The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour are bringing the party to Vivid Sydney
Media Publicity Release Sydney, May 2026:
Sydney’s iconic harbourside precincts, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, will host an unmissable line-up of events for this year’s Vivid Sydney, featuring spectacular light
installations, live entertainment, vibrant artworks and waterfront dining.
Running nightly from Friday 22 May to 13 June 2026, the free Vivid Light walk will light up the city from 6pm to 11pm, giving Sydneysiders plenty of reasons to head out after dark: from immersive light art and
drone shows to fire-cooked feasts and open-air live music.
The Rocks
The historic laneways and sandstone streets of The Rocks will host late-night market stalls, while the much-loved Night Picnic under the Bridge returns with spectacular city views. Visitors can wander
through free Vivid Light installations and projections, including illuminated heritage buildings, and discover live music from jazz sessions and DJs throughout the precinct.
Event Highlights:
● The Vivid Light Walk: Highlights include two unmissable free light installations in the heart of the Rocks: REFLECT by Emma Gasson (UK) at 47 George Street, an interactive water installation, and TIME: WARPED by Neon Dynamo (Australia) at The Argyle Cut, a seven-
minute immersive sensory spectacle combining lasers, projection and sound design which explores our relationship to the concept of time. Deep Time by Spanish artists Hotaru Visual Guerrilla is the first time that Vivid Sydney has projected onto the Garrison Church and is a deep dive into time and the story of human evolution.
● Night Picnic Under the Bridge: For a cosy night out with stunning Sydney Opera House views, Dawes Point Park will offer heaters, blankets, and glow furniture to keep guests warm
and comfortable as they enjoy delicious food and drink options during a picnic under the stars, every Friday to Sunday from 6pm to 10pm.
● Free Music & DJs: There will be a range of performances throughout the precinct, including open-air Jazz Sessions at The Rocks, every Thursday from 6pm.
● The Rocks Night Markets: Visitors can enjoy artisan stalls, food offerings, and local makers until 9pm, running Friday to Sunday.
For guests looking for a delicious stop on their journey through The Rocks, there’s plenty to indulge in during Vivid Sydney. Jimmy’s Kitchen at Bay Nine will serve a curated Greek menu for $60, while Luna
Lu will offer limited-edition Vivid-themed cocktails alongside its Galaxy and Azure Memories dumplings. Sticky will host an exclusive, after-dark, world-first candy-making evening on 6 June, while new dining destinations, including Grappa, Izakaya Mitto, and Pisa Slice will join more than 60 other dining venues across the precinct.
Visitors to The Rocks during Vivid Sydney can enter for a chance to win an overnight stay for two, with breakfast at The Mercantile Hotel. Recently renovated and now home to a new rooftop bar, the boutique
hotel is perfectly positioned just minutes from the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Barangaroo
Barangaroo’s Vivid Sydney program is returning bigger than ever before, with large-scale installations, food experiences centered around live-fire cooking, and waterfront dining. The return of Vivid Fire Kitchen
will see renowned chefs cooking nightly at Stargazer Lawn in Barangaroo Reserve, while visitors explore interactive works dotted throughout the precinct.
Event Highlights:
● Vivid Fire Kitchen: Inspired by the great Aussie outdoors, this open-air foodie festival will serve up a feast of fire and flavour nightly from 6 to 11pm at Stargazer Lawn, Barangaroo
Reserve. Vivid Fire Kitchen will bring Sydneysiders together to enjoy cooking demonstrations and signature dishes from renowned chefs, alongside live music and NSW wine tastings.
● Food for Thoughts Stage: This brand-new offering from Vivid Fire Kitchen, will host conversations with authors, chefs, hospitality icons, social media food creators and
innovators from across Australia.
● Regional Dinner Series: Vivid Sydney will host a citywide celebration of regional produce and talent, spanning some of Sydney’s finest restaurants, and rich culinary identity. On 24 May
Frank Fawkner and Alessandro Pavoni will be curating a one-off menu to honour the Hunter Valley at The Crown in Barangaroo.
● Featured Vivid installations include:
○ Molecule of Light by Chris Levine (UK), a towering celestial laser installation at Barangaroo Reserve
○ Obstacle by Reelize (Australia), a 45-metre immersive light corridor along Wulugul Walk
○ Letter by Yannesi Siu, an interactive digital whisper-chain built across a wall of touchscreens
○ Point of (No) Return by Anastasia Isachesen, a glacial-inspired installation inside Pier Pavilion Darling Harbour
Darling Harbour will once again become a hub for families and Sydneysiders to revel in drone shows above Cockle Bay and enjoy Australia’s largest free laser show, which will illuminate the waterfront every
night, before heading to Tumbalong Park for free music and entertainment.
Event Highlights:
● Star-Bound Drone Show: Visitors will marvel at 1,000 synchronised lights in an inspiring, story-driven display inspired by patterns found in nature and the universe. This will
run at 7:30 and 9:30 Sunday to Wednesday (except Sunday 7 June).
● Laser Lightfall:by ER Production with soundtrack by Jono Ma, Australia’s largest free laser show, will create a cosmic world of colour at Cockle Bay, with sequences running each hour
between 6 to 11pm.
● Vivid Light Walk: Among the many installations on the Vivid Light Walk, visitors can compose their own masterpiece at the Piano Walk by Amigo & Amigo (Australia), live out their dreams
with The Daydream Machine by TDC, and be inspired by a living artwork with a collaboration by Australian artist Sofles with Chaske Haverkos and AGAR (USA).
● Tumbalong Nights: There will be 23 nights of free live music, featuring ARIA Award winner
Matt Corby on Saturday 13 June, alongside standout performances from Seun Kuti & Egypt 80 and Mallrat. A curated global lineup of DJs will also perform Sunday to Wednesday,
adding to an eclectic live music program across the festival not to be missed!
● Tumbalong Kids: This free Saturday evening singalong for children and families at Tumbalong Park from 5pm to 6pm is ideal for keeping all the family entertained. The
program features performances from Jay Laga’aia, Bennytime, The Mik Maks and Angie Who.
Darling Harbour’s 150-plus dining venues will serve up some of the best Vivid views in Sydney, with nightly Vivid picnic packs available from 6pm at Braza Churrascaria, Ichoume Dopa, Beirut Street
Food and Vesta. Guests who purchase a Vivid picnic from participating vendors will receive a complimentary limited-edition Darling Quarter insulated bag, while stocks last.
For front-row drone show views, guests can book a window seat at BTWN at W Sydney or enjoy a limited-edition Vivid cocktail at Two 88.
Adventurous foodies can immerse themselves in avant-garde edible art experience with renowned dessert chef Janice Wong at 2am: dessertbar. Created exclusively for Vivid
Sydney, Bioluminescent Dreams will feature a Bioluminescent Glow Wall, an otherworldly installation that blurs the line between food and art. On 29 and 30 May, guests can experience fine-dining with a
sophisticated three-course dessert tasting menu.
Getting there
Many events across the Vivid Light Walk are free and unticketed, with full details available via individual event websites.
The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour are all easily accessible by train, ferry, light rail and bus, making it easy to explore multiple precincts in one evening.
About Vivid Sydney
Vivid Sydney, one of the world’s leading multi-artform festivals, transforms Sydney into a vibrant hub of creativity, innovation and community connection. In 2026, the festival will bring the city to life, both night and day for the first time, inspiring global audiences and driving cultural exchange. From 22 May to June, the festival’s pillars of Light, Music, Minds and Food will create shared experiences, attract domestic and international visitors, and support the NSW Visitor Economy Strategy’s target of a $91
billion visitor economy by 2035. Proudly owned and managed by Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney showcases NSW’s cultural vibrancy and positions it as a global leader in artistic innovation.
