Expressions of interest have opened for the Vivid Sydney 2027 Local Business Program, giving Sydney operators another opportunity to align promotions and trading activity with the city’s major winter festival.
Vivid Sydney 2027 will run from 28 May to 19 June, with its program again spanning Light, Music, Minds and Food.
The Local Business Program is aimed at restaurants, bars, retailers, tourism operators and other businesses operating in and around festival precincts.
More Than 500 Businesses Participated in 2026
Participation in the program increased significantly in 2026.
The NSW Government’s latest program announcement says more than 550 businesses took part, representing a 19 per cent increase from the previous year.
Destination NSW’s post-festival summary recorded 543 participating businesses, indicating a small difference in reporting across official releases.
Participating businesses were spread across precincts including:
- The Rocks
- Barangaroo
- Cockle Bay Wharf
- Darling Quarter
- Darling Square
- Haymarket
- Sydney Place
More Than Half Reported Higher Revenue
Feedback from businesses participating in the 2026 program showed mixed but generally positive commercial outcomes.
According to the latest Destination NSW survey results:
- 68 per cent said extending trading hours during Vivid Sydney was worthwhile
- 52 per cent reported higher-than-normal revenue
- More than 83 per cent said they would recommend the program to other businesses.
The figures are based on participating business feedback and should not be interpreted as a measure of revenue growth across the wider Sydney business sector.
Businesses Can Develop Their Own Festival Offers
The Local Business Program allows operators to create their own Vivid-related offers and experiences.
Previous participants have used:
- Special menus
- Extended trading hours
- Pop-up events
- Discounts and packages
- Retail promotions
- Tourism and on-water experiences
Businesses accepted into the program can also receive promotional exposure through Vivid Sydney’s digital channels and access festival-branded marketing assets.
Vivid Sydney Remains a Major Winter Event
Vivid Sydney 2026 featured 217 events and more than 2,200 sessions across 89 locations.
Destination NSW data also showed Sydney hotel occupancy reached 92.7 per cent over the King’s Birthday long weekend during Vivid Sydney 2026, while average June occupancy reached 74.1 per cent. Major events including Vivid Sydney and the Sydney Film Festival contributed to that demand.
The festival is owned, managed and produced by Destination NSW.
2027 Business Expressions of Interest Now Open
The 2027 Local Business Program is now accepting expressions of interest from local operators.
The program sits alongside the broader Vivid Sydney 2027 creative program, for which Light, Music, Minds and Food expressions of interest have already closed.
The latest opening therefore shifts the focus from festival programming toward participation by local hospitality, retail and tourism businesses ahead of the event next May.
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