Is it that time already? Yup. Vivid has just announced its 2025 line-up and, as always, there’s a lot to take in.

The city will get its annual winter glow-up from May 23 to June 14 with an overarching theme of Dream, which festival director Gill Minervini says can be “interpreted in a myriad of ways”.

“Dreaming is as old as time and as universal as life itself. Dreams can be prophetic, life-changing and inspirational, as well as trivial, hilarious or terrifying. These interactions are evident in every aspect of Vivid Sydney’s program this year,” she says.

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Each of the festival’s pillars (light, music, food and ideas) takes place across five interconnected zones:

• Circular Quay and The Rocks
• Barangaroo
• Martin Place and CBD
• Darling Harbour
• The Goods Line and Inner City

In light of the cost-of-living crisis, there’s a bigger emphasis on free events this year. In fact, more than 75 per cent of the program is free.

The big spectacles under the Vivid Light banner include late Australian artist and gay activist David McDiarmid, whose unapologetic work Kiss of Light will feature in the annual lighting of the sails. Sydney fashion label Romance Was Born will debut House of Romance at Customs House, and Vincent Namatjira, who ruffled Gina Rinehart’s feathers with a simple portrait last year, will showcase King Dingo – his most ambitious multimedia project – at the MCA with an original score by Pitjantjatjara man Jeremy Whiskey.

For Vivid Live, the Opera House will host a whopping 50 performances. Icelandic post-rock royalty Sigur Ros will perform with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Portishead’s Beth Gibbons brings tracks from last year’s solo album Lives Outgrown to the stage. Pop darling Japanese Breakfast will debut For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women). And Kiwi favourite Marlon Williams will croon the house down. Miss Kaninna and SAHXL are two acts flying the flag for Australia at the house so far.

The broader program includes huge shows by Ngaiire, Skegss and Mall Grab at Carriageworks, plus German ambient pioneers Tangerine Dream and American indie rocker Soccer Mommy at the City Recital Hall. There’ll also be 12 nights of free gigs at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour, with First Nations and diaspora voices front and centre. Acts include Winston Surfshirt and Ayesha Madon; Viet pop stars Mỹ Anh and Chi Xê; and Grammy-winning African artist Dobet Gnahoré.

Vivid’s food program keeps getting bigger and better, and this year is no exception. British food icon Nigella Lawson will headline with three curated dining experiences in the Muru Giligu tunnel at Martin Place, with more details to come. Vivid Fire Kitchen returns to The Goods Line, as will Vivid’s chef collaboration series. And finally, the Hollywood Quarter in Surry Hills will turn into a food and music trail, with stops including Golden Age Cinema and Bar, The Soda Factory and The Hollywood Hotel, of course.

Finally, there’s the talks and ideas part of the program, which last year brought us less traditional formats such as walking tours, one-on-one experiences and meditations for the first time. Highlights include a talk by Time magazine’s creative director DW Pine, in which he’ll share creative insights from his career at the renowned publication. Also, neuroscientist and sleep guru Matthew Walker will give a keynote packed with wisdom from his 2017 bestseller Why We Sleep.

Netflix is getting in on the Vivid action this year with Stranger Things: The Experience set to debut at Luna Park. This interactive experience, designed by the hit show’s creators, will transport the whole family to 1986.

More will be announced in the coming weeks.

Vivid Sydney runs from May 23 to June 14. Tickets are on sale now.