Vivid 2025: Drone shows cancelled over safety concerns, skyrocketing costs

Vivid Sydney’s drone shows won’t be taking flight in 2025, with organisers pulling the plug due to safety concerns and skyrocketing costs.

Vivid Sydney’s drone shows won’t be taking flight in 2025, with organisers pulling the plug due to safety concerns and skyrocketing costs.

Destination NSW confirmed what it described as a “difficult decision” on Thursday, saying the shows had become a victim of their own success.

The state government agency said police and transport officials had advised the shows could not be staged safely in their existing format because of their increased popularity. which had led to larger crowds.

“The changes required to mitigate the safety risk at Vivid Sydney 2025 created a significant increase in cost,” Destination NSW said in a statement.

“In the broader context of rising costs for staging events, Destination NSW has decided this is not the best allocation of resources.”

Vivid Sydney's drone show, Love Is In The Air takes flight over Sydney Harbour, last year. Picture: Tom Parrish

While the high-tech display won’t illuminate the sky, organisers are promising to deliver an even more immersive experience with more free events than ever before.

Vivid will be centered around the theme of “Dream” this year, with the light festival to run for 23 days across May and June.

The Love is in the Air drone show at Vivid Sydney in 2024. Picture: NewsWire / Destination NSW

Destination NSW would not provide details of the new free events, saying the full program would be announced next Wednesday.

Originally published as Vivid 2025: Drone shows cancelled over safety concerns, skyrocketing costs