Foodbank NSW & ACT has been confirmed as the official Charity Partner for Vivid Sydney 2026, as the one-month countdown begins to the festival lighting up the Harbour City for 23 nights.

From 22 May to 13 June, Sydney will come alive with light, music, food and performance, celebrating NSW’s cultural vibrancy and creative talent through collaborations with boundary‑pushing artists, musicians, thinkers and culinary experts.

Alongside its festival program, Vivid Sydney continues to play an important role in supporting community connection and social impact, using its platform to give back and support organisations that focus on delivering vital outcomes for communities across NSW. 

As part of Vivid Sydney, Foodbank NSW & ACT will feature across the festival, with a fun and interactive light installation in Tumbalong Park and a panel discussion at the Food for Thought stage at Vivid Fire Kitchen on 2 June – helping to shine a light on the scale and reality of food insecurity and reinforcing Vivid Sydney’s commitment to giving back to the community.

Foodbank NSW & ACT is the state and territory’s largest food relief organisation, providing much-needed food assistance to individuals and families through its network of more than 700 community partners and over 900 schools across NSW and the ACT. 

Foodbank directly supports households facing food stress at a time when demand is at historic highs. The partnership aligns with the festival's principles of equity, inclusion and social cohesion.

Vivid Sydney 2026 will once again draw millions of domestic and international visitors, powering NSW’s visitor and night-time economies and cementing Sydney’s status as a global leader in immersive cultural experiences.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: “The countdown is well and truly on until one of the world’s largest arts festivals lights up the city, showcasing our creative brilliance and Sydney’s cultural confidence to the world.

"But beyond the spectacle, Vivid Sydney also uses its platform to make a positive difference for communities across NSW. 

“As a Government, we know cost-of-living pressures are driving more Australians to seek help putting food on the table, which is why having Foodbank NSW & ACT as the Charity Partner for Vivid Sydney 2026 is so important.

"The partnership reflects Vivid Sydney’s broader role in engaging local communities, fostering equity and inclusion, and supporting organisations that drive meaningful social outcomes.”

Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO said: “Vivid Sydney is such an important time of the year, bringing communities together through creativity and shared experiences, and I can’t wait for festival-goers to see what we have in store with just one month to go.

“More importantly, each year Vivid Sydney is driven by a clear purpose – to work with incredible organisations like Foodbank NSW & ACT to enhance accessibility and support the vital work being done across the state. As a festival, we are committed to using our platform to give back to the community and help shape a more sustainable future for Sydney.”

Foodbank NSW & ACT CEO John Robertson said: “We’re proud and excited to be the official charity partner of Vivid Sydney 2026,  giving us the  opportunity to shine a light on hunger at Australia’s largest event.

“Right now, one in three households across NSW and the ACT are experiencing some form of food insecurity – and that means far too many people visiting Vivid Sydney know firsthand what it’s like to worry about being able to put food on the table.

“That’s why this partnership is so important to Foodbank NSW & ACT. Our immersive truck-packing game puts the scale of this crisis in the spotlight and invites thousands of people to be part of the solution. 

"And while the game might end, our work to get food out to those who need it doesn’t stop. We urge everyone attending this year’s event to stand with us, so that together, we can go where hunger is.” 

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Vivid Sydney is owned, managed and produced by the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.