Captivating Immersive Experiences You Can't Miss In Sydney

“Vivid is a massive boost to Sydney’s night-time economy, with many of the 2.5 million visitors pouring into our restaurants, bars and live venues. As we mark 15 years, this world-class event continues to showcase the very best destinations and creative talent our city has to offer. From 23 May to 14 June, the Harbour City will become a canvas for boundary-pushing artists, global thought leaders and bold culinary voices, inviting everyone to dream big and experience Sydney in new ways. We pay homage to the traditional owners, past, present and future, as caretakers of the lands which we work, live and play.
In doing so, the festival takes its first steps into a new era with a selection of installations, talks, and food experiences, while the city still transforms each night again into its signature night time glow. Vivid Music has a perfected program of artists from around the world, creating sounds alongside special events, interactive experiences and performances. In doing so, the festival takes its first steps into a new era with a selection of installations, talks, and food experiences, while the immersive art sydney city still transforms each night into its signature nighttime glow.

The main strip is lit up with dozens of delicious eateries and street stalls, including the popular Chatkazz, Dosa Hut, Ginger Indian Restaurant, Momozz, Jaipur Sweets and Not Just Curries. Visit the spot where former convict James Ruse successfully grew the colony’s first wheat crop in 1791 and tour the 1835-built Experiment Farm Cottage. Wool pioneers John and Elizabeth Macarthur owned Elizabeth Farm, an Australian colonial homestead. The site contains the oldest surviving European building in Australia.
An unforgettable and eye-opening adventure awaits your arrival at the Sydney Virtual Room. In Tripadvisor’s top 10% of attractions worldwide, this virtual experience features team-based VR experiences and encourages problem-solving. The perfect plan for a kid’s birthday party or Sunday afternoon with the family, don’t miss out on one of Sydney’s best immersive experiences. This brand-new immersive experience will open its doors in September and promises to transport visitors to a bygone world of pharaohs, pyramids, and more.
Unlock creativity and teamwork with an immersive art experience that's both fun and educational—perfect for school excursions. A wonderful experience for both kids and adults.So creative, fun, and engaging from start to finish. Serving up a visual feast of colour, light, sparkle and bubbles, this globally acclaimed, multi-sensory adventure will remain at Sydney Olympic Park until at least 2026. Speaking of the first portal, Defy Gravity, here visitors can record videos against a customizable, colorful LED background. The Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Horizontal lock keeps the footage steady using advanced stabilization technology, even when people spin the wheel for a visual effect. This exhibition encourages audiences to connect with Mueck’s sculptures through encounters that feel viscerally physical.

360-degree sound builds a world around you - one your mind fills in because it has no visual information to rely on. He became one of the leading lights of post-impressionism, a movement that bridged the gap between classical impressionism (seen in the works of Monet or Renoir) and more modern movements to come, such as expressionism or cubism. Van Gogh is one of the best-known examples of posthumous success in the art world; although his works now regularly set auction records, Van Gogh never found fame during his lifetime, and died at 37. Free guided tours of exhibitions are conducted each day, visit the information desk on Level One for the scheduled times. The result is an experience that has something to appeal to literally everyone – from little kids who will want to run around and feel the magic unfurl around them to adults (locals and tourists) who want a legitimately unique thrill for the first time. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter here.
Local restaurants and bars will be on hand for food and refreshments as you take the opportunity to explore the exhibited art at your own pace, stopping to take in a performance or a piece of film. NFTs (or Non-Fungible Tokens) are the hot thing right now, attracting attention and headlines from those looking to speculate and accumulate. While they're usually consigned to the digital realm, MidCity Shopping Centre – located in the heart of Pitt Street Mall – is bringing them to life in a unique exhibition where you can enjoy art while you shop. At Ballet of Lights, guests are immersed into a world where classical choreography, glowing ballerina costumes and nostalgia come together to tell popular stories like Cinderella, Peter Pan and Sleeping Beauty.

We know it can be overwhelming if you haven’t planned properly, which is why we present to you the Sydney Travel Guide’s guide to Vivid Sydney. From musicals straight from the stages of Broadway to the latest exhibitions, get in touch with your creative side at these theatres, galleries and museums. What about with one of the world’s greatest harbours, framed by that striking bridge and home to the architectural masterpiece that is the Sydney Opera House? Or the huge green swathe of the Royal Botanic Garden, smack-dab in the middle of the city? No matter which direction you head in, the Sydney CBD offers something extraordinary.
Australia has a rich history of art and culture, and its contemporary artists are some of the most exciting and innovative in the world. Whether you’re new to investing in art or looking to expand your collection, you can’t look past Australian contemporary art. The  venue, set across two levels at 154–160 Broadway, is designed as an “experiential playground” where illusion, sound and tactile engagement meet. Visitors will wander through holographic moon rooms, mirrored mazes, levitating trains and projection spaces that challenge the senses.
Her current research is focused on exploring the philosophical field of zoosemiotics through virtual installations of 3D representations of bird song sound waveforms in social, creative, virtual worlds. Having an extensive research background in biomedical science at the University of Melbourne and a longstanding interest in the visual arts, Andrew works as a postdoctoral research fellow and lead pre-rendered content developer at 3DXLab. Andrew specialises in developing creative solutions to complex visualisations in addition to carrying out roles in the lab’s interactive VR content development. The Visual microscope is a fully interactive and ultra-high resolution navigation tool that has been developed to browse and analyse gene expression levels from human cancer cells. Newly established cutting edge research and production space for live performance capture and photogrammetry.

Exploring themes of identity, community, social change, and the pursuit of peace, Hair remains as powerful and relevant today as it was when it first captivated audiences. Cockle Bay will also host the return of Drone Shows as part of the Vivid Sydney program, back for the first time since 2024 with 22 shows across 11 nights, delivering the highest number of drone shows in the festival’s history. Little readers can slide beneath Mr McGee's tree, interact with oversized storybook pages, splash alongside familiar animal characters and dress up as their favourites, all while discovering cosy corners made for quiet reading. Equal parts exhibition and hands-on play space, it's a joyful outing designed for families to explore, imagine and share a love of storytelling together. Beyond the food, EQ Markets are packed with stalls selling boutique fashion, handmade jewellery, homewares and gifts you won't spot in your usual shopping centres.
An immersive murder mystery set in the plague-ridden medieval village of Dork. Every guest receives a character role with hidden objectives, alliances, and secrets, then works with others to uncover clues, form alliances, and figure out what — or who — is behind the strange events unfolding around them. A  community trivia night focused on Mardi Gras history, with drag performances and prizes. Held at Paddo RSL, across the road from Paddington Town Hall where the first Mardi Gras Party was held. The impressionists were famed for their use of movement, light, shadow and visible brushstrokes – elements that will be highlighted and magnified in this larger-than-life exhibition. While the artworks themselves will be enthralling enough, those who want to learn about the inspirations behind the works will be able to refer to photographs and videos that accompany the exhibition.

In 2026, Vivid Food becomes a powerful multicultural storyteller, celebrating the distinctive flavours and cultures of NSW. Step straight into storytime at The Curious World of Pamela Allen, a delightful exhibition bringing her much-loved books to life for the very first time in Australia. Did you know that your local Bunnings holds the key to a fun and stress-free morning out with the kids? Every weekend, your local store runs free Bunnings kids' activities and events.
This unique performance series takes place in the historic hammock room at the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Hyde Park Barracks. Combining music with the atmospheric setting of this former convict accommodation, the experience offers a new perspective on Sydney’s colonial history. Sydney’s rich history comes alive through exhibitions that explore the city’s colonial past, convict heritage, and evolution into a modern metropolis. The MCA’s annual exhibition of young Australian artists returns, showcasing emerging talent from across the country. This year’s selection highlights diverse perspectives on contemporary issues, with works spanning various media including painting, sculpture, video, and installation. This major exhibition presents the work of internationally acclaimed artist Julie Mehretu, known for her large-scale, abstract paintings that explore themes of migration, globalization, and identity.