Visiting during Vivid LIVE
26 May – 17 June 2023
From 26 May – 17 June, the Opera House presents Vivid LIVE, its centrepiece contemporary music event presented as part of Vivid Sydney, the annual creative festival of light, music and ideas.
Transforming the world-famous building inside and out, Vivid LIVE will feature over 45 artists presented across six Opera House venues.
Each night, the Opera House sails will be illuminated from 6pm until 11pm with artwork by acclaimed Australian artist John Olsen in Lighting of the sails: Life Enlivened.
The busiest nights of the festival are expected to be Friday, Saturday and Sunday and each night of the June long weekend (10-12 June). Major city roads will be closed and extensive parking restrictions will be in place during the festival. If you’re planning to travel to the Opera House, it’s strongly recommended that you use public transport wherever possible and allow plenty of extra travel time when arriving for a show or dinner reservation.
To ensure you have the best possible experience, we have a number of changes in place.
Attending a show or tour during Vivid Sydney 2023?
Ticketholders should follow entry and exit signage, security screening and bag check procedures. All attendees must hold a valid ticket, including children. Please be ready to show your ticket to help our staff get you to your event on time.
How should I get to the Opera House?
All visitors to the Opera House during Vivid Sydney are strongly encouraged to leave their car at home and use public transport wherever possible. Please plan ahead and allow plenty of extra travel time when arriving for a show or dinner reservation
Public transport
The Opera House and Circular Quay precincts are very popular and attract large crowds during Vivid Sydney. During this time, there will be changes to transport timetables. For the most up-to-date transport information, please visit Transport NSW’s Vivid Sydney page.
Parking and road closures
The Opera House Wilson car park will be open every evening during Vivid Sydney, however it is expected to reach capacity early. Patrons are encouraged to use public transport and allow extra travel time.
There will be a number of road closures in the Sydney CBD during Vivid Sydney, with additional closures on Friday nights and weekends. Please note that if you drive and arrive early for parking, you may not be able to exit if there are road closures in place.
For detailed information on road closures during Vivid Sydney, please visit Live Traffic NSW.
Accessibility
The Opera House belongs to everyone and our goal is to provide barrier-free access to all. During Vivid Sydney 2023, there will be:
- Two audio-described Lighting of the Sails sessions on 13 and 15 June for patrons who are blind or have low vision. Bookings are required. For more information please visit the event page.
- Gig Buddies, an organisation that pairs adults with intellectual disability with volunteers to attend social events, have offers available for Becca Hatch, Future Classic, Alfa Mist, Devonte Hynes and Ethel Cain. Bookings are required. For more information contact accessibility@sydneyoperahouse.com
Accessible parking at the Opera House
The Opera House Wilson car park located at 2 Macquarie Street includes 11 accessible parking spaces on level 1, and 12 accessible parking spaces on level 6. Both levels have access to lifts.
Opera House shuttle bus
There will be a complimentary shuttle bus service for elderly and less-mobile patrons. Seating is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. The bus runs between Circular Quay, with pick-up opposite Wharf 2 on Phillip Street and drop-off is at the Opera House site entry. This service will run before and after major performances during Vivid Sydney. During the day an alternate buggy service is available from site entry at the bottom of Macquarie St. The buggy is wheelchair accessible.
Please contact the Box Office on 02 9250 7777 to confirm operating hours for the shuttle bus and buggy services.
Filming and photography
Visitors are encouraged to capture their festival experience with hand-held photography equipment. Large and intrusive photography and filming equipment or permanent set-ups are not permitted on the Opera House precinct.
Drones are strictly prohibited. In order to ensure safety and security, an authorised officer may remove any aircraft including unmanned aerial vehicles from the site at any time.
Further information and all other filming and photography requests.
Eat and drink
The Opera House has a range of onsite bars and restaurants that are perfect for a quick snack or sit-down meal.
See Dining Offers to explore what’s on offer during Vivid Sydney.
Security
The safety and security of our visitors, patrons and staff is our highest priority. The Opera House works closely with the NSW Police and other relevant authorities to ensure a safe and secure environment.
As a condition of entry into the venue, bag inspections and electronic screening will be carried out at security checkpoints upon entry to the site. We strongly encourage patrons to leave bags at home and to avoid bringing any large items to the Opera House.
The security checkpoint will be located at the entrance to the building
Frequently asked questions
- The Lighting of the Sails during Vivid Sydney is a free event. You will not need a ticket.
- If you are attending a performance as part of the Vivid LIVE program, a valid ticket is required. It’s highly recommended that you purchase tickets in advance.
- In line with our venue security procedures, Opera House security will be scanning and checking bags prior to entering the building. Bags will be scanned by an x-ray machine. Please travel lightly and do not bring items that require cloaking e.g. handbags bigger than A4-size, backpacks and umbrellas, which are not permitted inside our venues.
- Yes, cloaking will remain available but it is strongly encouraged that you travel lightly and leave large, bulky items at home. Cloakroom attendants will use disposable paper tickets to keep track of your items.
- The health, safety and wellbeing of everyone at the Opera House is our top priority. In line with this commitment, the Opera House is a smoke-free site.
- The Smoke-free Environment Policy applies to all areas of the of the Opera House precinct and covers all forms of tobacco and non-tobacco smoking, including cigarettes, vapes, e-cigarettes, cigars and water pipe tobacco smoking.
- As a smoke-free site, the Opera House seeks to reduce exposure to harmful second-hand smoke, as well as minimise the impact of smoking on the environment, including litter and pollution of the surrounding marine environment.
Please note that BYO alcohol or glass is not permitted onsite. Further information about items that are prohibited onsite can be found on our Conditions of Entry.
- For patrons who are blind or have low vision, the Opera House will be hosting two audio-described sessions of this year’s images projected on to the sails on 13 and 15 June. For more information please visit the event page.
- A complimentary shuttle bus and buggy service will be in operation during Vivid Sydney. Please contact the Box Office to confirm operating hours on 02 9250 7777.
- Gig Buddies, an organisation that pairs adults with intellectual disability with volunteers to attend social events have been offered to attend Becca Hatch, Future Classic, Alfa Mist, Devonte Hynes and Ethel Cain. For more information contact accessibility@sydneyoperahouse.com.
The Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay precincts are very popular and attract large crowds during Vivid Sydney. Visitors are strongly encouraged to leave the car at home and use public transport wherever possible. During this time, there will be changes to transport timetables.
For further information, please visit Transport NSW’s Vivid Sydney page.
There will be a range of road closures in the Sydney CBD during Vivid Sydney. For detailed information on road closures during Vivid Sydney, please visit Live Traffic NSW.
- The Sydney Opera House car park will be open every evening during Vivid Sydney, however it is expected to reach capacity early. Patrons are encouraged to use public transport and allow extra travel time.
- Please note that if you drive and arrive early for parking, you may not be able to exit if there are road closures in place.
- For detailed information on road closures during Vivid Sydney, please visit Live Traffic NSW.
Ticketholders are welcome to bring their own water bottle (as long as it isn’t made of glass) but no other food and drinks are permitted inside our venues.
The Opera House has a range of onsite bars and restaurants which are perfect for a quick snack or sit-down meal.
Cashless payment methods are strongly encouraged. Please bring a credit or debit card for any onsite purchases.