Around Sydney
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When winter rolls around in Sydney, Vivid steps in to bring a little light to our streets for those first chilly weeks. And while Circular Quay sparkles with kaleidoscopic projections, the real magic often happens indoors – on the stages and dancefloors where the festival’s music program comes to life. Keen to plan ahead this year? Two of the city’s most iconic live music venues – Sydney Opera House and Carriageworks – have just dropped the details of their music programs for 2026.
From May 22 to June 13, Vivid Live will take over Sydney Opera House, with more than 50 artists lighting up every corner of the World Heritage-listed landmark. Masterful tastemaker Ben Marshall (Head of Contemporary Music at the house) has curated another divinely diverse program spanning genres, generations and geographies – featuring everything from Detroit techno to Arnhem Land surf rock and the one and only Erika de Casier.
In the Concert Hall, indie icon Mitski will headline four sold-out nights, performing in-the-round with songs from her new album Nothing’s About to Happen to Me alongside all-time fan faves. Meanwhile, Matt Berninger – best known as the frontman of The National – will deliver a rare, intimate set featuring material from his reflective solo album Get Sunk. Scottish post-rock pioneers Mogwai will celebrate 30 years together with a career-spanning performance, while Yolŋu rock heroes King Stingray make their Opera House debut (indoors at least, they opened for Parcels on the forecourt this past summer).
Hip-hop and soul fans should keep an eye on the world premiere tribute to Gil Scott-Heron, led by longtime collaborator Brian Jackson and rapper Yasiin Bey. Elsewhere, sharp-minded rap duo Earl Sweatshirt and MIKE will team up for a collaborative show, and cult R&B trio Thee Sacred Souls will bring their lush retro grooves to the harbour.
The Joan Sutherland Theatre will lean even deeper into the experimental side of the program. Electronic auteur Flying Lotus will return with his immersive 3D “Layer 3” show, legendary art-pop outfit Sparks will bring their genre-hopping theatrics back to Sydney, and London jazz polymath Alfa Mist will return after a sold-out run in 2023. We can also expect a fascinating orchestral crossover when the divinely talented Danish electro-pop princess Erika de Casier performs with members of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Studio parties will be back too, with line-ups curated by mainstays of Sydney's dance scene including Astral People, Barney Kato and Mad Racket.
And of course, the building itself will become an integral part of the show. French artist Yann Nguema is behind this year’s Lighting of the Sails installation, Opera Mundi – a shimmering visual ode to nature and the elements that inspired architect Jørn Utzon.
RELATED READ: We went to Vivid Live at the Opera House, here’s what we thought
Across town, Carriageworks is dialling up the industrial rave energy from May 29 to June 14, transforming its cavernous railway workshops into the city's biggest club.
The key headline moment will arrive when hip-hop legend Lil' Kim returns to Australia for the first time in more than 15 years. Her set will celebrates the era-defining albums Hard Core and The Notorious K.I.M., promising a rare chance to witness one of rap’s most influential voices in full force.
R&B fans can look forward to Grammy-winning singer Ella Mai, who will bring her silky vocals and chart-topping hits to Sydney following a sold-out global tour, joined by neo-soul powerhouse KAIIT. Meanwhile, Australian electronic heavyweights will take centre stage when Alison Wonderland launches the first stop of her global Wonderland Warehouse Project tour, transforming the venue into an all-out audiovisual rave.
Electronic music devotees will get a rare treat when genre-blurring producer Porter Robinson performs his first Australian DJ set in over a decade, joined by local fave Golden Features. Elsewhere, techno brand Teletech will unleash a high-octane night, and Texan psych-rock outfit The Black Angels will celebrate the 20th anniversary of their cult debut album Passover.
Other highlights from this year’s music program include NYC’s Chanel Beads at Oxford Art Factory, Saint Levant at the City Recital Hall and a series of free gigs at Darling Harbour’s Tumbalong Park (with headliners including Sydney's own Skeleten and Nigerian superstar Seun Kuti).
You can check out the full Vivid Music program (and start planning) over here.
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