Forget the bright lights! The Vivid Fire Kitchen program for 2026 has been revealed and with more than 60 culinary creatives taking part, a new Vivid Fire Pit and a new home, we can’t wait for this feast to begin.
It’s hard to imagine anything stealing the spotlight from the stunning illuminations that spring up around the Harbour City during next month’s Vivid Sydney festival. But the culinary hub of Vivid Fire Kitchen, part of the Vivid Food program, is set to bring the heat again in 2026.
Inspired by the traditional Aussie BBQ, Vivid Fire Kitchen has assembled more than 60 culinary voices to deliver open-fire cooking demonstrations, intimate talks, tastings and live music that will champion diverse culture, cuisines and flavours.
At the heart of the Vivid Fire Kitchen program in 2026 is the Vivid Fire Pit, an open and immersive culinary hub.
Visitors will be able to watch up close – although not too close – as Australia’s most acclaimed chefs appear to showcase four distinct fire-cooking methods.
Mark Best, executive chef of Infinity by Mark Best, said Vivid Fire Pit is “an opportunity to explore why cooking over flame is so special”.
“It’s elemental, expressive and deeply connected to place,” added Best, who will feature at Vivid Fire Pit on May 30.
“Fire strips cooking back to its essentials and opens space for instinct, memory and collaboration. Creating something unique for Vivid Fire Kitchen allows me to respond to the energy of the festival and the landscape that surrounds it, telling a story through flavour, heat and timing.
“To do that alongside so many chefs in the program, each bringing their own voice, culture and perspective, is what makes this experience truly compelling.”
Chefs featured at the Fire Pit will prepare one-off creations that can be purchased on the night.
Also new to the Vivid Fire Kitchen is the Food for Thought stage. It will bring together chefs, authors, restaurateurs and celebrity cooks to share in demonstrations, conversations, and talks spanning subjects such as the future of food, culture, creativity and sustainability.
Laura Sharrad, chef and featured guest on the Food for Thought stage during the Dessert Takeover, said at the program launch: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of the Vivid Sydney line‑up this year and to cook at the incredible Vivid Fire Kitchen. There’s something so powerful about cooking over open flame – it brings people together, sparks creativity and celebrates the raw beauty of great ingredients.”
She added: “To be sharing that experience in the heart of Sydney during such an iconic festival is truly special. I can’t wait to serve up something delicious and be part of the energy, flavour and fire that make Vivid such an unforgettable event.”
Other featured Food for Thought panel hosts and guest chefs include Luke Mangan, Julie Goodwin, Adriano Zumbo, George
Calombaris, Emelia Jackson, and Arrnott Olssen. Taking guests through the nightly program is a smorgasbord of MCs including
Costa Georgiadis, Tim Ross, Jennifer Wong, Simon Marnie, Anthony Huckstep, Myffy Rigby and Luke Carroll.
Of course while indulging in this feast of flavours at Vivid Fire Kitchen, you will still be able to soak up some of Vivid’s iconic light installations. The River of Fire, a canopy of flames made with 160 custom LED tubes, flows overhead, while nearby works include Molecule of Light, Peekaboo Parliament and Mycelium Network.
Vivid Fire Kitchen will host several themed nights including, No Taste Like Home, which will celebrate NSW wine, produce and regional talent, while First Nations Culinary Showcases, presented with the National Indigenous Culinary Institute, will shine a spotlight on Indigenous ingredients, knowledge and cooking methods.
There will also be a Dessert Takeover on the June long weekend, featuring Adriano Zumbo, Emelia Jackson and Gelato Messina’s Donato Toce alongside dessert offerings created exclusively for the event.
Vivid Fire Kitchen runs every night from May 22 to June 13, 2026, between 6pm to 11pm and is free to enter. For other highlights and must-see Vivid Sydney moments, head to Sydney Travel Guide’s wrap-up of the best of the festival and top tips.
The official Vivid Sydney 2026 program can be found here.
