Vivid 2021: Opera House, Cockle Bay to be lit up for annual festival

Sydney landmarks will light up again later this year, with the annual Vivid festival coming back to the city between August 6-28.

Sydney’s ready to get its shine on, with the annual lights festival gearing up to brighten the harbour once more.

Vivid Sydney 2021 will have its lights back on this year, with the celebration of all things bright to return from August 6 to 28.

The Harbour Bridge will be lit up as a part of Vivid 2021. Picture: Destination NSW

More than 50 light installations plus music performances and workshop events will feature around Barangaroo, Sydney CBD, Circular Quay, Darling Harbour, Luna Park and The Rocks.

This year’s festival is themed around Aboriginal culture, with the Opera House sails featuring a 15-minute digital display of Indigenous painting Yarrkalpa created by Martu artists from the Pilbara.

The Sails of the Sydney Opera House will be transformed into an impressive new digital rendition of an iconic Martu painting for Vivid

There is also a new stretch of the Vivid Light Walk with a floating footpath over the water of Cockle Bay added to the harbourside lights trek.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said this year’s Vivid would be Sydney’s best yet after a tough year.

“Vivid is a terrific way to show how resilient Sydney has been after the challenges faced by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“This is a festival like no other and will deliver a wonderful celebration of our city this August.”