Vivid Sydney 2025 Lineup: Sigur Ros, Portishead and More

• Sigur Ros, Beth Gibbons (Portishead) and Anohni & The Johnsons headline Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House this year.
• Over 50 big-name artists are set for cutting-edge performances at the Opera House.
• The Metro Theatre and City Recital Hall will also play a part in the wider Vivid Music program for the first time in the festival’s 15-year history.

Vivid Music, one of the four pillars of Vivid Sydney 2025, has today announced an extensive program of live music for the world-renowned festival. And once again, we’re looking at big international acts and a diverse roster of homegrown talents filing into Sydney’s best concert halls, including the Sydney Opera House, Carriageworks, and the first time, City Recital Music Hall and Metro Theatre.

Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House is often the scene-stealer each year and 2025 should be no exception with headliners including British singer Anohni and the Johnsons, Beth Gibbons from legendary trip-hop band Portishead and soul-stirring Icelandic folk band Sigur Ros, whose lead vocalist, Jonsi, is no stranger to Vivid Sydney.

That’s far from it.

The Vivid Music organisers will be sprinkling the city’s best venues with a massive program. Expect to see Newcastle’s Steel City Dance Discs and UK rappers Pete & Bas at the intimate Oxford Art Factory, and electronic music pioneers Tangerine Dream and Nashville songstress Soccer Mommy at City Recital Hall.

That’s still not it.

We’ve got a free concert series coming our way with the return of Tumbalong Nights right in the heart of Darling Harbour. This year, the event will focus on showcasing diaspora communities and First Nations artists who will be singing in their own languages.

Given the success of SXSW Sydney’s free showcases for musicians from the likes of India and Indonesia, this should bring a brand new perspective for Vivid Sydney, which has always fashioned itself as a worldly festival pulling together artists and ideas from many corners of the Earth.

Tumbalong Nights will also feature performances from local heroes Winston Surfshirt and Ayesha Madon, as well as Vietnamese pop sensations Mỹ Anh and Chi Xê, Grammy-winning African artist Dobet Gnahoré,  from Korea, India’s Zaeden and former bass player for Prince, MonoNeon.  

Festival-favourite Vivid Supper Club will make its way back to its spiritual home, Mary’s Underground, backed by a line-up that’ll be announced in the coming weeks, with promises of “contemporary cabaret” thrown in for good measure.

Meanwhile, Metro Theatre makes the most of its Vivid Sydney debut by hosting 10th anniversary parties for two of Sydney’s most iconic indie labels, Bad Apples and NLV Records.

After hosting massive (and sold out) raves from the likes of Jamie XX and Kaytranada in recent months, Carriageworks continues to shell out those massive dance parties. Lo-fi house and techno producer Mall Grab will play the arts institution, as well as Papua New Guinean artist Ngaiire and Byron Bay surf-rock duo Skeggs.

Hip hop and jazz also take a big focus. New-age jazz artist Kamasi Washington is planning a show for Carriageworks and we’ll also be seeing a very rare international show from pioneering New York hip hop group Black Star, with both Talib Kewli and Yasiin Bey (FKA Mos Def) making the trip for one night only.

All eyes will be on Sydney Opera House, however. In addition to Sigur Ros (with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra) playing three nights (May 23-25) and Beth Gibbons, there will be a cutting-edge lineup of 50 international and local acts announced in the coming weeks. This includes performances from indie-folk crooner Marlon Williams, neo-soul artist Ravyn Lenae, Miss Kaninna, SAHXL and plenty more.

Sydney Travel Guide will keep you updated on the full Vivid Sydney music line ups as they are released.

When is Vivid Sydney 2025?

Vivid Sydney runs from Friday, May 23 to Saturday, June 14 with all four pillars—light, ideas, food and music—tied together by this year’s theme: “Dream”.

What else is on during Vivid Sydney 2025?

• Here is everything you need to know about the program for the 15th annual Vivid Sydney
• Over 75% of the program for Vivid Sydney this year will be completely free