• 15 Mar 25

  Partner News
  A Festival Reimagined Inviting You To Dream: Vivid Sydney 2025 Program Revealed

    Introducing five connecting zones across the city encompassing Light, Music, Ideas and Food Over ...Read more
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  A Festival Reimagined Inviting You To Dream: Vivid Sydney 2025 Program Revealed - News & announcements

   

  • 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

    Australia’s largest event will once again transform the Harbour City in 2025, from Friday, 23 May to Saturday, 14 June – with the theme of Vivid Sydney, Dream as it dares to answer the question: What’s in a dream?   For its 15^th year, the festival footprint has been redesigned to present five zones: Circular Quay and The Rocks; Barangaroo; Martin Place and CBD (for the first time since 2018); Darling Harbour; and The Goods Line and Inner City. Each connected zone will feature events from each of the festival pillars; Light, Music, Ideas and Food.   Showcasing Sydney’s creative pulse during winter, Vivid Sydney will feature exclusive collaborations for a series of events with Sydney Writers’ Festival and Sydney Film Festival, as well as cultural institutions, venues and arts companies Art Gallery of NSW, Australian Museum, Bangarra Dance Theatre, City Recital Hall, State Library of NSW, and Sydney Theatre Company.   Vivid Light will come to life like never before with exclusively commissioned pieces featuring world- leading animation and projection technologies. The late Australian visionary, David McDiarmid’s bold and unapologetic work will be showcased on the Sydney Opera House for Lighting of the Sails, entitled Kiss of Light (2025). Vincent Namatjira will present King Dingo on the facade of the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia while the team behind Sydney fashion label, Romance Was Born will debut House of Romance on Customs House.   This year festivalgoers 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.   Vivid Ideas continues to offer an array of engaging experiences, D.W. Pine, Creative Director of TIME Magazine, will deliver the keynote ‘Where Do Ideas Come From?’ and internationally renowned scientist Professor Matthew Walker will present ‘Why We Sleep’ to delve into one of the most important but least understood aspects of our lives.   Free Vivid Ideas events include the weekly Firetalk series at Barangaroo Reserve, bringing together First Nations storytellers, and Endling, a major new physical theatre work performed nightly by Sydney’s Legs On The Wall.   Stranger Things: The Experience will debut at Luna Park Sydney. This immersive, interactive adventure for all ages transports you to 1986 Hawkins, and blends supernatural mystery, nostalgia and iconic locations from the Netflix global phenomenon designed exclusively by the show’s creators.   Vivid Food has never been more enticing. In a festival exclusive, internationally renowned food writer and TV cook, Nigella Lawson will curate three Vivid Sydney Dinners in the recently opened pedestrian tunnel Muru Giligu in Martin Place. Over three nights, the space will be completely transformed with a light and sound experience, celebrated with NSW produce and wine for an unforgettable experience.   Nigella Lawson said of her collaboration: “Visitors cram themselves into Sydney in summer, but for me the magical time is in winter, during Vivid Sydney! And having loved it for years, it is the hugest thrill to be part of the Vivid Food program this year. I’ll be curating an exclusive menu for the three Vivid Sydney Dinners, and it is simply a dream come true. I mean, you know me: there can never be too many fairy lights! See you there!"   Festival favourites Vivid Fire Kitchen will return to The Goods Line honouring fire and spice and Vivid Chef Series will once again see the world’s most innovative chefs collaborate with Sydney’s revered dining intuitions.   Vivid Music celebrates our collective dreams through sound and song, with a specially curated program of artists from around the globe, alongside special events, interactive experiences and exclusive performances.   Tumbalong Nights will return to Darling Harbour with a focus on music in diaspora communities and First Nations artists singing in their own languages. Featuring local pop darlings Winston Surfshirt and Ayesha Madon, the free concert series will also include V-Pop sensations Mỹ Anh and Chi Xê, Grammy-winning African artist Dobet Gnahoré, Stella Jang from Korea, India’s Zaeden and former bass player for Prince, MonoNeon.   Oxford Art Factory will host UK rapping sensations Pete & Bas and Newcastle’s Steel City Dance Discs, Metro Theatre will see local labels Bad Apples and NLV Records celebrate their 10^th anniversaries in separate events, and City Recital Hall will host German electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream as well as Soccer Mommy. Vivid Supper Club will also return to Mary’s Underground, with a new line-up reflecting contemporary cabaret.   Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House boasts over 50 cutting-edge and legendary international and Australian artists, including British singer and spellbinding performer Anohni and The Johnsons, Beth Gibbons from Portishead, Sigur Rós with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, indie pop darlings Japanese Breakfast, soulful indie-folk crooner Marlon Williams, neo-soul artist Ravyn Lenae, plus homegrown trailblazers Miss Kaninna, SAHXL and more, all to perform at the iconic venue.   Festivalgoers at Carriageworks can move to a different beat, with performances by lo-fi house and techno producer Mall Grab, Sydney based-Papua New Guinean artist Ngaiire set to deliver her most visceral and transcendent work yet, and Byron Bay duo Skegss bring their raw mix of surf and garage rock. Carriageworks' legendary Night Market is also back for 2025, with young guns from Sydney’s top bars and restaurants stepping into the spotlight.

• 20 Dec 24

  Partner News
  Record Domestic Travel Spending In NSW And Sydney

    Visitor spending has broken records in NSW, reaching $31.3 billion for domestic overnight expenditure ...Read more
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  Record Domestic Travel Spending In NSW And Sydney - News & announcements

    Visitor spending has broken records in NSW, reaching $31.3 billion for domestic overnight expenditure across the state in the year ending September 2024.   New Tourism Research Australia data shows Sydney also achieved its highest total domestic expenditure on record at $15.8 billion.   NSW was the number one destination for Australians during the period, drawing 37.3 million domestic overnight visitors (up 3.2 per cent).   NSW received a total of 100.5 million domestic and international visitors during the period, who spent $52.9 billion, up 5.8 per cent compared to the year ending September 2023.   Destination NSW Acting CEO Stephen Mahoney said: “NSW has the leading visitor economy in the nation and received the highest number of visitors, visitor nights and expenditure in the year ending September 2024.   “The NSW Government’s Visitor Economy Strategy review has adopted an ambitious goal of $91 billion in annual visitor economy expenditure by 2035 and its experience-led approach to tourism will ensure the state continues to draw visitors seeking authentic connections with local culture and natural wonders.   “Australians continue to prioritise travel despite cost-of-living pressures and NSW is their destination of choice.   “The meaningful moments that a trip to NSW brings through the diversity of visitor experiences on offer has ensured that visitors return over and over again.”   Regional NSW continued to be the best performing destination across regional Australia in terms of visitors and nights, with 64.6 million international and domestic travellers visiting regional NSW in the year ending and spending $26.2 billion across the period, an increase of 30.7 per cent compared with the year ending September 2019.   The North Coast celebrated the highest increase in domestic overnight visitor numbers during the period (up 5.8 per cent), while visitor expenditure was up 2.1 per cent to $4.8 million.   Let’s Go Surfing Byron Bay Surf School Director Brenda Miley said: "The iconic road trip to Byron Bay is the quintessential Aussie summer experience. Instead of looking overseas for summer family trips, Aussies are turning to good, old-fashioned fun in the sun in beautiful Byron Bay.   “As pioneers of the surfing industry, we're so excited to see it. We've been enjoying the great surf and amazing community in Byron for years and we couldn't be more stoked about the growth in domestic tourism on the North Coast. And we're looking forward to a great summer season."   NSW was the top destination in the country for international visitors, nights and expenditure.   There were 3.7 million international visitors to the state in the year ending September 2024 (up 18.4 per cent compared to the year ending September 2023). International visitation to the state reached 84 per cent of pre-pandemic levels (compared to year ending September 2019), while the number of nights spent in NSW and expenditure exceeded 2019 levels.   International arrivals at Sydney Airport are predicted to surpass 2019 levels over summer, accelerated by Destination NSW’s Aviation Attraction Fund, with new routes by Turkish Airlines and Juneyao Air landing at Sydney Airport this month.   Sydney Airport CEO Scott Charlton said: “Sydney Airport is preparing for its busiest Christmas season for international travel on record, with 300,000 more passengers forecast than the same period in 2019.   “Around 5.8 million domestic and international passengers are expected to travel through our terminals from 13 December 2024 to 27 January 2025, up 460,000 on last year.”   FAST STATS  

  • In the year ending September 2024, NSW received 3.7 million international visitors. This is a significant increase of 18.4 per cent since the year ending September 2023 and just 15.7 per cent below the pre-COVID-19 (year ending September 2019) visitor numbers.
  • In the year ending September 2024, there were 10.5 million international seats to NSW, an increase of 19.8 per cent (or up 1.7 million) as compared to the same period in 2023
  • During the year ending September 2024, NSW achieved 50 per cent of the international expenditure target of the revised NSW Visitor Economy Strategy 2035.
  • The year ending September 2024, NSW had an average monthly accommodation occupancy rate of 73.1 per cent (up 0.9 percentage points on the year ending September 2023) and an average daily rate (ADR) of $257.9 (up 1.2 per cent on the year ending September 2023).
  • China’s recovery continues to improve with visitors at 57 per cent of year ending September 2019 level. Vietnam and South Korea led in visitor recovery (150 per cent and 141 per cent respectively), while Indonesia led in visitor nights recovery (182 per cent). South Korea and Indonesia led in expenditure recovery (151 per cent).
  • NSW was the top destination for caravan and camping visitors nationally. In the year ending September 2024, five million international and domestic overnight visitors to NSW participated in a commercial and non-commercial caravan and camping experience across NSW. They stayed 19 million nights in NSW.
  • In the year ending September 2024, 37.7 million international and domestic visitors to NSW engaged in nature and outdoor based activities during their trip.

• 06 Feb 22

  NEWS
  Australia fully reopening borders this month

  Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia’s borders will swing open for fully-vaccinated travellers from February ...Read more
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  Australia fully reopening borders this month - News & announcements

  Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced Australia’s borders will swing open for fully-vaccinated travellers from February 21. It comes as Covid-19 cases continue to drop. Australia’s international borders have been closed nearly two years with the tourism sector badly affected. It has been hailed by trade groups and airlines including Qantas. "Borders reopening to international tourists means Australia is finally back open for business," Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said. "We will be looking at our schedules to see if we can restart flights from more international destinations sooner or add capacity to those routes we are already flying.” "We have the flexibility to ramp up flights in response to demand." The PM said the federal government had been working tirelessly to re-open Australia's borders in stages since November 2021. “Those programmes have proceeded very successfully - whether it was programmes with New Zealand or Singapore, , opening up to international students and backpackers and economic migrants who are coming to Australia, that will now be extended to international visitors who will be able to return," he said. "If you're double-vaccinated, we look forward to welcoming you back to Australia and I know the tourism industry will be looking forward to that." Since November, when border restrictions were first relaxed, about 300,000 people have entered Australia.

• 17 Oct 21

  NEWS
  NSW scraps quarantine but foreign tourists still banned

  New South Wales will scrap quarantine for vaccinated travellers entering the state from 1 November ...Read more
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  NSW scraps quarantine but foreign tourists still banned - News & announcements

  New South Wales will scrap quarantine for vaccinated travellers entering the state from 1 November but the Prime Minister has blocked the state's plans to welcome foreign tourists for now. Australians returning home are given priority for now, the federal government said. It comes as the first arrivals started a seven day home quarantine trial in NSW. "Sydney, NSW, is open for business," NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said. Qantas said it would bring forward its international flights restart by two weeks, to November 1.   Read full story  

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