Max your summer in Sydney
From dawn to late night, these are the essential events that'll make your summer special
From immersive art that sees you wandering through a light-up underwater forest, to music festivals that take you from sunset well into the night – summer is when Sydney comes alive. Soak up the sun, then take it to the max over the long hot nights with parties, up late events, street markets and more. There’s no excuse not to be out and about.
In association with
The Book of Mormon
Believe the hype: this musical blockbuster is every bit as brilliant as you’ve heard – created by the brains behind South Park and Team America with the creator of dirty puppet show Avenue Q. It was a blockbuster in Melbourne, and it’ll be even bigger here.
Sam Smith
Fans will be some of the first in the world to hear live tracks from Sam Smith’s second album The Thrill of It All, including hit single ‘Too Good at Goodbyes’ at this Sydney Opera House show.
Blak Markets
Explore Indigenous history, food, art and dance at the Blak Markets, hosted for the second time this year by the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Redfern. You can pick up handmade jewellery, artworks and homewares, or tuck into lunch while you watch live music and performances from the Redfern Dance Company. Develop new skills at the free weaving workshops, or learn how to whip up a healthy bush tucker storm at Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo’s cooking demonstration. The market coincides with the first day of National Reconciliation Week and the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum. In addition to the regular stalls and entertainment, NCIE will hold a free exhibition reflecting on the campaign. This market is a uniting force for First Nations peoples in Sydney. Behind the coffee machines and art stalls are young Aboriginal trainees in food preparation, retail and hospitality.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards and exhibition showcase not only the best of the natural world, but the patience, ingenuity and talent of the photographers who spend their time embedded within wildlife so that they can get that incredible, revealing shot. Judged by a panel of industry-recognised professionals, this year's 100 finalists were taken by some of the world’s best nature photographers and selected for their creativity, artistry and technical complexity.
Taste of Manly
If you like your beaches and streets overflowing with food and booze, you’ll want to be in Manly at the end of May. For 32 years, Tastes of Manly has been enticing locals and visitors to the Northern Beaches ’burb to sample food from neighbourhood eateries and Australian wineries and breweries. There’s also local musicians pumping out a diverse live soundtrack across six stages. The festival sees upwards of 65,000 hungry gastronomes take over the beachfront and pedestrian Corso at this annual celebration of flavour. This year, the menu features everything from Braza Churrascaria’s blazing Brazilian barbecue to quirky Japanese-inspired dishes from Daniel San. Pair these flavours with a vintage from wineries like the Hunter Valley’s Mount Pleasant or Mount Lofty from the Adelaide Hills. Is beer more your thing? Grab a jazzy IPA from local brewers Hoppin’ Mad, or a stout from the Northern Beaches brew darlings, 4 Pines. Entry is free, but you’ll want to pick up a wine-tasting ticket – in the form of a glass – for $10.
Biennale of Sydney
For its 21st edition, the Biennale of Sydney will be curated by Mami Kataoka, chief curator at the Mori Art Museum (MAM) in Tokyo. Kataoka was one of 13 curatorial advisers to Stephanie Rosenthal for the 2016 Biennale of Sydney, and she's pulled together 69 artists for her own program, showing work at seven venues: Art Gallery of NSW, Artspace, Carriageworks, Cockatoo Island, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney Opera House and, for the first time, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Kataoka is the first Asian director in the Biennale's 43-year history and, perhaps unsurprisingly, there's a strong focus on Asian art in next year's edition: Asian artists make up 28 of the 69 showing work next year. Australian artists make up 21 per cent of the line-up, and half of those are Indigenous artists. At the centre of the program is superstar Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who'll present two sculptures, a feature length film and deliver a keynote address. He'll be bringing a 60-metre inflatable boat filled with 250 larger-than-life refugee figures to Cockatoo Island. The work is called Law of the Journey, and is made of the same black rubber used to make the vessels that carry refugees across the Aegean Sea. Want to get your hands dirty, your fingers inky, raise the rafters with your voice and smack your frustrations out of the ballpark? See these six participatory works. See our picks of Biennale highlights.
Game Changer: James Cameron
James Cameron is best known for directing blockbusters including Titanic, Avatar and Aliens, but he's also a passionate scientist and deep sea explorer. He was even the first person to descend into the Mariana Trench on a solo expedition, and is an advisor for NASA. For Vivid Sydney, he'll be discussing his passion for science and groundbreaking technology with host Adam Spencer. What's more, your ticket to the discussion also includes entry to the Australian National Maritime Museum's exhibition James Cameron – Challenging the Deep. Cameron will be in town for the exhibition's launch.
The Sugar House
The Sydney suburb of Pyrmont has worn many faces in its time: pre-invasion, it was Pirrama, home to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, whose population was devastated by a smallpox epidemic in 1789. Post-invasion, now called Pyrmont after a natural spring in Germany, it was an industrial hot-spot, a working-class and below-poverty-line suburb. But beginning in the 1990s, it’s settled into a new identity; one that’s gentrified, expensive and upper-middle-class. That’s where we begin The Sugar House – a new play by Alana Valentine – in a fashionable Pyrmont building with cultural-heritage-chic features. It used to be a CSR sugar refinery, a real estate agent explains, but Narelle (Sheridan Harbridge) already knows this. She convinces the real estate agent to leave her in the apartment she’s inspecting, and it’s clear that the place is meaningful to her. Suddenly, we find out why. Suddenly, Narelle is eight years old again, following her grandfather Sidney (Lex Marinos) around the refinery, where he works as a fitter and turner. The play melts into memory, and we melt with it into the life and times of the Macreadie family. It’s headed up by Sidney and his steely, indomitable wife June (Kris McQuade). Narelle is their dear love and great hope; she might have a chance at climbing the class ladder. It’s too late for their own children to get out of Pyrmont – something June has told her daughter Margo (Sacha Horler) in as many words. Margo is rightfully bitter because she is
Ice Cube
Ice Cube, founding member of pioneering rap group N.W.A., is making his Opera House debut as part of Vivid. The LA-based hip hop group’s 1989 album Straight Outta Compton introduced a more political sound to West Coast rap, which has since inspired rappers all over the world to use their lyrics for socio-political change. Ice Cube will perform tracks from his solo career, like 'Check Yo Self' and ‘You Know How We Do It’, as well as N.W.A. classics like ‘Fuck Tha Police’. These shows are your only change to see him in Australia.
Middle Kids
In a program of international superstars like Solange and Ice Cube, it can be easy to overlook the locals. Don’t. Vivid Live has picked a good time to celebrate Sydney-based rock trio Middle Kids, who won FBi Radio’s Northern Lights competition in 2016 and now count Sir Elton John as one of their biggest fans. The ‘Edge of Town’ locals will be performing their debut album Lost Friends in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. It’ll be an opportunity to hear from vocalist and writer Hannah Joy, bassist Tim Fitz and drummer Harry Day ahead of their 2018 world tour.
Lime&Tonic X Time Out: Vivid Laneway
Each year Vivid Sydney illuminates the long, dark winter nights with lights, music, and ideas. This year, the events include a partnership between experience curators Lime&Tonic and Time Out which will culminate in a secret laneway dinner during Vivid. Vivid Laneway is a VIP dining experience hosted by a to-be-revealed Michelin-trained chef in a stylish laneway location right in the heart of Vivid Sydney. Guests at this exclusive dinner will enjoy a bespoke three-course menu that will light up your tastebuds alongside matched wines and live music. You just won't know where it's going to be held until closer to the date. The secret dinner will start with a selection of entrées like Vanella burrata with pumpkin and hazelnut; Tasmanian salmon gravlax with crème fraiche and cucumber and a charcuterie platter with pickles and sourdough. Then guests can enjoy a choice of two mains, a Glacier 51 toothfish with tandoori spices or slow cooked beef short ribs with crushed potatoes. Finally finish with something just a little bit sweet like a chocolate and caramel tart with vanilla icecream. All dishes come paired with matching wines, and you'll even get a nightcap after dessert. A vegetarian menu is also available for the meat-averse gastronomes. With the night still young the secret laneway dinner won't end – just move. At the conclusion of the evening guests will be sent on their way with a cocktail in hand and be led to another Vivid Sydney activation to make the most of the fe
Sheer Fantasy
Western Sydney artist David Capra found his initial inspiration for Sheer Fantasy when he saw footage of Big Bird singing 'It's Not Easy Being Green' at Jim Henson's memorial service. He says there was something heartbreaking about the performance, which showed how Henson's creations have taken on an extraordinary life of their own. It led him to ask a question: what would happen if the world accommodated fantasy a lot more? Sheer Fantasy is the answer. Capra has curated this exhibition for Campbelltown Arts Centre, drawing in the work of a diverse range of artists from around Australia and the world. There's Mark Shorter's 'Hello Stranger', an installation inspired by 1970s road movies and Westerns, featuring a beaten up truck in front of a sweeping desert landscape. There's famed photographer Polly Borland's portrait of Game of Thrones actor Gwendoline Christie; Esme Timbery's shell-encrusted Sydney Opera House; and a wallpaper by Terri Bowden that splices together images of Fred Flintstone and Michael Jackson. One of the most unusual additions to the exhibition is a painting by Kim Novak, the actor-turned-artist who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 thriller Vertigo. The painting depicts Novak in character alongside co-star James Stewart and Hitchcock himself. Stranger still is a displayy of admin and merchandise materials from the UFO and Paranormal Research Sociey of Australia, an organisation that's met regularly at Campbelltown Arts Centre for a decade. The free
Blak Markets
Explore Indigenous history, food, art and dance at the Blak Markets, hosted for the second time this year by the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence (NCIE) in Redfern. You can pick up handmade jewellery, artworks and homewares, or tuck into lunch while you watch live music and performances from the Redfern Dance Company. Develop new skills at the free weaving workshops, or learn how to whip up a healthy bush tucker storm at Aunty Beryl Van-Oploo’s cooking demonstration. The market coincides with the first day of National Reconciliation Week and the anniversary of the 1967 Referendum. In addition to the regular stalls and entertainment, NCIE will hold a free exhibition reflecting on the campaign. This market is a uniting force for First Nations peoples in Sydney. Behind the coffee machines and art stalls are young Aboriginal trainees in food preparation, retail and hospitality.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Wildlife Photographer of the Year awards and exhibition showcase not only the best of the natural world, but the patience, ingenuity and talent of the photographers who spend their time embedded within wildlife so that they can get that incredible, revealing shot. Judged by a panel of industry-recognised professionals, this year's 100 finalists were taken by some of the world’s best nature photographers and selected for their creativity, artistry and technical complexity.
Taste of Manly
If you like your beaches and streets overflowing with food and booze, you’ll want to be in Manly at the end of May. For 32 years, Tastes of Manly has been enticing locals and visitors to the Northern Beaches ’burb to sample food from neighbourhood eateries and Australian wineries and breweries. There’s also local musicians pumping out a diverse live soundtrack across six stages. The festival sees upwards of 65,000 hungry gastronomes take over the beachfront and pedestrian Corso at this annual celebration of flavour. This year, the menu features everything from Braza Churrascaria’s blazing Brazilian barbecue to quirky Japanese-inspired dishes from Daniel San. Pair these flavours with a vintage from wineries like the Hunter Valley’s Mount Pleasant or Mount Lofty from the Adelaide Hills. Is beer more your thing? Grab a jazzy IPA from local brewers Hoppin’ Mad, or a stout from the Northern Beaches brew darlings, 4 Pines. Entry is free, but you’ll want to pick up a wine-tasting ticket – in the form of a glass – for $10.
Biennale of Sydney
For its 21st edition, the Biennale of Sydney will be curated by Mami Kataoka, chief curator at the Mori Art Museum (MAM) in Tokyo. Kataoka was one of 13 curatorial advisers to Stephanie Rosenthal for the 2016 Biennale of Sydney, and she's pulled together 69 artists for her own program, showing work at seven venues: Art Gallery of NSW, Artspace, Carriageworks, Cockatoo Island, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney Opera House and, for the first time, 4A Centre for Contemporary Asian Art. Kataoka is the first Asian director in the Biennale's 43-year history and, perhaps unsurprisingly, there's a strong focus on Asian art in next year's edition: Asian artists make up 28 of the 69 showing work next year. Australian artists make up 21 per cent of the line-up, and half of those are Indigenous artists. At the centre of the program is superstar Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, who'll present two sculptures, a feature length film and deliver a keynote address. He'll be bringing a 60-metre inflatable boat filled with 250 larger-than-life refugee figures to Cockatoo Island. The work is called Law of the Journey, and is made of the same black rubber used to make the vessels that carry refugees across the Aegean Sea. Want to get your hands dirty, your fingers inky, raise the rafters with your voice and smack your frustrations out of the ballpark? See these six participatory works. See our picks of Biennale highlights.
Game Changer: James Cameron
James Cameron is best known for directing blockbusters including Titanic, Avatar and Aliens, but he's also a passionate scientist and deep sea explorer. He was even the first person to descend into the Mariana Trench on a solo expedition, and is an advisor for NASA. For Vivid Sydney, he'll be discussing his passion for science and groundbreaking technology with host Adam Spencer. What's more, your ticket to the discussion also includes entry to the Australian National Maritime Museum's exhibition James Cameron – Challenging the Deep. Cameron will be in town for the exhibition's launch.
The Sugar House
The Sydney suburb of Pyrmont has worn many faces in its time: pre-invasion, it was Pirrama, home to the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, whose population was devastated by a smallpox epidemic in 1789. Post-invasion, now called Pyrmont after a natural spring in Germany, it was an industrial hot-spot, a working-class and below-poverty-line suburb. But beginning in the 1990s, it’s settled into a new identity; one that’s gentrified, expensive and upper-middle-class. That’s where we begin The Sugar House – a new play by Alana Valentine – in a fashionable Pyrmont building with cultural-heritage-chic features. It used to be a CSR sugar refinery, a real estate agent explains, but Narelle (Sheridan Harbridge) already knows this. She convinces the real estate agent to leave her in the apartment she’s inspecting, and it’s clear that the place is meaningful to her. Suddenly, we find out why. Suddenly, Narelle is eight years old again, following her grandfather Sidney (Lex Marinos) around the refinery, where he works as a fitter and turner. The play melts into memory, and we melt with it into the life and times of the Macreadie family. It’s headed up by Sidney and his steely, indomitable wife June (Kris McQuade). Narelle is their dear love and great hope; she might have a chance at climbing the class ladder. It’s too late for their own children to get out of Pyrmont – something June has told her daughter Margo (Sacha Horler) in as many words. Margo is rightfully bitter because she is
Ice Cube
Ice Cube, founding member of pioneering rap group N.W.A., is making his Opera House debut as part of Vivid. The LA-based hip hop group’s 1989 album Straight Outta Compton introduced a more political sound to West Coast rap, which has since inspired rappers all over the world to use their lyrics for socio-political change. Ice Cube will perform tracks from his solo career, like 'Check Yo Self' and ‘You Know How We Do It’, as well as N.W.A. classics like ‘Fuck Tha Police’. These shows are your only change to see him in Australia.
Middle Kids
In a program of international superstars like Solange and Ice Cube, it can be easy to overlook the locals. Don’t. Vivid Live has picked a good time to celebrate Sydney-based rock trio Middle Kids, who won FBi Radio’s Northern Lights competition in 2016 and now count Sir Elton John as one of their biggest fans. The ‘Edge of Town’ locals will be performing their debut album Lost Friends in the Joan Sutherland Theatre. It’ll be an opportunity to hear from vocalist and writer Hannah Joy, bassist Tim Fitz and drummer Harry Day ahead of their 2018 world tour.
Lime&Tonic X Time Out: Vivid Laneway
Each year Vivid Sydney illuminates the long, dark winter nights with lights, music, and ideas. This year, the events include a partnership between experience curators Lime&Tonic and Time Out which will culminate in a secret laneway dinner during Vivid. Vivid Laneway is a VIP dining experience hosted by a to-be-revealed Michelin-trained chef in a stylish laneway location right in the heart of Vivid Sydney. Guests at this exclusive dinner will enjoy a bespoke three-course menu that will light up your tastebuds alongside matched wines and live music. You just won't know where it's going to be held until closer to the date. The secret dinner will start with a selection of entrées like Vanella burrata with pumpkin and hazelnut; Tasmanian salmon gravlax with crème fraiche and cucumber and a charcuterie platter with pickles and sourdough. Then guests can enjoy a choice of two mains, a Glacier 51 toothfish with tandoori spices or slow cooked beef short ribs with crushed potatoes. Finally finish with something just a little bit sweet like a chocolate and caramel tart with vanilla icecream. All dishes come paired with matching wines, and you'll even get a nightcap after dessert. A vegetarian menu is also available for the meat-averse gastronomes. With the night still young the secret laneway dinner won't end – just move. At the conclusion of the evening guests will be sent on their way with a cocktail in hand and be led to another Vivid Sydney activation to make the most of the fe
Sheer Fantasy
Western Sydney artist David Capra found his initial inspiration for Sheer Fantasy when he saw footage of Big Bird singing 'It's Not Easy Being Green' at Jim Henson's memorial service. He says there was something heartbreaking about the performance, which showed how Henson's creations have taken on an extraordinary life of their own. It led him to ask a question: what would happen if the world accommodated fantasy a lot more? Sheer Fantasy is the answer. Capra has curated this exhibition for Campbelltown Arts Centre, drawing in the work of a diverse range of artists from around Australia and the world. There's Mark Shorter's 'Hello Stranger', an installation inspired by 1970s road movies and Westerns, featuring a beaten up truck in front of a sweeping desert landscape. There's famed photographer Polly Borland's portrait of Game of Thrones actor Gwendoline Christie; Esme Timbery's shell-encrusted Sydney Opera House; and a wallpaper by Terri Bowden that splices together images of Fred Flintstone and Michael Jackson. One of the most unusual additions to the exhibition is a painting by Kim Novak, the actor-turned-artist who starred in Alfred Hitchcock's 1958 thriller Vertigo. The painting depicts Novak in character alongside co-star James Stewart and Hitchcock himself. Stranger still is a displayy of admin and merchandise materials from the UFO and Paranormal Research Sociey of Australia, an organisation that's met regularly at Campbelltown Arts Centre for a decade. The free
