Vivid Sydney has taken over Cockle Bay with 1,000 drones, 22 shows and a cosmic spectacle designed to supercharge Sydney’s night-time visitor economy.
Vivid Sydney 2026 is set to light up Darling Harbour in spectacular fashion this year, unveiling Australia’s most extensive drone show program with 22 large-scale performances across 11 nights.
The Minns Labor Government says the expanded program will form a major centrepiece of the 2026 festival, with the majority of Vivid Sydney activities remaining free for families and visitors to enjoy.
The festival’s new headline attraction, Star-Bound, will transform Cockle Bay into an immersive open-air theatre of light, sound and storytelling when the festival returns from 22 May to 13 June.
Featuring 1,000 drones across twice-nightly performances every Sunday to Wednesday, the show marks the biggest drone program in the festival’s history. Performances will take place at 7.30pm and 9.30pm throughout the festival, except Sunday 7 June.
Created by world-renowned drone entertainment company Sky Magic, the ambitious production combines synchronised drone choreography with an original score commissioned from acclaimed Australian composer Antony Partos.
The UK-based company is recognised globally for delivering some of the world’s largest and most technically complex drone displays.
In a first for the festival, audiences watching from land or water — including commercial and marine vessels — will be able to tune into a dedicated FM frequency to hear the soundtrack live, creating a fully immersive multi-sensory experience.
The relocation of the drone shows to Cockle Bay is expected to drive significant foot traffic through Darling Harbour after dark, delivering a welcome boost to nearby hospitality venues, restaurants and bars.
With shows spread across multiple nights, organisers expect the expanded schedule will encourage visitors to stay longer, return to the harbour precinct and further support Sydney’s night-time economy.
Festivalgoers are being encouraged to arrive early, with organisers anticipating strong demand for prime viewing positions along the Cockle Bay eastern promenade, southern boardwalk and Palm Grove, western promenade and Pyrmont Bridge.
NSW Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said the expanded drone show program reflected the festival’s growing global reputation.
“Vivid Sydney continues to raise the bar as one of the world’s largest arts festivals, and this year’s drone show program will be a spectacular highlight of the festival,” Kamper said.
“Delivering 22 shows across 11 nights is a major undertaking and reflects the NSW Government’s commitment to creating world-class experiences that attract visitors, support local businesses and showcase Sydney on the global stage.
“The Star-Bound drone shows will transform Sydney Harbour into a canvas of light and storytelling, offering a unique and memorable experience for everyone who attends, while bringing the festival closer to its vision of becoming the world’s most-attended comprehensive arts event.”
Brett Sheehy, festival director of Vivid Sydney, said this year’s production would push the storytelling capabilities of drone technology further than ever before.
“With Star-Bound, we’re evolving the Vivid Sydney drone shows from a sequence of singular images into a larger, poetic story – one that celebrates life, creation, hope and renewal,” Sheehy said.
“The journey begins with the smallest building blocks of life and gradually expands outward, moving through nature and into the cosmos, until an entirely new universe is born. It’s a show that is both intimate and epic, inviting audiences to experience something emotional, immersive and awe-inspiring.”
The annual festival will once again illuminate Sydney across its four key pillars — Light, Music, Ideas and Food — while continuing to power NSW’s visitor economy and cement Sydney’s position as a global leader in immersive cultural experiences.
The Vivid Sydney drone show, Star-Bound, is proudly sponsored by IREN, a major festival partner.
Full program details and tickets are available via Vivid Sydney.
