7 must see Vivid Sydney 2025 events to book now

Vivid Sydney 2025 returns from Friday, May 23 until Saturday, June 14.
Several big ticket events have already sold out, including dinner with Nigella Lawson.
These are some of the Vivid Sydney must see events that you should book now.
READ MORE: Enter by Sunday, April 27 to win Vivid Sydney experiences worth $3584

The countdown is on for the return of world-famous festival that lights up swathes of Sydney. Vivid Sydney brings millions of people to the Harbour City each year—2.42 million people last year, in fact. It’s a highlight of NSW’s cultural calendar and people plan far ahead. Many events at this year’s festival have already sold out, a month before it kicks off.

If you’ve missed out on dinner with Nigella Lawson, these hidden gems could be your saving grace. Don’t hang around; book your tickets to avoid missing out on any more of the Vivid magic.

Top 7 Vivid Sydney tickets to book now

1. Dreams of the Future

In partnership with Sydney Writers’ Festival (which opens on May 19), this one-night-only event will bring together an extraordinary lineup of writers, from poets and songwriters to novelists and journalists. They will read original short works that envision a world beyond our horizon.

Highlighting the power of the spoken word, rapper and change-maker Ziggy Ramo, artist, activist and screenwriter Aretha Brown and award-winning journalist and filmmaker Patrick Abboud are some of the names on the lineup.

Where: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George St, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Saturday, May 24 from 8pm until 9:15pm.
Price: Adult from $40, concession from $35.

2. Hollywood Dreaming: Neon Trail

Hollywood Quarter Sydney (HQ Sydney) is hosting a precinct-wide series of film, performance, music and food events that are an ode to Hollywood’s golden age. As you drink, dine and dance your way through a filmic dreamscape, look out for the free Neon Trail—it’ll be hard to miss!

Venues will glow with iconic movie titles, cinematic quotes and neon tributes to some of cinemas dreamiest moments. It’s Blade Runner meets Mulholland Drive meets a night out in Surry Hills.

Where: The Goods Line and Inner City, Hollywood Quarter, Surry Hills
When: Daily May 23-June 14, 6pm-11pm.
Price: Free.

3. Vivid Kids at Tumbalong Park

One for the families, sing, dance and play at Tumbalong Park every Saturday through the festival. Free family-friendly shows are designed to get little legs moving and imaginations soarding before you embark on your Light Walk adventure. Celebrate Australia’s Pacific Island community with PASIFIX on May 24, limber up at Bennytime’s dance party on May 31, interact in ARIA-nominated duo Whistle & Trick’s show on June 7, or stop to see The Vegetable Plot’s tunes and rotten puns on June 14.

It’s part of the Tumbalong Nights series which will bring 23 nights of free music to the city.

Where: Tumbalong Park, 11 Harbour St, Sydney NSW 2000
When: May 24 & 31 and June 7 & 14, 5pm-6pm.
Price: Free.

4. Firetalk

Gather around the fire to hear stories shared by contemporary First Nations writers, poets and songwriters. The tradition of fireside storytelling has carried the sparks of history, language and ancestral understanding across time, and Firetalk honours this living tradition.

Curated by Wiradjuri poet and artist Jazz Money, and presented in partnership with Sydney Writers’ Festival, these powerful performances will take place on each of the three Wednesdays of the festival.

Where: Barangaroo Reserve, Walumil Lawns, Barangaroo Ave, Barangaroo NSW 2000.
When: Wednesdays, May 28, June 4 & 11 from 6:30pm to 7pm.
Price: Free.

Vivid Sydney 2025 returns from Friday, May 23 until Saturday, June 14.
Several big ticket events have already sold out, including dinner with Nigella Lawson.
These are some of the hidden gems at Vivid Sydney 2025 that you should book now.
READ MORE: Enter by Sunday, April 27 to win Vivid Sydney experiences worth $3584

5. Haus of Horror

For the first time, Vivid Sydney and Haus of Horror will transform the former Sydney Burial Ground at Sydney Town Hall into a cinema for one-day-only. It’s the perfect setting for a pair of cult horror film screenings.

At 4pm, Tim Burton’s Edward Scissorhands will be shown. Live performers, photo booths, DJs and installations will provide entertainment beyond the screen—doors open at 4pm but the film starts at 5:30pm. Later, at 8pm, settle in for Poltergeist. The chilling 1982 horror classic created by Steven Spielberg is perfectly places in the resurrected Burial Ground, blurring the lines between film and reality. Again, other entertainment extends beyond the screening so arrive before the 9:30pm start time.

Where: Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney.
When: Sunday, 8 June.
Price: From $49.

6. Celebrating Eurovision Supper Club

Warm up for the world-famous Song Contest which kicks off in Basel, Switzerland, at 5am AEST on Saturday, 14 June. Chloé Zuel of Hamilton fame and former Eurovision correspondent CJ Johnson will host a dazzling evening of ballads, techno beats and all-out Euro Pop drama. Complete with sequins, key changes and wind machines, of course.

Vivid Sydney Supper Club is the late-night cabaret series, hosted in the speakeasy-style subterranean space. Stop for music, mischief and midnight snacks every Thursday and Friday of the festival.

Where: Mary’s Underground, 7 Macquarie Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Friday, 13 Jun from 9pm until 1am.
Price: From $69.90.

7. An Evening with Warren Ellis

Australian music icon Warren Ellis is famed as founder of Dirty Three and longtime collaborator of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. The celebrated multi-instrumentalist will invite the audience into an intimate conversation about his life, music and his deep commitment to animal conservation. The latter has been captured in the new documentary Ellis Park which is screening as part of Sydney Film Festival.

Warren will take to the stage at City Recital Hall to discuss the film, and also perform a short solo set too. The documentary will screen at State Theatre at 4pm (must be booked separately), just before the evening event.

Where: City Recital Hall, 2 Angel Place, Sydney NSW 2000.
When: Sunday, June 8 from 7pm until 8:30pm.
Price: From $49.90.

Vivid Sydney 2025

When is Vivid Sydney?

The annual festival returns to Sydney from Friday, May 23 2025 until Saturday, June 14. Events take place every day, from morning until late, suiting all budgets, ages and interests.

Where will Vivid take place?

It is a citywide festival with events taking place at locations across Sydney, from the iconic Circular Quay and The Rocks to Taronga Zoo and Barangaroo. There are five unique zones this year: Circular Quay and The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling harbour, The Goods Line and Inner City, and Martin Place and CBD.

Is it free? How much are tickets?

More than 75 per cent of the program is free this year, including the Vivid Sydney Light Walk. There are a number of tickets events, too, and many are selling out fast. You need to register in order to purchase a ticket.

How do I get to Vivid Sydney 2025?

There will be extra trains and buses operating on weekends to help visitors travel between locations. Extensive road closures and parking restrictions mean that public transport is the best way to travel around the city while the festival is on. You can used the Transport for NSW trip planner to plan your journeys, track real-time services and keep up-to-date with the latest travel news.