For 15 years, Vivid Sydney has brightened the city with amazing light displays. These projections shine on Sydney's most famous buildings. Millions of people attend each year to see the brilliant creations designed just for the winter festival. And if you're looking for the best ways to beat those crowds and get intel on what's the best-of-the-best at Vivid in 2025, you've come to the right place.

Taking place annually around the same time, in 2025 Vivid Sydney starts on Friday, 23 May and ends on Saturday, 14 June. That gives you three weeks to take in everything the event has to offer – and it's a lot!

Where is it? Projected onto the sails of Sydney Opera House at Circular Quay

Always a show-stopper display, the sails of the Opera House won't hold back in 2025. This year, the show celebrates artist David McDiarmid by displaying his work onto the iconic building. The seven-minute display delves into McDiarmid's activism and provocation with images projecting humour, irony and intimacy.

Where is it? Projected onto the Museum of Contemporary Art at Circular Quay

First Nations artist Vincent Namatjira's bold display takes you from Buckingham Palace to rock concerts, all through a dingo. The artist says the dingo represents Indigenous power and celebrates Aboriginal strength, pride and resilience.

Where is it? Projected onto Customs House at Circular Quay

Transforming the 180-year-old building into a modern kaleidoscope, immersive studio Supergiant has created a curiously fascinating display said to be inspired by Iced Vovos, crochet collages and neon underwater reefs.

Local tip: One of the best places to view displays on the facade of Customs House is actually from Platform 1 at Circular Quay station. So if you're heading home from there, or toward another station to see more Vivid displays, be sure to check it out!

Where is it? Argyle Tunnel in The Rocks

Returning to Vivid in 2025, the roof of the Argyle Tunnel makes for the perfect canvas of light displays. And Bloom is taking it to the next level. The interactive display lets you use your phone to shape the art around you, which will feature stars, fungi, birds and bioluminescent plants.

Where is it? Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour

Described as "part mirage, part playground", Elysian is another interactive display that allows you to step right into the art. Illuminated tubes become iridescent tunnels that you can walk through and feel like you're escaping the everyday.

Where is it? Hay Street neat The Goods Line

An escape into a magical cosmos, Starscape features more than 700 stars illuminating a 40-metre tunnel that turn childhood-ceiling-star dreams into reality.

Where is it: Campbells Cove

When is it: 23 May

Price: Free

Officially launching Vivid Sydney 2025, First Light celebrates all things Australia and its First Nationals culture. The event features a performance by NAISDA dancers that honours Yolngu culture.

Where is it? Luna Park

When is it: 23 May-14 June

Price: $60

Fans of the hit Netflix show will want tickets to this. This immersive experience has you stepping into Hawkins, Indiana in 1986. You'll face challenges to help Eleven save the town from the Upside Down. Afterward, play in an 80s themed space with arcade games and themed drinks.

Where is it? Milsons Point

When is it? 23, 24, 30, 31 May and 6, 7, 8, 13, 14 June

Price: $60

Celebrating the park's 90th anniversary, you'll have the chance to ride Luna Park's iconic attractions after the lights go out.

Where is it? Sydney Burial Ground at Town Hall

When is it: 8 June

Price: $49

For a night of playful frights, wander around the historic Sydney Burial Ground, which will feature live performances, interactive booths and installations, before watching a classic horror film. Choose between a screening of Poltergeist or the kid-friendly Edward Scissorhands.

Where is it: The Goods Line

When is it: 23 May - 14 June

Price: Free to enter, food prices will vary.

Featuring plenty of cuisines focusing on all things fire and spice, Vivid Fire Kitchen returns for 2025. You'll find food demonstrations, famous chefs and, of course, plenty of eats. (A full list of what will be available is coming soon!)

Where is it: Aster Bar at the InterContinental Sydney, Circular Quay

When is it: 23 May - 14 June

Price: $169

Perched atop the InterContinental Sydney, Aster Bar is one of the city's trendiest spots at the moment. With rooftop views overlooking Sydney Harbour, it's easy to see why. Guests will be treated to a cocktail, a canapé, a shared starter, and a main dish. Sip matched wines while you take in the Vivid Sydney lights from high above the city.

Where is it: Carriageworks, Eveleigh

When is it: 30 May

Price: $18

Some of Sydney's best and budding chefs will be cooking up a storm at the Carriageworks Night Market for one night only during Vivid. Live music and plenty of food and drink will be available.

Where is it: The Pylon Lookout on Sydney Harbour Bridge

When is it: 27 May

Price: $395

Celebrated Australian chef Luke Mangan has teamed up with BridgeClimb to offer an extraordinary dining experience atop one of the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylons. With just 20 seats available, the experience includes a three-course, locally sourced meal served with premium wines. Before dinner, you'll also have Champagne and canapés.

Traveloka is here to help you find the perfect hotels to stay at during Vivid and the cheapest fares to Sydney.

Bringing together unique art, ideas, events and food, Vivid Sydney started in 2009 as a way to celebrate all things creativity, innovation and technology. The multi-award winning event has become well known for its city-wide displays that use some of Sydney's most iconic buildings as canvases. Some of the most popular displays are illuminated onto the Sydney Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge Pylons, Museum of Contemporary Art and more.

Aim to visit during the week, so on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday night. You'll get the fewest crowds at this time. If you don't mind a bit of rain, rainy weekdays tend to be especially quiet.

As tempting as it may be, avoid going on opening night. It will definitely be the busiest!

Vivid Sydney has a combination of free and paid events, but the vast majority of the art displays are free to visit. In previous years, there were some paid ones (such as Lightscape in the Botanic Gardens and Dark Spectrum in the tunnels under Wynyard Station), but they are not going ahead in 2025.

The incredibly popular Vivid Sydney drone show is, unfortunately, not going ahead in 2025. Festival organisers said there were too many safety concerns after people showed up in droves to see the display in 2024.