The NSW Government has appointed renowned arts leader Brett Sheehy AO as Festival Director of Vivid Sydney, Australia’s largest event and the Southern Hemisphere’s leading multi-artform festival.
With a career spanning more than two decades, Brett Sheehy AO has led four of Australia’s premier arts organisations, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Melbourne Festival and Melbourne Theatre Company, delivering transformative growth, international acclaim and lasting legacies at each.
Under his leadership, works he programmed received 117 Helpmann Award nominations (24 wins) and 186 Green Room Award nominations (35 wins).
In 2024, he was appointed to reset the Adelaide Festival, where in just eight months he reversed a seven-figure deficit and delivered both critical acclaim and a strong surplus.
Widely recognised as one of the nation’s most influential arts leaders, Brett has been named among The Australian Financial Review’s “20 Australians to Watch” and as one of the country’s most influential arts figures by both AFR and Limelight magazine.
In 2012, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the performing and visual arts, international artistic exchange and mentoring.
With his bold creative vision and deep respect for Vivid Sydney’s legacy, Brett Sheehy will guide the festival into its next chapter, expanding its global impact while continuing to deliver immersive, thought-provoking experiences.
His appointment follows the outstanding success of Vivid Sydney 2025, which included 2.53 million visitors and delivered Sydney’s highest May hotel occupancy since 2019, peaking at 89.1 per cent.
Over 23 nights, the festival transformed the CBD into a showcase of Light, Music, Ideas and Food, with highlights including four Saturdays each drawing close to 200,000 people, more than 400 local businesses involved, Vivid Fire Kitchen welcoming 110,000 visitors, and #vividsydney content viewed more than 830 million times worldwide.
Building on this momentum, Vivid Sydney 2026 will present an ambitious program that pushes creative boundaries while remaining true to the festival’s unique spirit. Further details on the 2026 program will be announced in the coming months.
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: “Vivid Sydney demonstrates how world-class events ignite our city, boost local businesses and drive growth across the entire NSW visitor economy. This festival doesn’t just light up our streets – it solidifies Sydney’s standing as a leading global cultural capital and a must-experience destination in the Asia-Pacific.
“As we look ahead to 2026 and beyond, the appointment of Brett Sheehy AO as Festival Director ushers in an exciting new chapter for Australia’s favourite event.
“The NSW Government looks forward to Brett building on the festival’s proud legacy and shaping a bold and inspiring future for Vivid Sydney.”
Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones said: "Destination NSW is delighted to welcome Brett Sheehy AO as the new Festival Director of Vivid Sydney. His creative vision and industry expertise will elevate Vivid Sydney’s position as one of the world’s most iconic major events.
“We also extend our sincere thanks to outgoing Festival Director Gill Minervini for her passion, creativity and dedication over her past four years, which have been instrumental in shaping the festival’s success.”
Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO (above) said: “It is an absolute thrill to be appointed to this role and contribute to Australia’s largest, and one of the world’s most attended festivals.
“Sydney has remained my chosen home-base since the 1980s and my love for this city has never faded. When Vivid Sydney appeared on the nation’s festivals calendar 16 years ago, I coveted the possibility of one day being its director and I could not be happier that day has now come.
“Vivid Sydney uses the greatest natural canvas in the world to showcase a joyous celebration of light, art, ideas, music, performance and our stellar food culture.
“This new era will build on Vivid Sydney’s extraordinary legacy and with our outstanding team I’m confident we’ll deliver to Sydney, to Australia and the world a suite of knockout festivals which will be the envy of every creative city on the planet.”
Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.
