Vivid flips the switch on Sydney in first-night spectacular
More than three million people are expected to hit the streets over the 23-day event, taking in over 40 installations and projections spread across the Harbour City.
This year's theme is Dream – a vision of light, harmony and a future in balance.
'In 2025, Vivid Sydney invites you to dream big,' the official website reads.
'To go to the outer reaches of your mind, to think differently, without boundaries or preconceptions and to immerse yourself in new experiences and ideas.
'We want you to dream with the lights on, to daydream, to dream without boundaries, to soar.'
Celebrations kicked off on Friday evening by First Light, a special welcome ceremony featuring Indigenous Australian dancers from NAISDA.
Dancers in traditional wear, illuminated by bursts of fire and colourful lighting, brought Campbells Cove at The Rocks to life, followed by a free concert celebrating First Nations pride.
Hosted by rapper Ziggy Ramo, visitors were invited to celebrate the next generation of Indigenous artists such as DJ Rona, Kaiit and Jeremy Whiskey in a one-night-only music extravaganza.
One of Vivid's most highly-anticipated centrepieces is the lighting of the Opera House Sails.
This year, it will display the works of David McDiarmid in Lighting of the Sails: Kiss of Light on the 30th anniversary of the artists death.
The projections will act as a 'rallying cry for equality, inclusion and freedom', the festival organisers said, through a colourful and quirky lens – including slides of moving tiled shapes, rainbows and a green eyeball.
Circular Quay is not the only spot to get in on the action.
The festival will be split into five zones, including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Darling Harbour, The Goods Line and inner city and, for the first time since 2018, Martin Place.
Things look a little different this year with Vivid deciding to scrap its drone show and make its famous light walk free.
Destination NSW confirmed the decision to scrap the drone show, which has been part of the festival since 2021, in March citing safety concerns.
It was thought the spectacle would bring in too many people and create dangerous conditions after crows were stuck in a bottleneck while trying to leave the western side of Circular Quay last year.
Meanwhile, the light walk – which previously set festival-goers back $30 – will now be free as this year's festival aims to be as 'budget-friendly' as possible.
'We are all feeling the pinch in terms of the economy and cost-of-living crisis,' Festival director Gill Minervini said.
'I really wanted Vivid to respond to that. My job as director is to renovate and refresh the festival every year.
'We want audiences to come back time after time, and not think, 'Oh, it's the same old Vivid'. We want to keep everyone guessing.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Telegraph
2 minutes ago
- Daily Telegraph
Ninja Warrior's Olivia Vivian reveals why she'll freeze her eggs
Don't miss out on the headlines from Fertility. Followed categories will be added to My News. Former Australian Ninja Warrior champion Olivia Vivian has opened up about her journey to 'find myself again' after her marriage breakdown and her upcoming fertility mission. Vivian was heartbroken after separating from husband and fellow contestant Ben Polson in 2023. The first woman to conquer the Warped Wall on the Australian edition of the show, Vivian revealed she would freeze her eggs later this year. 'I've been advised by a lot of amazing friends who have had kids late to do this,'' the 36-year-old said. 'I'm going to listen to them. We had a public relationship so it was tough at first to re-explain myself about children. Olivia Vivian is looking at freezing her eggs at age 36. 'I wasn't sure if I wanted kids. For a long time it was a hard no because early on I was told it was a hassle and it wasn't for me. Then I had to go away and I asked 'what did I want' instead of what I was taught as a child. With the right person it's a beautiful thing and as far as I know I've got a lot of healthy eggs.' Vivian is competing overseas and will return to Australia for the egg freezing process. The topic of egg freezing and when to do it will be discussed during a must-watch online conversation that will air at 4pm on Monday. It will feature top experts and people with lived experience with infertility, including actor Olympia Valance. Melbourne IVF medical director and fertility specialist Raelia Lew discusses egg freezing during the event and when is the best time to do it. Ahead of her egg freezing journey, Vivian is currently doing a safari in South Africa and living her best life. Olivia Vivian was a Ninja Warrior champion. Picture: Supplied/Channel 9 'The separation was coming for some time, but when it happens and you're no longer hanging out with your best friend every day, it hit me pretty hard,'' Vivian said. 'My reaction was to fly. I went to international events and I needed to get away. It turned into a journey to find myself again and it's been a rollercoaster but I feel happier and know my worth. 'It was a true blessing in disguise. Initially I was like never again to a relationship and locked my heart away but slowly I started opening up and healing. There's been a couple of guys since, not in Australia, so in a sense now I'm miss worldwide. I'm looking for a man, not a boy.' Vivian competes in ninja competitions at invite-only events and is proud of her feats in Australia. It's hoped that the sport will be in the Olympics by Brisbane 2032. 'It's a big thing all over the world and it's changed my life,'' Vivian said. Olivia Vivian and Ben Polson before their split. Picture: David Swift. 'I felt so out of touch and burnt out from the elite gymnastics world and then Ninja Warrior came along. We were all bonded by trauma in a way, filming it at midnight and it was such a unique experience and I poured my heart into it. Ben and I were the golden couple of the show. 'I compete in events that are the pinnacle of the ninja world and it's been great watching the sport evolve. I'd love to be competing or commentating when it's in the Olympics. 'Hopefully it's had a ripple effect and inspired girls to go for their dreams and goals.' Originally published as Ninja Warrior's Olivia Vivian says she'll freeze her eggs after marriage split
News.com.au
7 minutes ago
- News.com.au
‘Trail of blood': New book walks through horror night at Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's Aussie mansion
The tempestuous relationship of Johnny Depp and Amber Heard comes under the microscope in a new book by journalists who covered the A-list couple's courtroom battle. This extract from Hollywood Vampires dives into that infamous night of mayhem in Australia when everything came to a head. Johnny Depp and Amber Heard were still celebrating their nuptials when Johnny's freelance butler Ben King pulled into the palatial carport at Diamond Head, a colonial estate and riverfront mega mansion on Australia's Gold Coast. Soon the newlyweds would arrive at the estate. There was no time for a honeymoon after their February 2015 wedding; both Johnny and Amber were due back at work to start shooting their new films. Diamond Head's owner, Aussie motorcycling champion Mick Doohan, was away on tour. Mick had previously rented his place to Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, and Pink. Now the mansion would be Johnny and Amber's home for several months while Johnny filmed the fifth instalment of the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Dead Men Tell No Tales. The film would be shot exclusively in Australia after the Australian government offered Disney $20 million in tax incentives. It was the largest international feature film shoot in the country's history and the newest instalment would be an emotional exploration of Jack Sparrow's backstory. At Diamond Head, Ben scoped out the movie theatre and gym then entered the primary suite. He was surrounded by stacks of suitcases containing everything Johnny and Amber would need for their home away from home. There was a box filled entirely with candles. Several more suitcases were filled with art supplies. Then he unpacked and hung Johnny's clothes, mostly an assortment of tattered, patched, and stained bohemian garb. Nathan Holmes, Johnny's long-time assistant, had arrived earlier in the week. Between him and Ben, everything had been taken care of for Johnny and Amber's arrival. Nathan rented go-karts for the racetrack outside. He also found an art teacher for Amber because she wanted to take painting classes. The two men were soon joined by Chef Russell. Johnny arrived in Australia first and Amber a couple of weeks later. Immediately they began to fight. According to Johnny, Amber was 'irate' and 'possessed' over discussions of a postnuptial agreement following their failure to execute a prenup before the weddings. He said Amber believed he was trying to 'trick her' into receiving nothing from the postnup and complained that she wasn't even listed in his will. Without a pre- or postnup, per California law, Amber would automatically be entitled to 50 per cent of everything Johnny made during their marriage if they split. On the evening of Friday, March 6, Johnny and Amber were snuggled under a blanket to watch TV when Chef Russell said goodbye for the weekend. He reminded the pair that he'd prepared meals for the weekend that only needed to be reheated. On Sunday, Malcolm Connolly, Johnny's bodyguard got a call from Jerry Judge, Johnny's head of security. 'Something's happened with the boss, man,' Jerry said. 'You need to extract him. Just extract him, take him out of there.' Malcolm and Johnny's driver raced to Diamond Head. When he walked in the door, Amber was wearing a cardigan and a shiny slip, and screaming at Johnny. Johnny screamed back at Amber, clutching one of his fingers. 'She cut my finger clean off …' Johnny said. 'She slapped me with a vodka bottle.' He leaned over to Malcolm showing him the injured appendage. The claims were later disputed in court. Malcolm looked at Johnny's finger and thought, 'This looks like a captain cigar, like what you see in the cartoons.' He said to Johnny, 'Let's move, get in the car.' He crossed over to Johnny and pushed him toward the door. Johnny and Amber continued to argue as Malcolm tried to pull Johnny away and into the car outside. 'Johnny, that's all you do. You f**k off. You f**k off with your guys. You're a fucking coward, you big man,' Amber screamed at him. Johnny kept running back up the stairs to continue the fight, begging Malcolm, 'Let me stay for a few more minutes.' Finally, Malcolm pulled him down the stairs and out of the house. He put him in the car and walked around to the other side to sit behind Johnny in the back seat. 'Johnny, LET'S GO!' Malcolm demanded. With Johnny in the back seat wailing, Malcolm and the driver raced back to Malcolm's apartment in Broadbeach. 'It's going to be all right, boss,' he reassured Johnny. The driver parked in the underground garage and Malcolm snuck Johnny inside through a back passageway. As Malcolm washed Johnny's bloody hand, he could see the bone sticking out of his finger. There was dirt and paint in the wound too. He sat Johnny down on his bed and phoned Nurse Debbie Lloyd who, along with Dr Kipper, a specialist in addiction care, had been engaged by Johnny's team the previous year. Both had flown out to Australia and were installed in apartments near the mansion to be on call. 'Get here fast,' he said. Johnny moaned behind him. Kipper and Debbie arrived at Malcolm's apartment, took one look at Johnny's hand, and drove him to the hospital. Inside the ER, Johnny, still wearing his sunglasses, laid on a stretcher, his bloody finger wrapped in a green napkin laid on top of a large fabric pad. Malcolm stood next to Johnny, fuming. 'I stood on top of a chair and I took pictures of him. I had enough.' Malcolm wanted to document Johnny's injuries. 'Every time I see him, he's got marks or scratches. It really was dangerous, man, dangerous. I thought I could show up one morning and he'll be dead.' Back at the Diamond Head mansion, Dr Kipper and Nurse Debbie tried to locate Johnny's missing fingertip. There was still time to stitch it back on. At some point that morning, Amber's cell phone had been positioned on the first floor near the front entrance. Still actively recording audio, it captured Dr Kipper and Nurse Debbie's conversation. When questioned about it later, Amber explained that Johnny 'took her phone and pressed record' before security got there. The recording would eventually become a significant piece of evidence at trial. Amber would later assert that on that Sunday morning, she was fresh out of a 'three-day hostage situation,' in which Johnny inflicted grievous bodily harm on her, including rape with a glass liquor bottle. But on the recording, in the presence of her doctor and a nurse, Amber didn't mention any of the bloodied cuts and gashes covering her arms or her 'shredded' feet caused by several broken glass bottles. As the medical team tried to find Johnny's finger, Amber became fixated on returning to Johnny and being by his side, but Dr Kipper wouldn't hear it. Amber sobbed in the background – 'He needs me right now! Me!' - while Kipper and Debbie discussed what meds to give her to calm her down. Jerry Judge urged Amber to go back home to Los Angeles, but she remained reluctant. She believed the relationship would be over if she did. 'I can't leave, I can't leave. It'll be the end if I leave,' she said. While Amber was sequestered upstairs, Jerry Judge called Christi Dembrowski, Johnny's sister and business partner, filling her in on what had happened that morning. The audio recording captured his end of the conversation. 'There's been bottles thrown, and she – she admits to me she threw the first – she threw a bottle at him.' Amber would claim Johnny was out of his mind on drugs, having taken ten ecstasy pills at once, as well as cocaine and liquor. She said she'd watched him smash a wall phone into pieces and lose his fingertip that way, though no evidence was found of a smashed phone. Plans were made for Amber to fly back to Los Angeles early the next morning, March 9, 2015 and Ben King returned to Diamond Head to find the rental home wrecked. Ben said that when he walked through the aftermath, there was a clear trail of blood leading from one bedroom to the next, and in and out of several bathrooms. Inside one bedroom, the bed linens were covered in blood, and there was also a bloody iPad and a blood-smeared guitar. Both Johnny and Amber later claimed to have been hiding from each other in various rooms of the house. Ben followed another trail of blood to the downstairs bar, which was set back from a pool table, lit with blue lighting. On the floor was a bloody paper towel sitting next to cans, bottles, and broken glass. Inside the towel was Johnny's fingertip. Ben went upstairs and placed the flesh inside a zip-lock bag and put the bag in a bowl of ice inside a plastic container. The fingertip was rushed to the hospital to give it to the doctors, but according to Ben, 'The fingertip didn't find its way back to his finger, because it was too late.' In the end Ben escorted Amber back to LA. On the ride to the airport, Amber talked on her phone to several people, one of them Johnny. She'd later testify that he called her from the hospital to ask if he had 'killed it,' meaning the relationship. As they taxied down the runway, Ben asked the question that had been burning into him. 'What happened to the house?' He said Amber turned to look at him. 'Have you ever been so angry with someone, you just lost it with them?' Meanwhile, Jerry Bruckheimer's production company, JBF Inc., needed a story to give the public explaining why production on Pirates 5 had come to a halt. Three days after the finger incident, a press release with their 'official' story was released: 'Pirate steers off course! Johnny Depp injured his hand GO-KARTING at motorbike champion's luxury estate – forcing the star to fly home.' Photos showed Johnny boarding his private jet, flashing a gold-toothed grin for the paparazzi. He held his injured hand like a sock puppet against his chest, his forearm and hand sheathed in black skull-and-crossbones fabric that was sloppily wrapped up with silver duct tape. Soon he'd be on an operating table in Los Angeles for a skin grafting, in which skin from another part of his hand would be used to cover the portion of his finger that had been severed. A pin would also be placed in the broken bone. After the operation, Johnny posed for a picture, flipping off the camera with a massive middle finger bandaged up in pink gauze patterned with little purple hearts. As for Disney, they lost US$350,000 for every day that the production was shut down.
ABC News
6 hours ago
- ABC News
Emily Wurramara wins Artist of the Year at 2025 National Indigenous Music Awards
Warnindhilyagwa singer-songwriter Emily Wurramara has taken out Artist of the Year at the 2025 National Indigenous Music Awards (NIMAs). Jessica Mauboy and Troy Cassar-Daley led a star-studded line-up of performers, as the country's top First Nations musical acts were recognised by their peers on Larrakia country in Darwin. Mauboy was also inducted into the NIMAs Hall of Fame during the ceremony, joining the likes of Australian musical legends from Yothu Yindi to Ruby Hunter. Wurramara also won the Music Clip of the Year Award for her sultry, hypnotic track Lordy Lordy featuring Tasman Keith, shot on Larrakia country and Gadigal country. The track, which she wrote in the wake of the 2023 Voice referendum, features Red Flag dancers from Numbulwar, NT. It's been a huge year for the artist, who released her second studio album NARA in August and became the first Indigenous woman to win Best Contemporary Album at the 2024 ARIAs. Eight-piece Yolŋu funk outfit, Andrew Gurruwiwi Band — named for its Galpu clan lead singer — was also amongst the night's big winners, taking out Best New Talent and Song of the Year for Once Upon a Time. Gurruwiwi, aged in his 50s, turned to music after losing his sight in an accident in 1998, and now mentors young Yolŋu musicians in the region. Last year's Artist of the Year winner, Malyangapa and Barkindji hip hop talent BARKAA took out Album of the Year for her second album Big Tidda, which celebrates her resilience and determination triumphing over an ice addiction and jail time. Just days ago, BARKAA's mother Cleonie Quayle won a National Indigenous Fashion Award in Darwin for a dress she made for BARKAA's We Up music video, which symbolised her recovery journey. The Bulman School and surrounding community, which were nominated for three songs in the category of Community Clip of the Year, won for their track Crocodile Style. It's the second year in a row the Northern Territory community has taken out the award.
