When you hear the words “Vivid Sydney”, you probably think of light displays and huge installations illuminating the harbour. However, the multi-arts festival is focusing more and more on culinary offerings as it gets ready to host its most highly anticipated Vivid food program yet.
Last year, Vivid Sydney turned the heat up on its culinary credentials.
Vivid Fire Kitchen was one of the festival’s most popular offerings, featuring flame-filled BBQ pits, gourmet food trucks, free wine masterclasses and live cooking demonstrations. Nigella Lawson hosted a series of sold-out, sumptuous dinners in a literal tunnel under the city. Influencers flocked to the Goods Line to try stacked steak sandwiches, smoked beef brisket and vanilla crème brûlée doughnuts.
This year, the festival is dialling things up again, unveiling what Destination NSW is calling its “biggest food program yet”. At the heart of it is one standout event set to transform one of the city’s most iconic retail landmarks, the historic Strand Arcade, into an intimate long-table dining experience.
The Long Table Dinner: NSW Icons of Land & Sea will feature produce-led dishes from some of NSW’s top farmers as they sit beneath the heritage balconies and ornate detailing of the Strand. Taking place on May 30 for one night only, the dinner will celebrate the richness of innovation of the state’s food and wine producers, including select winners and nominees of the Royal Agricultural Society’s President’s Medal.
The elegant evening will be curated and hosted by acclaimed chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Nino Zoccali from The Restaurant Pendolino. He’s no stranger to the Strand Arcade, as the award-winning Restaurant Pendolini is located on the hub’s second floor.
Broadcaster Simon Marnie will also be in attendance, guiding diners through the immersive experience with his storytelling, blending culture and fine dining. In true Vivid fashion, the evening will not just be about what’s on each plate, but also the setting, the stories and the showmanship.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: “Culinary tourism is central to the NSW visitor experience, and Vivid Sydney once again celebrates the best our state has to offer.
“This year’s Vivid Food program is anticipated to be the largest yet. Celebrating NSW’s most iconic food and wine producers, with a long‑table dining experience in a Vivid Sydney first in the historic Strand Arcade will be truly unforgettable.
“NSW Icons of Land and Sea will showcase the strength of this sector and the important role it plays in powering our state’s visitor economy.”
Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO added: “This year’s Vivid Food program explores the connection between food and memory, how every dish holds a story and every flavour carries the spirit of where it came from.
“With the unbeatable ingredients of the winning produce from the Royal Agricultural Society, legendary chef Nino Zoccali, stories of NSW’s culinary culture, and one of the most gorgeous arcades in the world, this event promises to be an unforgettable highlight of Vivid Sydney 2026. Please join us!”
What else do we know about the 2026 Vivid Food Program?
With fewer than 100 days to go until Vivid Sydney 2026, much of the program remains under wraps. The theme hasn’t even been announced yet, leaving fans to speculate about what will light up the city this winter.
One detail we do have, however, is a major move for the festival’s most mouthwatering drawcard. In 2026, Vivid Fire Kitchen will relocate to Barangaroo’s Stargazer Lawn, bringing its signature flames and flavour to the harbour foreshore. Last year, the sensory celebration of smoke, fire and street food took over The Goods Line in Ultimo, but this year it will be set against Barangaroo’s waterfront backdrop.
(Cover Image: Nino Zoccali, Steve Kamper and Paul Nicolaou.)
Vivid Sydney 2026
Where: Citywide.
When: May 22-June 13, 2026.
