Hospitality venues across inner Sydney can keep the good times rolling later into the night during Vivid Sydney, with the NSW Government extending trading hours for three Sunday nights during the festival.
From 25 May to 8 June, eligible hotels, bars, clubs, restaurants, breweries and live music and performance venues in key downtown precincts including The Rocks, Barangaroo, Pyrmont, Woolloomooloo and Potts Point can stay open until midnight on Sundays.
The extensions support Vivid Sydney’s enduring popularity and give festival-goers more time to enjoy the event, while boosting trade for local businesses.
The initiative is part of the NSW Government’s Special Event Extended Trading program, which allows venues to stay open later during major cultural and sporting events.
It is just one of several measures supporting the government’s broader Vibrancy Reforms* to boost NSW’s night-time economy.
Another recent rule change allows venues to apply for permanent midnight trading on Sundays, providing long-term benefits for the hospitality sector and patrons.
For more information and a full list of venues eligible for extended trading during Vivid Sydney are available on the Liquor & Gaming website.
Minister for Music and the Night-time Economy John Graham said: “This is a win-win. Festival-goers get a greater chance to enjoy their night out and business owners get a better opportunity to capitalise on the 2.5 million people Vivid attracts.
“Vivid Sydney is about lighting our city up, not turning the lights down, so it makes sense to push back last drinks.
“This is one of a long list of changes we’ve made to increase trading, boost vibrancy and rebuild Sydney’s night-time economy.”
Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper said: “Vivid Sydney is more than a light festival – it’s a celebration of our city. If we want to showcase our city’s creativity, culture and night-time energy, we need to give our hospitality industry the chance to make the most of this fantastic festival.
“By extending Sunday trading hours, we’re giving visitors and locals more time to explore, and more time to enjoy everything Sydney has to offer after dark.
“We are determined to cement Sydney as the premier destination in the Asia-Pacific, not just for world-class events, but for the vibrant experiences that bring our city to life at night.”
Minister for Gaming and Racing David Harris said: “Allowing venues to stay open later and serve more customers for longer during major events like Vivid Sydney is a win-win for the hospitality industry and those out and about enjoying the festival of light.
“Not only do these extensions make for a greater experience for festival-goers, they also help our hospitality operators capitalise on the increased foot traffic and visitors to our city.”
*Vibrancy reforms
The first round of Vibrancy Reforms in December 2023 delivered improvements that:
The second tranche of reforms in October 2024 included:
