Exciting Immersive Art Experiences to Sink Into In and Around Sydney
“Vivid is a massive boost to Sydney’s night-time economy, with many of the 2.5 million visitors pouring into our restaurants, bars and live venues. As we mark 15 years, this world-class event continues to showcase the very best destinations and creative talent our city has to offer. From 23 May to 14 June, the Harbour City will become a canvas for boundary-pushing artists, global thought leaders and bold culinary voices, inviting everyone to dream big and experience Sydney in new ways. We pay homage to the traditional owners, past, present and future, as caretakers of the lands which we work, live and play.
Set to open to the public in December 2025, DigiPark is opening on level five of Westfield Sydney – near the newly reopened Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck – with 11 incredible interactive environments and a mind-blowing naked-eye 3D experience. Based on the viral Space & Time Cube seen in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Manila, and taking inspiration from Japan’s famous TeamLabs exhibitions, DigiPark is designed to engage all five senses in multi-sensory spaces that will amaze both the young and young at heart. Whether you’re wandering through glowing galaxies, getting lost in mirror mazes or creating your own digital art, interactive attractions sydney it’s an adventure the whole family will love these school holidays. Open Monday to Sunday, 10am to 10pm (last entry 9pm), DigiPark is a great weekend or school holiday activity for families or friends, and all ages are welcome – though children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. “Vivid Sydney is our city’s living legacy and come 6pm tonight, the world’s focus will once again be on our beautiful Harbour City as it’s transformed into a canvas of innovative light installations, immersive experiences and cutting-edge artistry.
The main strip is lit up with dozens of delicious eateries and street stalls, including the popular Chatkazz, Dosa Hut, Ginger Indian Restaurant, Momozz, Jaipur Sweets and Not Just Curries. Visit the spot where former convict James Ruse successfully grew the colony’s first wheat crop in 1791 and tour the 1835-built Experiment Farm Cottage. Wool pioneers John and Elizabeth Macarthur owned Elizabeth Farm, an Australian colonial homestead. The site contains the oldest surviving European building in Australia.
The 23-day program runs this year from Friday 22 May to Saturday 13 June, and 2026 combines a program across Vivid Light, Vivid Music, Vivid Minds and Vivid Food. The Makers and Shakers Market celebrates its 10th birthday this June, with a huge winter weekend market set to take over White Bay Cruise Terminal in Rozelle. The curated indoor market will feature over 140 Australian-made stalls, bringing together some of the country’s best independent makers, designers, artists and food producers inside one of Sydney’s most unique harbourside venues. “For 2026 we are expanding our program into new artforms including aerial performance, day-time public art, theatre and dance. These join our vast Vivid Light, Music, Minds and Food offerings to now make your Vivid Sydney one of the great comprehensive arts festivals of the world.
More than 80 per cent of the festival program will be free to enjoy, making Australia’s largest festival accessible to everyone. Pack the snacks, load the playlist, and prepare for at least one "are we there yet?" before you've left the driveway — a 2-hour Sunday drive from Sydney is a very wholesome way to rescue the weekend. Check out our list of 40+ playgrounds spanning east, west, north, and south, catering to all tastes and energy levels. We love a good Aldi middle aisle browse, and Saturday holds the holy grail of Aldi bargains. Saturday's Special Buys are back this Saturday, 13 June, and is geared towards keeping the whole family warm this winter.
360-degree sound builds a world around you - one your mind fills in because it has no visual information to rely on. He became one of the leading lights of post-impressionism, a movement that bridged the gap between classical impressionism (seen in the works of Monet or Renoir) and more modern movements to come, such as expressionism or cubism. Van Gogh is one of the best-known examples of posthumous success in the art world; although his works now regularly set auction records, Van Gogh never found fame during his lifetime, and died at 37. Free guided tours of exhibitions are conducted each day, visit the information desk on Level One for the scheduled times. The result is an experience that has something to appeal to literally everyone – from little kids who will want to run around and feel the magic unfurl around them to adults (locals and tourists) who want a legitimately unique thrill for the first time. Be the first to see more exclusive online content by subscribing to the enewsletter here.
Located near St Mary’s Cathedral and arriving during the cultural energy of Vivid Sydney, the Sistine Chapel Exhibition Sydney offers a rare opportunity to experience Michelangelo’s masterpiece in an entirely new way. Immersive experiences, immersive art experiences and immersive exhibitions at Sydney that take exhibition appreciation to a whole new level with cutting-edge technology integrated into the art. We create playful disruptions, immersive art, sensory experiences, sights and sounds, to nudge minds out of autopilot. For those seeking to deepen their knowledge of the Blue Mountains National Park, the Buunyal Tour at Scenic World offers an opportunity to walk through Gundungurra Country with an expert Aboriginal guide, just two hours' drive from Sydney.
Trusted by government, universities, and organisations nationwide, we deliver culturally grounded experiences from local level to national scale. Aboriginal Cultural Immersions delivers Aboriginal-led cultural training, workshops, ceremonies and immersion programs across Australia, supporting workplaces, schools, universities, government teams, councils, events and community organisations. While the artwork originates from a sacred setting, the experience is designed for a broad audience and presented in an accessible, educational format. But when Wonderdome hits Sydney's Entertainment Quarter between Saturday, December 4–Sunday, January 30, it'll also be following in the footsteps of Coachella and Burning Man by creating a dedicated fulldome space that's all about this type of cinema-going.
Step into a world where Earth’s history unfolds before your eyes, from the first signs of life to the rise of humanity. A place where prehistoric creatures roam, ancient landscapes stretch endlessly, and you can witness evolution as it happens. Life Chronicles, a spectacular immersive expedition in virtual reality (VR), has officially opened at Sydney Olympic Park. Barangaroo Aboriginal Cultural Tours traverse the six-hectare headland of Barangaroo Reserve where more than 75,000 native trees and shrubs offer a living window into pre-colonial Sydney.
Just over the water, renowned French artist Yann Nguema debuts a major new work, Opera Mundi, illuminating the iconic Sydney Opera House sails. This original commission reflects on ‘the transformations found in nature and the elemental forces’ that inspired original Opera House architect Jørn Utzon. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands where we work, live, and play. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and acknowledge this always was and always will be Aboriginal land.
Nearby, Qudos Bank Arena draws more big names, as does ICC Sydney at Darling Harbour. For more intimate – but no less iconic – shows, the Sydney Opera House offers seven different stages right on the harbour. On balmy summer nights the Domain serves up alfresco (and often free) shows on its stage between the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and the Art Gallery of NSW, and has welcomed legends such as Kylie Minogue, Arctic Monkeys, RÜFÜS DU SOL and more. Catch a light rail service to Moore Park on the L2 Randwick Line or L3 Kingsford Line to get within a short walking distance of EQ. There are also a number of regular buses that stop along Anzac Parade, Oxford Street and other nearby roads within a short walk of EQ.
It opens at the State Theatre on June 3 and runs across the city until this Sunday. The FIFA World Cup may be taking place on the other side of the world, but soccer fans will be able to catch all the action around Sydney, with the NSW government set to announce live sites across the city. Follow the Socceroos as they chase glory in North America at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour, where all of three of their group stage games will be screened. Whether you’re looking for cinema, sport, food, music or culture, here are the best things to do in Sydney this weekend.
Guided by cultural protocols and respectful of local knowledge and authority. Delivered by Aboriginal Elders, Traditional Owners, and cultural practitioners with lived knowledge. Invite connection, respect, and understanding, book an authentic Aboriginal cultural practice, shared with integrity, guided by tradition, and experienced at your event, school, or community gathering.
The Rocks Aboriginal Dreaming Tour departs twice daily from Cadmans Cottage in The Rocks. The 90-minute walking tour is led by an Aboriginal guide, delving beyond Sydney’s colonial surface to uncover the stories that continue to weave throughout the area. As you stroll through the urban and natural landscapes around the harbour, hear Dreamtime stories and learn about the local environment and the Gadigal people’s connection to it with Dreamtime Southern X. As far as immersive experiences go, this one is definitely the most multi-sensory, and it’s stirring to see how Darkfield is expanding their universe and their definition of horror and suspense.