It seems like only yesterday the fireworks went off, alerting the city to the beginning of Vivid Sydney 2025, but somehow the festival’s already nearing its end. This Saturday marks the final day of the festival, so if you’ve not yet managed to get into the city, we’ve taken the pain out of planning. Pick your Vivid itinerary and get out to explore the last week of Vivid Sydney.

Vivid Sydney 2025 BioDream in Martin Place — BioDream in Martin Place. (Image: Destination NSW).

Tuesday, June 10: Martin Place & Carriageworks

12pm–2pm – Catch a free lunchtime screening of a suite of uninterrupted acclaimed animated shorts from around the globe, plus complimentary popcorn, at the big screen in Martin Place.

2pm – Head over the Eleven Barrack on Barrack Street for a curated four- or six-course feast by acclaimed French chef Claude Bosi, who has joined forces with Brent Savage. The menu showcases the best New South Wales produce and is a rare chance to witness two visionary chefs at their best. Tickets must be booked here in advance.

6pm – Explore the Vivid Light Walk around Martin Place. BioDream, the Chasing Dreams Tunnel and Flowers’ Power are some of the highlights, while The Lucid Dream Collective is an interactive installation definitely worth checking out. Step into the AI photobooth to have your photo captured and transformed with a “dream treatment”, then choose to add your dream vision to the collective projection or share it on social media. That should take you right up to your next activity.

7pm–10pm – Combining film, music and immersion, BAFTA-nominated producer Liam Young brings his visionary film, Planet City to life in an immersive experience at City Recital Hall. The film asks, what if the entire global population lived in one hyper-dense city, leaving the rest of the planet to rewild? Presented in partnership with Sydney Film Festival, Young’s live narration will be paired with a cinematic live score from UK experimental artist Forest Swords and live vocals from singer Eleanor Jawurlngali Dixon.

Alternatively, head over to Carriageworks for Black Star. Hip-hop icons Yasiin Bey and Talib Kweli have shaped the sound of hip-hop since their groundbreaking 1998 debut, and are bringing their razor-sharp lyricism to the Redfern venue tonight. One-night-only with two rap greats. It’s a good one.

Dinner ideas:

Low to mid-range: In Martin Place, go to Ragazzi for pasta and wine or Mercado for a Spanish-inspired set menu for $50pp. In Redfern, head to Huxtaburger or Bush for their $65 set sharing menu.

Luxe dinner: There is an evening dinner slot at Eleven Barrack if you can’t make Claude Bosi’s lunchtime slot, or book a table at Quay in The Rocks, one of Sydney’s most iconic fine dining experiences.

Art After Hours Art Gallery of NSW. (Image: Destination NSW).

Wednesday, June 11: Darling Harbour & Barangaroo

6pm – Kick off your evening with a feast at Vivid Fire Kitchen at The Goods Line near Central Station. Twin brothers and First Nations chefs who trained at Rockpool Bar & Grill, Luke and Sam Bourke, are the pit-masters for the night, while Chris Taylor hosts and Lowe Wines provides paired drinks. Or walk on to Food Park at Tumbalong Park, where a collection of food trucks and a lively bar provide fuel along the Light Walk. Look out for the large inflatables of the Elysian Collection installation while you’re in the park.

6:30pm – From Tumbalong Park, walk to the harbour and head towards Barangaroo. You’ll pass The Dream Herd‘s glowing cloud of fluffy white sheep, and make sure to look across the water to the Australian National Maritime Museum, where Tunku and Ngaadi is lighting up the building. If you manage to get to Barangaroo Reserve by 6:30pm, don’t miss the last Firetalk – Luke Patterson and Clarence Slockee are the storytellers for the night (6:30pm-7pm).

7:15pm – Catch the Metro from Barangaroo to Martin Place and walk over to the Art Gallery of NSW.

7:45pm – Art After Hours is back and the Art Gallery of NSW will remain open until 10pm. The event starts at 5pm but you’ll still make it in time to see dream interpreter Martina Kocian discuss how to interpret your dreams and identify common themes. Afterwards, have a quick look around the 2025 Archibald Prize exhibition to see the Finalist and Winning artworks.

Night cap: Feeling hungry after all that exploring? Head down to Potts Point to peruse the many restaurants, such as Cho Cho San, Caravin or Fratelli Paradiso (a favourite of Nigella Lawson’s). If you’re looking for a sultry end to the night, go to Bambini Trust on the other side of Hyde Park for a glass or two from their extensive wine list.

Our Connected City free thing to do at vivid — Take the ferry from Milsons Point to Circular Quay to see the city light up. (Image: Destination NSW).

Thursday, June 12

Anytime from 10am – Make your way over to Luna Park for Stranger Things: The Experience. The latest Netflix-inspired experience landed at the Crystal Palace just in time for the start of Vivid. It was meant to close this weekend with Vivid, but has already been extended to July 21 due to high demand. Join Eleven and the gang in the Hawkins Lab as you battle to stop the evil Dr Brenner and the terrifying demogorgons. Spend the afternoon riding the coasters and other rides at Luna Park.

4:30pm – Before your evening gets underway, go for a late lunch or early dinner near Milsons Point. Oishibilli is a top-rated Asian restaurant serving sushi, sashimi and noodles, while The Botanist is a neighbourhood gem that’s a favourite with locals. Whether you’re in the mood for pasta, seafood, steak or braised lamb shoulder, this cosy pub does it all.

6:08pm – Board the ferry from Milsons Point wharf and look out over Sydney as it lights up for the night. The Harbour Bridge Pylons are transformed into popcorn machines each night, while 150 searchlights sweep out across the harbour from the city. Swap from starboard to port to see Sydney Opera House illuminated with Kiss of Light by David McDiarmid. A fleet of boats from the likes of Captain Cook Cruises, Journey Beyond, Fantasea and Tribal Warrior are taking the Vivid lights on to the water each night.

6:15pm – Time to explore all the installations around Circular Quay. Just behind the train station, Customs House is the canvas for fashion design duo Romance Was Born’s House of Romance: Dreams Collide, a bold and joyous projection that transforms the building into an underwater reef, crochet-covered landmark and a fuzzy creature, within a few minutes. Next up, Solieil Nuit is an impressionist painting-like installation on Alfred Street, leading you towards Emergence in First Fleet Park, Stem at Cadman’s Cottage (shout into the flowers and watch the effect) and the Kia Portal at Bligh & Barney Park.

7:30pm – Turn back towards Circular Quay and walk to Argyle Street. At the top of the road, the top of the tunnel is now alive with Vivid magic. Stars, fungi, birds and bioluminescent plants burst through the passageway above and around you, thanks to Bloom. Take a moment to watch the full show.

7:45pm – Finish your evening with dinner and a drink at The Collective on Argyle Street – just a few steps away from the Bloom installation. The Dining Room is the fine dining spot where they serve snacks, small plates, large plates and desserts, and there’s an impressive wine room too. The Garden serves food until 8pm but you can take your drink outside to enjoy the live music. Tailor Room is the third new venue here — tucked to the right as you enter from Argyle Street, it’s a beautiful little spot for a late-night drink. The menu is based on textures and, rather than listing cocktail ingredients, you choose based on the feel of the menu.

Dinner Ideas:

Budget: Gateway is filled with more than 30 restaurants, cafes, bars and a Food Court that’s open daily. Plenty of options for all budgets and tastes.
Luxe: Le Foote in The Rocks for French-inspired cuisine including escargot dripping in garlic butter, steak frites and French onion soup. Grana in Circular Quay is an Italian restaurant where set menus start from $79 per person. Aster Bar at the InterContinental Sydney Hotel is hosting Dreamscapes, a curated Vivid dining experience which includes a cocktail with matching canape followed by a shared starter and main, best enjoyed while soaking in the panoramic harbour views.

Sydney Opera House at Vivid Sydney 2025 — Head to Sydney Opera House for a night of food and performances with celebrated chef Danielle Alvarez. (Image: Destination NSW).

Friday, June 13

Friday is a big day for one-off events and last chances.

The REMIX Summit Sydney presents its final day of speakers at the Australian National Maritime Museum. Thirteen speakers from across art, tech, media and business will share their ideas of ‘Futures for the Fearless’ (9am–5pm; from $295 per person).

At Sydney Opera House, celebrated chef Danielle Alvarez presents a dream-inspired tasting menu accompanied by live contemporary dance, musical and ethereal storytelling for a completely immersive experience, at Dance of Dreams (6:30pm–9:30pm; from $329 per person).

At Sydney Town Hall, Academy Award-winning filmmaker, National Geographic photographer and New York Times bestselling author Jimmy Chin makes his first appearance in Australia. Hosted by award-winning journalist Kumi Taguchi, he’ll reflect on his remarkable journey from elite mountain athlete to renowned documentarian and director (7:30pm–9pm; from $55 per person).

Brooklyn-born four piece DIIV will perform at Carriageworks. Their signature fusion of dream-pop, shoegaze and post-punk sounds with swirling guitars and hypnotic beats is the perfect way to see in the weekend (6pm–11pm; from $79 per person).

For dinner inspiration, take a look at our guide: Where to Eat During Vivid Sydney 2025

Saturday, June 14

It’s the final day of Vivid, so make sure to visit anything you missed or want to experience one last time.

During the day: It may be closing day, but the State Library of NSW has a brand-new opening that will extend the festival’s ‘Dream’ theme throughout the rest of 2025. At The Australian Dream?, design expert Tim Ross dives into the archives to reveal how we have built, bought and been sold different versions of ‘home’ over the decades (10am–5pm; free).

Early evening: Rewalk the Light Walk and catch anything you missed, or head over to Redfern to eat before a night of partying at Carriageworks.

Evening: Marking 10 years of the Mall Grab Project that catapulted Aussie DJ Mall Grab on to the scene, he’s made his long-awaited return to Sydney and added one last date to close the festival at Carriageworks (5pm–10:30pm; from $109 per person). Fusing club, techno and traditional Arabic sounds, Egyptian-Australian musician moktar will also play at Carriageworks (6pm–11pm; from $59). For free music, go to Tumbalong Park for Tumbalong Nights, with Winston Surfshirt and Jerome Blazé providing the tunes for the night (6pm–10pm; free).

At ICC Sydney, Emmy Award-winning actors and real-life partners Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally will appear together onstage and in conversation for the first time. Hosted by presenter and journalist Zan Rowe, they will explore how they’ve shaped careers as multi-hyphenate artists, what it takes to collaborate as both life and creative partners and how their work intersects with activism (7:30pm–9pm; from $65).

Dinner Ideas:

Saltbush & Starlight Dining: Midden by Mark Olive will serve a three-course First Nations-inspired menu in a secret space in the Sydney Opera House, with captivating light projections shining overhead. 4:15pm–8pm; from $290 per person.
Hollywood Dreaming | Butter Beats and Eats: YAWDOESITALL: Ghanaian-Australian artist Yawdoesitall will take over Butter in Surry Hills for a night of high-energy live hip-hop, DJ sets, exclusive merch drops and fried chicken. 8:30pm–11:30pm; from $22.49 per person.
Neon Dreams: Don your skates and whizz around the roller rink before heading to the American diner by Shannon Martinez. Juicy burgers, crunchy fries, creamy mac and cheese and jelly donuts are all plant-based and flavoursome. 6pm–11pm; from $18 per person.