With less than a week to go until the lights switch on to Australia’s biggest event, the NSW Government is partnering with more than 400 businesses as part of the 2025 Vivid Sydney Local Business Program, enriching the global cultural festival that draws millions to Sydney and boosts the state’s visitor and night-time economies.

Participation in the 2025 program has increased by more than 110 per cent– including Cockle Bay Wharf, Darling Quarter, Darling Square, Market City, Paddy’s Market Haymarket and Sydney Place businesses – signing up to take part.

From creative pop-up activations, bespoke menus to exclusive festival offers, a vibrant community of bars, restaurants, retailers and vessels will energise the Harbour City from 23 May to 14 June.

Delivered by Destination NSW, the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program is designed to help small and medium-sized businesses tap into the momentum of Australia’s largest event, helping to drive more foot traffic, jobs and local spending across the city.

As part of the efforts to support business participation in the festival, the NSW Government this week announced that trading hours will be extended over three Sunday nights during Vivid Sydney under the Special Event Extended Trading program, allowing venues to stay open later during major events.

Some of the featured businesses in the 2025 Vivid Sydney Local Business Program include:

  • Sydney Harbour Kayaks, offering a unique ‘moonlight’ sea kayaking experience to view Vivid Sydney from the water.
  • Hickson House, hosting an immersive dark room cocktail-making session on Friday and Saturday nights.
  • Disco Loco, presenting a silent disco walking tour with panoramic views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
  • Tribal Warrior Vivid Sydney Cruise, inviting visitors to experience the Harbour City lights and First Nations culture on board the Wirawi.
  • Mutha Runner, returning with its popular 6.5km ‘Run Vivid’ event – a social run club that becomes a moving light installation with neon-coloured vests.

Businesses participating in the program receive access to a range of benefits, including promotion on the Vivid Sydney webpage, a free digital toolkit with creative assets to use in their marketing campaigns and LED screens and window decals.

Last year, Vivid Sydney welcomed 2.53 million attendees and generated more than $180 million in visitor spending, including a record-breaking opening night that drew over 142,000 people onto the festival footprint.

For more information and to start planning your visit to Vivid Sydney click here.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: "Between the lights, the music, the ideas and the food, Vivid Sydney is more than just a visual experience – it’s an opportunity to celebrate our city.

“Whether it’s kayaking across Sydney Harbour under the lights or joining a neon-lit running tour through the streets, these experiences encourage visitors to stay out longer, explore more and support our vibrant night-time economy.

“Programs like this are key to our vision of cementing Sydney as the premier destination in the Asia-Pacific for world-class events and unforgettable visitor experiences after dark.”

Minister for Small Business Janelle Saffin said: “Vivid is such a great event for small businesses in our city. It’s a great festival to showcase all our world class small businesses in Sydney’s hospitality, tourism and arts and cultural sectors,. Vivid wouldn’t be the event it is now in Sydney’s festival calendar without them.”

Co-founder of Hickson House Distilling Co Mikey Enright said: “Being part of the Vivid Sydney Local Business Program gives us an incredible platform to showcase Hickson House and our bespoke Vivid Sydney-inspired events to a wider audience.

“It drives foot traffic, creates a vibrant atmosphere around The Rocks precinct and supports local businesses like ours in a meaningful way.”