Vivid Fire Kitchen, taking up its new position at The Goods Line every night of the festival for a celebration of the universal language of barbecue.
- A Culinary Canvas by Danielle Alvarez will invite guests to the iconic Yallamundi Rooms, on the Northern Boardwalk of the Sydney Opera House, for a celebration of women in Australian gastronomy and winemaking.
- Our Shared Humanity will present a series of exclusive dinners at Refettorio OzHarvest. Every night of the series will see the state’s best chefs, including Christine Manfield, Darren Robertson, Mitch Orr and more plate up their unique take on a three-course vegetarian menu, made using rescued NSW produce.
- A special 10-course degustation will offer an unparalleled opportunity to experience the authenticity and abundance of a Ukrainian family table at Kyiv Social for Plates with Purpose: A Taste of Ukraine.
- In the tradition of lively night food markets, Sydney Place and Bulletin Place laneways in the Uptown District will be transformed into a pedestrianised, culinary hub. Vivid Place Food Trail will feature over 20 of Australia’s top chefs, restaurateurs and bartenders just a short walk from Circular Quay and will be open every night of the festival.
- Vivid Residence and Vivid Chef Series will also return in 2024, with chefs and venues to be announced soon.
Vivid music program
Vivid Music Curator Julian Ramundi says Vivid Music in 2024 will transform Sydney into a dynamic stage, in a city-wide celebration that shines a light on both established and emerging artists.
“Vivid Music in 2024 elevates artist stories and connects audiences in a diverse range of spaces, from cultural institutions and theatres to free and accessible spaces across the Vivid Light Walk,” said Ramundi.
“Hear music in new parts of our city and gather to celebrate voices from all around the world, artists who remind us that songs vibrate at the centre of our shared humanity.”
- Tumbalong Nights makes a return with 12 nights of free performances in Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, featuring international sounds, diverse languages, interactive sing-a-longs and First Nations perspectives. Highlights include the pop brilliance of Brisbane’s Mallrat, Western Sydney’s rising star grentperez and Australia’s chart-topping Budjerah. An
Australian-exclusive performance by Korean Indie luminaries sunwoojunga and Silica Gel, and an exclusive album launch from First Nations supergroup 3%, are just some of the acts that make up an unforgettable line-up. - In a first for Vivid Sydney, the spectacular Machine Hall Precinct emerges as the new home of Vivid Music. Audiences can catch international headliners and parties within the surrounds of a reimagined 100-year-old heritage substation, right in the heart of Sydney and only recently opened to the public. The program features US indie rockers Deerhoof and
hyperpop artist Underscores, along with shows from Jen Cloher, legendary First Nations band No Fixed Address and Arnhem Land song man Ngulmiya, and parties from Trackwork, The Huxleys and CLUB 4A. Vivid Sydney at Machine Hall is presented with the support of both Machine Hall Precinct and the City of Sydney. - The Vivid Sydney Supper Club returns to Mary’s Underground with new curators Rhys Nicholson and Georgia Mooney delivering a packed list of talent across music, theatre and television, including Mo’Ju, Montaigne, Luke McGregor, Annabel Crabb, Julia Zemiro and Ewen Leslie, with Rhys and Georgia hosting each night of the program.
How Vivid Sydney boosts bars & restaurants
Last year Vivid Sydney achieved its biggest attendance on record and the largest visitor expenditure in its history, with more than 3.48 million attendees generating more than $206 million in visitor expenditure.
Restaurants, cafes and bars enjoyed a surge in patronage. In 2022, 701,000 people ate meals across the festival and in 2023 that number rose to 745,000. More than 190,000 people checked out Vivid Fire Kitchen, with many Vivid Food events receiving rave reviews, selling out or achieving very high attendance.
Hotels in the CBD also reported increased occupancy during the festival, with occupancy rates up 12 per cent overall compared to last year’s festival, lifting occupancy to 78 per cent across the CBD and 90 per cent on Friday and Saturday nights.
Tickets to Vivid Sydney go on sale on March 11. For more information and to keep updated about additions to the
program, go to vividsydney.com.