Every May since 2009, the Australian city of Sydney will go all out to stage a city-level party—the Vivid Sydney, light and sound extravaganza which has not only evolved into the most important tourist event of the year heavily promoted by the city authorities but has also become the most dazzling icon of Australia’s creative culture.
It’s embarrassing to say that despite my many trips to the city, I have customarily given Vivid Sydney a miss. Nevertheless, I am aware that Vivid Sydney was first conceptualized as a perfect blend of light-and-sound art and low-carbon technology to create a globally impactful art festival.
And now, this festival has been elevated to a global level wooing over 3.28 million visitors each year with an astounding A$268 million in tourist revenue, the numbers breaking new thresholds every year!
The main stage of Vivid Sydney is the city’s most iconic landmarks—the Sydney Opera House, the riverside highrise towers and the majestic Sydney Harbour Bridge—transformed into glittering, dream-like neon monuments by blinding lights.
Vivid Sydney is indeed a festive celebration everyone must make an effort to attend at least once in their lifetime, on par in scale and grandeur with the Brazilian Carnival or Japan’s Gion Matsuri.
I can’t help but think about Rovaniemi, a tiny Finnish town of only 50,000 residents known for its santa claus village drawing close to five million visitors! The magic of tourism nevertheless does not lie with sheer numbers but the creativity and unique cultural vibe, and Vivid Sydney is an exemplary instance of such a magical appeal. It is more than just a shortlived light-and-sound show, but a tinder that creatively lights up the economy, empowers its youth, and bridges the world!
Vivid Sydney will enter its 15th year in 2025, and I’m not going to give it a miss again! Together with 12 travel buddies, we flew into Sydney, sat inside the private balcony of The Quay—one of Australia’s top three restaurants—enjoying an exquisite omakase dinner prepared by “18 Hats” chef, while gazing into the breathtaking spectacular show lighting up Sydney’s night sky.
According to Destination NSW, Vivid Sydney can be divided into four broad categories: Vivid Light, Vivid Music, Vivid Ideas and Vivid Food.
1. Vivid Light
The Opera House, Harbour Bridge, The Rock, Darling Harbour and other city landmarks will be transformed into massive light monuments, creating a visual impact integrating the best in art and technology.
2. Vivid Music
Featuring talented local and international artists encompassing a variety of musical styles such as techno, jazz and independent bands. Imagine yourself bumping into an unexpected live show in the street!
3. Vivid Ideas
Over a hundred forums, talks, and creative workshops anchored by designers, tech leaders and social innovators from across the planet, promising an endless stream of creative ideas in an urban version of TED Talks or Burning Man!
4. Vivid Food
Continues to grow as a festival favourite, celebrating the state’s vibrant culinary culture and world-renowned produce.
Vivid Sydney is held in the southern hemisphere’s cool early winter, a peak season for outdoor markets and trade shows that coincides with the local fishery and agricultural harvest season. This is absolutely the perfect time to visit Sydney.
I always believe that the success of a creative tourism project should not stop at just triggering “first visits,” but also galvanizing “repeated visits” in the likes of F1 racing, Harbin Ice and Snow Festival, and other events that perfectly blend culture, climate and green tourism. Where this is concerned, I feel that our Visit Malaysia Year organizers should perhaps learn something in order to create that wow factor.
I remember although I missed last year’s Vivid Sydney, I did come across a black-and-white projection paying tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth on the exterior wall of the Opera House—looking solemn and heart-moving as the night falls.
This year’s event features generous quantities of aboriginal arts and local creations which relate the stories of this vast Land Down Under through captivating visuals, sound and light display.
Creative tourism is not about gaudy display of technology but serves as an extension of the locality’s culture and revival of local memories.
The 4D3N trip is not just about being there and snapping a couple of impressive photos; it is an unusual experience that penetrates deep into Sydney’s urban fabric. When the night falls, Vivid Sydney not only has the city’s buildings brightly lit up, but the passion and imagination of its participants as well: the laughter, melodies, good food, the entire city is brought back to life instantly!
Vivid Sydney paints the city’s unique creative proclamation with dazzling light against the backdrop of the night sky. The success of Vivid Sydney stakes the claim that festival is not just a tourism marketing gimmick but an expression of the city’s culture, driving the local economy and deepening the city’s sense of identity.
Vivid Sydney has clearly marked Sydney on the world map of creativity!
