Vivid Sydney 2025 draws in record diners as food scene thrives

Sydneysiders and visitors from across the globe are being drawn by the lights but staying for one world-class scene, fuelling a major comeback for the event from last year.

Sydneysiders and visitors from across the globe are being drawn by the lights but staying for the street food, restaurants and world-class dining with Vivid Sydney emerging as a major foodie event.

The Saturday Telegraph can reveal more than 51,000 people dined in venues across the city last Saturday up 45 per cent from 2024 – the highest number of diners ever recorded in the event’s history.

More than 1.2 million people visited the event in the first week of Vivid, up 10 per cent from last year, while the first two weekends of the event have drawn crowds of up to 200,000 visitors per night to the free Vivid Light Walk through the city centre.

With just one week to go of the iconic month-long festival, Sydney’s foodie scene is shaping up to be a major drawcard with more than 850,000 people indulging in food and drinks so far, or roughly 81 per cent of all visitors.

Food lovers are still in for a treat over the June long weekend with internationally renowned food writer and television cook Nigella Lawson hosting three sold-out Vivid Sydney Dinners in the newly opened Muru Gili tunnel at Martin Place.

More than 80 per cent of all visitors at Vivid this year have indulged in food and drinks. Picture: NSW Government

Sightseers will also be able to dig their teeth into other servings including the popular Spice Lounge in the Vivid Fire Kitchen, where visitors can savour world-class food over special fire pits and fire drums every night.

After Vivid numbers slumped last year, the decision to scale back paid events and let the city’s food scene shine has given the event a comeback, boosting businesses and the night-time economy.

More than 1.2 million people visited Vivid in its first week. Picture: NSW Government

Food has been the star of the show at Vivid Sydney 2025. Picture: NSW Government

Visitors have hung around for the lights and great food at the 15th Vivid Sydney Festival. Picture: Ayush Kumar / AFP

Tourism Minister Steve Kamper said the early stats spoke for the event’s success as it enters the home-straight of its 15th year.

“The verdict is in, and people are voting with their feet,” he said.

“It’s fantastic to see more than one million people already immersing themselves in Sydney’s vibrant, open-air art gallery and even better to see our restaurants full, proving that people aren’t just coming for the lights but embracing everything our city has to offer.”

Originally published as Vivid Sydney 2025 draws in record diners as food scene thrives