This year’s 11th edition of Vivid Sydney, the city’s annual light, music and ideas festival, has been cancelled, following recommendations by the federal government and health authorities to limit non-essential organised gatherings to under 500 people.
The event, which was originally slated to run from May 22 to June 13, 2020 at various locations around Greater Sydney, will not proceed at any of its planned locations.
Destination NSW, the NSW Government’s tourism and major events agency, said in a statement: “While the cancellation of the event is disappointing and another major setback for the tourism industry, it is the right thing to do to control the spread of infection and keep people safe.”
A spokesperson for Destination NSW added: “Vivid Sydney is a bright star of Sydney’s event calendar so the decision to cancel was not taken lightly. As the event owner, we must follow the advice of health officials to ensure the health and safety of our citizens and everyone involved with Vivid Sydney.”
In 2019, Vivid Sydney attracted a record 2.4 million attendees, and generated A$172 million (US$106 million) for the NSW economy.
Destination NSW has assured that the event would return in 2021.
