Vivid Sydney 2022 unlike any other in the Harbour City
Vivid Sydney 2022 will transform the Harbour City into an illuminating fusion of creativity, innovation and technology from Friday 27 May to Saturday 18 June, with more than 200+ events celebrating the essence of Sydney’s soul including its diversity, beauty, resilience, First Nations culture, and vibrant creative community.
In 2022, 11 Sydney CBD locations will ignite, two of which are new, with Circular Quay, Sydney CBD, The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, Darling Square, Darling Quarter, The Goods Line, Central Station, Luna Park and Taronga Zoo, all coming to life with a mesmerising kaleidoscope of light artworks to wow visitors and locals alike.
Staged over 23 nights, the festival will deliver mesmerising art displays, 3D light projections, uplifting live music performances and deep-dive discussions from the world’s brightest minds. Plus, in a festival first, the renowned Light Walk will stretch continuously for 8km, linking the Sydney Opera House to Central Station, with more than 200 LED sculptural birds guiding the way as part of the Future Natives installation.
The Vivid Sydney 2022 Program includes:
Vivid Light
Visitors will connect with powerful stories of Sydney’s soul after dark, as more than 50 light installations and projection artworks designed to explore and define the city’s character come to life.
Revealing the various artistic interpretations of the “soul of the city” creative vision, the spectacular Light Walk will host the works of 62 light collaborators and 114 light artists from 5 countries, with street installations re-shaping old sights, surprising projection sites, large-scale immersive experiences and never-before-lit buildings adding new sparkle to the city skyline.
First Light, a moving Welcome to Country ceremony and performance is another first for Vivid Sydney 2022, celebrating the Gadigal people and Country. Opening the festival on Friday 27 May, audiences will be captivated with a smoking ceremony, stunning performances by NAISDA students, a pyrotechnic display and Sharing the Same Life Essence Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections. Rhoda Roberts AO is the Creative Advisor for First Light.
Vivid Ideas
Vivid Ideas brings together the world’s brightest minds and fearless global storytellers, exploring the forces that shape not only Sydney’s unique society, but all great cities around the world. With more than 85 intriguing talks and workshops on offer, Vivid Ideas explores the forces shaping our society, and starting conversations that continue long after the festival has ended.
Headlining the Ideas Program are Global Storytellers including Oscar and Emmy award-winning theatre and film director, screenwriter and playwright Aaron Sorkin, renowned for film and TV shows such as The West Wing, The Social Network, A Few Good Men and The Trial of the Chicago 7. Aaron will discuss politics and drama with renowned Australian broadcast journalist Leigh Sales at Sydney’s State Theatre.
Other great storytellers in Ideas program include James Valentine and H.G Nelson with their hilarious show the Even Greater Sydney Committee at Parliament House, Brigid Delaney and Ben Law talking about Sydney’s obsession with the wellness industry at the Australian Museum, and Jonathan Biggins, Kate McClymont, Leah Purcell, Stephen Page, Sara Mansour from Bankstown Poetry Slam sharing their tales of Sydney.
This year’s Vivid Ideas Exchange will see over 60 events hosted at The Great Hall at The University of Technology Sydney – with talks, seminars, film screenings and special events designed to spark debate amongst the creative community. Sessions will be presented by Audible with Marc Fennell, Melissa Doyle, and Adam Liaw and Squarespace.
Vivid Music
Taking a deep dive into Sydney’s diverse and dynamic music communities, Vivid Music 2022 showcases a line-up of Sydney’s most potent artist talent. In a Vivid Music exclusive, legendary Australian music icon Marcia Hines who will enliven audiences with The Gospel according to Marcia, in a world-premiere show for two-nights only in the uplifting surrounds of St Stephen’s Uniting Church. Marcia will be joined by a 12-piece band and choir set against an atmospheric bespoke lighting backdrop, celebrating the sounds of her gospel roots.
Reinvigorating Sydney’s live music industry as it rebuilds, Vivid Music 2022 will flip the script on traditional performance, hosting more than 150 music events at surprising venues across Sydney to offer one-of-a-kind experiences. In fact, Central Station’s Grand Central Concourse, Darling Harbour’s Tumbalong Park, Phoenix Central Park, The Calyx – Royal Botanic Garden Sydney, The Bearded Tit, Cell Block Theatre, National Art School and Luna Park will all pull back the curtains to host life-affirming musical performances.
Vivid LIVE at Sydney Opera House
Curated by the Sydney Opera House’s Head of Contemporary Music Ben Marshall, Vivid LIVE will transform the world-famous building inside and out, celebrating artists at the forefront of their genres, with more than 70 Australian and international artists presented across seven Opera House venues.
Beloved Australian rock royalty, Paul Kelly will be joined by Gamilaraay singer-songwriter and ARIA Award winner Thelma Plum and band members Vika and Linda Bull, Bill McDonald, Peter Luscombe, Ash Naylor, Cameron Bruce and Dan Kelly for Time And Tide: Four Decades of Song live under the stars on the Northern Boardwalk. Kelly has curated a catalogue of his award-winning songs for this special one-off event across four nights.
Vivid LIVE Studio Parties also return in 2022 with Future Classic, Picnic Party and Mad Racket and Astral People presents John Talabot. There will also be performances in the Studio from Low Life, RVG and Japanese doom metal titans Boris with special guest guitarist, Toki.
The full 2022 Vivid Sydney media kit, program announcement and high-res imagery including 2022 Vivid Sydney light renders and broadcast-quality video footage of previous festivals’ highlights, are available to download at vividsydney.com
For more personalised information tips and advice, or to book an incredible holiday contact your local TravelManagers’ personal travel manager here.
