Stumped for what to do in Sydney this winter? Spy our guide to Vivid Sydney 2023, jam-packed with fun, food, music, light, ideas and events to enjoy.

Vivid Sydney returns for its annual celebration of creativity, innovation and technology and with 23 nights of unmissable events including electric performances at Tumbalong Nights, pop-up bars serving Archie Rose Triple Molasses Rum & Ginger Beer and our much talked about Neon Ramen collab with Surry Hill’s fried chicken palace Butter at the mighty Sydney Opera House it’s bigger and better than ever.

Music

Head straight for Tumbalong Park in the heart of Sydney’s Darling Harbour for 12 nights of electric performances all for FREE! Yes, you heard that right. Tumbalong Nights (Fri 26 May - Sat 17 June) is bringing stars such as Australian RnB and rap artists, A.GIRL and Agung Mango (Thu 1 June); First Nations soul performers Emma Donovan, The Putbacks, and Bumpy (Fri 16 June); and Japan’s genre-hopping-genius-and-cult-icon Cornelius (Sat 17 Jun) all, sure fired to get you fired up.

As for booze ideas? Archie Rose has the drinks taken care of. Head to our pop-up bar for our signature serves including Triple Molasses Rum and Ginger Beer, Single Malt Whisky and Cloudy Apple Soda and the ultimate winter warmer, our Blasphemy Hot Chocolate.

Over at the Sydney Opera House, it’s time for Vivid LIVE (Fri 26 May – Sat 17 June), inviting Australian artists, select global acts and emerging voices to perform in the venue’s hallowed halls. See singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Devonté Hynes team up with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra (Fri 2 June) for one night only, watch as Indie rock royalty Cat Power (Wed 31 May) returns to the Sydney Opera House to recreate Bob Dylan’s legendary 1966 ‘Royal Albert Hall’ performance and, British multi-instrumentalist Alfa Mist, Hiatus Kaiyote side project Swooping and soulful R&B musician Ella Haber join forces for a huge night of beats, rhymes and funk-inflected jazz as in the Joan Sutherland Theatre (Wed 31 May).

For lovers of a late-night dance sesh, the Opera House Studio opens its doors to some of Sydney’s most notorious party crews including Mad Racket Plaid (Fri 2 June) for its Studio Party Series.

Don’t skip Carriageworks (Thu 8 - Fri 16 June), this year the iconic space will be host to a diverse, immersive, and multi-sensory music and food program where theatrical live performance, high-concept production, and complex, lurid and dramatic worlds are on the ticket. They will also welcome back the Carriageworks Night Market, curated by Australia’s leading sustainable chef Matt Stone, where you’ll be able to get your Archie Rose fix.

A day-time dance party, inspired by the bubbling local jazz scene more your thing? Then INTERPLANETARY PLEASURES (Sun 4 June) is the event for you. Presented by Honey Point, Planet Trip Records and 107 Projects in a rare and rustic Eveleigh location with Archie Rose canned cocktails to cure your dance-induced thirst.

Ideas

Learn something new, explore new ideas or simply sit in awe of some of your favourite thinkers and tinkers when they take the stage at Vivid Sydney.

Not to be missed is a Vivid Sydney exclusive event. Creator, writer and director of The White Lotus, Mike White, in conversation with the star of the series Jennifer Coolidge at the ICC (Sat 10 June). Top tip: tickets are selling fast, for obvious reasons, get in quick.

Been thinking about life on Mars? So has writer Jeanette Winterson. Don’t miss the chance to hear Jeanette prod, provoke and challenge your ideas of Life and Mars: The Future of Humans (Sat 3 June), all while making you laugh out loud.

Take a trip to the Vivid Ideas Exchange for Queeries (Sun 11 Jun), a night of literature, stand-up, performance, and everything in between from eight Australian and New Zealand LGBTIQ+ writers, comedians and artists.

Food & Drink

This year, for the first time, food has its own program in the Vivid Sydney line-up (rightfully so!), giving you the opportunity to experience some once-in-a-lifetime foodie affairs.

Make a b-line to Tumbalong Park for the Archie Rose Tumbalong Nights pop-up. Think: Food trucks such as Kokomo Island Cafe serving up authentic Jamaican cuisine (including Jerk Chicken) and Antico Woodfired Pizza firing up their oven to make all your carb-iest dreams come true. Pair all that with an Archie Rose cocktail (We’re serving up favourites such as our Signature Dry Gin & Tonic, White Cane & Yuzu Soda, Negroni, Pink Moon Spritz, Rosella Sour & Blasphemy Hot Chocolate) and you’re on to a winner!

Under the illuminated sails, the Opera House is serving up limited-edition delights alongside, music, drinks and a boatload of fun. Try a special collaboration Archie Rose x Butter x Trippas White Group menu including Neon Ramen (Butter’s fried chicken atop hot ramen with a Vivid Sydney-themed glaze!), burgers and tenders coated in an Archie Rose Triple Molasses Rum glaze and Butter’s famous hot cinnamon doughnuts, plus Archie Rose cocktails including the Espresso Martinique, Eucalypt Mule and Seaside Spritz in the Yallamundi Rooms (Sat 27 May - Sat 17 June). Or, Head to Bar Subterranean (Fri 26 May – Sun 4 June) for mulled wine, Red Centre Negronis and Rosella Sour cocktails from Archie Rose paired with snacks and shared plates including a decadent truffled cheese toastie and cosy fennel pork sausage rolls.

If your heading to Carriageworks for jam-packed nights of music and dancing, you can rely on us to supply dinner and drinks. Pop by our pop-up bar & eatery from Atomic with plenty of your Archie Rose favourites to sip on. Or, make a stop into the Carriageworks Night Markets for your opportunity to try some Archie Rose exclusive cocktails.

Find Out More

Raring to go? So are we! Head to https://www.vividsydney.com/ to discover all the events and start planning your nights at Vivid Sydney.