Vivid Sydney 2024: A Spectacular Finale to 23 Days of Light, Music, Food, and Ideas

Vivid Sydney 2024 concluded after an incredible 23 days and nights, showcasing light, music, food, and innovative ideas. The festival transformed Sydney’s harbor, landmarks, and cityscape into a dazzling display of creativity and innovation, culminating with the lights going out at 11 PM across the festival footprint.

Vivid Light

This year’s 8km Vivid Sydney Light Walk featured 30 light installations and 3D projections, highlighted by the Sydney Opera House’s breathtaking new digital artwork, Lighting of the Sails: Echo (2024) by Julia Gutman, with creative technologists Pleasant Company and a soundtrack by Angus Mills. Reg Mombassa reimagined the classic Aussie road trip on Customs House with Gumscape with Road and Creatures. Angus Muir’s Connection provided a technicolour, immersive canopy of LED ropes. The Wynyard Tunnels hosted the multi-sensory Dark Spectrum: A New Journey, and Lightscape returned to The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney. Additionally, Yvette Mattern’s Global Rainbow, a 40km stretch of rainbow lasers, emanated from Sydney Tower, symbolizing hope.

Vivid Music

Among the hottest tickets was Tekno Train by Paul Mac, a sell-out interactive experience transforming a Sydney Trains ride into a moving sound and light show. The Machine Hall, a reimagined 100-year-old substation, hosted performances from Deerhoof, Jen Cloher, CLUB4A, No Fixed Address, and more. Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour became a hub for free contemporary music, featuring artists like Sneaky Sound System, Forest Claudette, Teenage Jones, tiffi, Budjerah, and grentperez. Carriageworks offered diverse, multi-sensory experiences with performances from Electric Fields, Yves Tumor, Yasiin Bey, and others. Vivid LIVE at the Sydney Opera House showcased over 50 artists, including Air, Arca, Underworld, Fever Ray, Sky Ferreira, and Devonté Hynes.

Vivid Ideas

Headlining Vivid Ideas, Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actress and comedian Amy Poehler held a special In Conversation event at the Sydney Opera House, including a sneak peek at Disney and Pixar’s Inside Out 2. Other highlights included Sex Work: A Legal and Social History, and The Golden Age of Humanity, which showcased nine films curated by notable Australians. A Thousand Ways: An Encounter, Window Dressing, and Shifting Perspectives offered immersive experiences, while Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson and goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold shared insights in Champions of Change.

Vivid Food

The highly anticipated Vivid Residence at Kiln restaurant featured Latin America’s best female chef, Manu Buffara. The Vivid Chef Series returned to top-tier restaurants with collaborations from Michelin-starred chefs like Max Coen, Ivan Brehm, Selassie Atadika, Niklas Ekstedt, and Sally Abé. Vivid Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line was a fan favorite, featuring an illuminated Messina Milk Bar pop-up. Our Shared Humanity at Refettorio OzHarvest showcased dinners by top chefs using rescued NSW produce.

Vivid Sydney Partners

Major partner Kia presented immersive activations EV9 “Kia Kinetic” and EV5 “Kia Kaleidoscope.” Australian Traffic Network (ATN) delivered the Love is in the Air drone shows, while Sony Music Entertainment Australia returned with Dark Spectrum: A New Journey and Lightscape. Samsung introduced Chorus of Light, an immersive activation inspired by Samsung Galaxy AI technology. Airbnb supported the Vivid Sydney Volunteer Program, and Sennheiser presented the Sennheiser Mirrorbox, an audio experience exploring the relationship between sound and identity. Estee Lauder’s Beauty Sleep integrated beauty and science elements into the festival.

Supporting partners included the City of Sydney, Nova 96.9, Cinewav, Event Engineering, Mandylights, Technical Direction Company, Transdev, and Kennards Hire. Experience Oz Australia returned as the Local Business Program Partner, and program partners included Carriageworks, Disney, Museum of Contemporary Art, and Sydney Opera House. The charity partner for 2024 was Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders).

Vivid Sydney Locations

The festival’s vibrant displays were featured at iconic locations including Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Barangaroo House, Golden Age Cinema, Machine Hall, University of Technology Sydney, State Library of New South Wales, North Sydney Council, and Walsh Bay Arts Precinct.