Vivid Sydney 2026: Drone show returns as harbour festival unveils full programme; everything you need to know

Vivid Sydney is set to return in 2026 with a vibrant programme of light displays, music performances, talks and food events, bringing the city’s waterfront to life once again. The annual festival will run from May 22 to June 13, spanning 23 nights and transforming several key precincts across Sydney.

Major locations, including Circular Quay, The Rocks, Barangaroo and Darling Harbour, will once again host large-scale light installations and a wide range of events throughout the central business district, expected to attract tourists from all over the world.

Among the biggest highlights expected this year is the return of the festival’s popular drone show, which previously attracted huge crowds along the harbour foreshore. NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed the comeback of the aerial display in a Facebook post.


“Big news - we're bringing back the Vivid Drone show.,” he posted.

According to the premier, the drone spectacle will take place over 11 nights during the festival, with two performances scheduled on each evening. The show will now be staged at Cockle Bay, which provides a wider viewing area and better crowd management compared with earlier harbourfront locations.

‘We know people were disappointed that last year's Vivid line-up didn't include a drone show - so this year, we're bringing it back. We’ve also relocated it to Cockle Bay - larger, safer space for audiences to enjoy the show without the same safety risks that affected previous years.

The drone display was absent from the previous edition of the festival after authorities raised concerns about crowd safety following severe congestion and a crowd-related incident near Circular Quay in 2024.

While organisers are yet to release the full technical details of the show, reports from secretsydney suggest the display could feature up to 1,000 drones and may run twice nightly throughout the festival period.

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What’s New at Vivid Sydney 2026

• Drone show returns: One of the festival’s most anticipated attractions is making a comeback, with aerial displays planned across multiple nights above Cockle Bay.
  
• Longer Light Walk: The free Vivid Light Walk will stretch about 6.5 km, featuring new projections, immersive light installations, and nightly laser and water shows.
  
• Expanded Vivid Minds programme: The festival’s ideas and culture pillar has been redesigned to include more talks, theatre and creative discussions, with appearances from figures such as Chloé Zhao, Sean Baker and Roxane Gay.
  
• Major music lineup: More than 100 artists are scheduled to perform across 23 nights, with concerts taking place at well-known venues across Sydney.
  
• New food experiences: The Vivid Food programme will feature collaborations with leading chefs and special dining events at venues including the Sydney Opera House and The Strand Arcade.