Vivid Sydney 2020
Everything You Need to Know About Vivid Sydney
Discover a world of fascination and immerse yourself in the magical landscape of Vivid Sydney!
This free, three-week festival lights up the city in a dazzling array of lights, colors and sounds. The city becomes a canvas for the largest art festival of its kind with the most incredible sights you’ll see in Sydney.
See “light art” splashed across the sails of the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour. Take an evening walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens, illuminated with glowing trees, flowers and brush. Catch an unforgettable show with local and major international acts or listen in to innovative talks by some of the most creative minds of this age.
As the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney will make your Australia vacation truly the trip of a lifetime!
Before You Go…
When is Vivid Sydney?
Vivid Sydney starts at the end of May and ends toward the middle of June each year. This is right before winter settles into Sydney. The interactive artworks, light exhibits and installations of Vivid Sydney are mostly found in and around the Sydney central business district at landmarks such as the Opera House and Harbour Bridge as well as Darling Harbour, The Rocks and Circular Quay. Unfortunately, Vivid Sydney 2020 has been cancelled.
Where is Sydney?
Sydney is Australia’s most iconic city, ringed around a spectacular harbor. It is the capital of New South Wales, a state on the east coast of Australia. It’s Australia’s largest city, with a population of over 5 million people. If it was located in the U.S., it would the second largest city after New York City. It takes around 14 hours to fly to Sydney from Los Angeles and around 17 hours from Dallas.
The weather in Sydney can be compared to weather in Los Angeles. The summer months (December – February) see lots of sunshine with temperatures averaging in the high 70’s, perfect for beach days. The winter months (June – August) are mild, with chilly mornings warming up throughout the day and settling into cold evenings. This is Sydney’s low season, when flight prices and hotels are cheaper, making it a great time to visit Sydney. Vivid begins right at the cusp of this season, allowing you to enjoy one of the world’s largest festivals without the inflated prices![/spoiler]
How Did Vivid Sydney Start?
Vivid first began in 2009 as a combination of four different festivals: a light exhibition called Smart Light Sydney, a music festival called Luminous, a panels discussion called Creative Sydney and a show recreating the explosion of a convict ship, called Fire Water. Light and creativity were obviously huge influences on these festivals. They were initiated by the tourism board of Sydney (Destination NSW) to attract foreign travelers during the low season winter months, with a vision as an artistic exploration of sustainable energy. The festivals were then streamlined into clear components that make up the base of Vivid – LIVE (music), IDEAS (panel talks), and LIGHT (art). These three parts make up the foundation of Vivid Sydney – an interactive space where the audience can be part of the art. What was once a period of quiet nights with little to no foot traffic is now rapidly becoming a worldwide tourism phenomenon.[/spoiler]
What are the Highlights of Vivid Sydney?
The best things to do during Vivid will be largely based around the harbor. The Vivid Light Walk routes through the best of Vivid’s light installations at sites such as the Opera House, Royal Botanic Gardens, Harbour Bridge, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and The Rocks. Most if not all of the art installations and light projections invite audiences to take part, making this the largest outdoor interactive art gallery in the world.
On Friday and Saturday nights, catch fireworks light up the night from Darling Harbour. See the Opera House sails lit up with curated light projections created by selected artists. Walk through Taronga Zoo and see the spectacular animal light sculptures displayed throughout the zoo. Explore the light sculptures of the Botanic Gardens, creating a nighttime fairy-like setting. Take an exhilarating journey on a famous Sydney Bridge Climb during Vivid, where a guided climb takes you to the very top of the bridge at night with all of dazzling Sydney illuminated below you. Better yet, an evening harbor cruise allows you to see the best of Vivid’s light spectacles around the harborfront.[/spoiler]
Tips for Traveling to Vivid Sydney
Since most of the action takes place along the harbor, you’ll want to stay as close to the CBD as possible. Accommodations in Circular Quay and Darling Harbour are ideal, but you’ll want to book these as soon as possible before they get filled. Our Vivid Sydney 2020 package takes you to Darling Harbour with easy access to Vivid highlights. With flights to Sydney and accommodation already included, this package gives you the freedom to experience Vivid your way. We can also create a custom package that includes must-do Vivid experiences, such as the Vivid Bridge Climb or a Vivid Sydney Dinner Cruise.[/spoiler]
Don’t wait until it’s too late to plan for Vivid. Contact us today to start planning your Vivid Sydney trip for 2021!
9-Days Hunter Valley and Sydney
- Destinations: Hunter Valley (3 Nights), Sydney (4)
- Accommodation, Rental Car, Flights & Transfers included
- Check back for exact Vivid Sydney 2021 dates!
Call 888-359-2877 (8:30am – 5:00pm, CT USA)
