The Vivid Ideas forum in 2019 featured 142 events with 250 speakers and 33,000 people in attendance. Photo Credit: Andrew Thoma Huang & Bemo
Australia's largest festival of light, music and ideas, Vivid Sydney, has been cancelled for the second year running after a surge in the Covid-19 Delta variant raised another lockdown, recently extended until end September.
As well as its famed light show and public art exhibition, the mega event — which has helped to attract business events and corporate incentive groups to the harbour city — also features the Vivid Ideas forum, with a series of fireside chats and mini conferences. Vivid Ideas 2019 featured 142 events with 250 speakers and 33,000 people in attendance.
Authorities announced the decision to cancel 2021's event in order to "minimise the impact on event attendees, partners, artists, sponsors and suppliers".
Vivid Sydney will instead return from 27 May to 18 June 2022.
“As we work together to contain the current outbreak and get our community vaccinated, we can all look forward to the return of major events like Vivid Sydney that bring us together in celebration,” said Stuart Ayres, Minister for jobs, investment, tourism and Western Sydney.
“We thank everyone who has contributed to the planning for Vivid Sydney 2021. Of course, it’s incredibly disappointing to cancel for the second year but the most responsible decision was to cancel early, giving everyone certainty and minimising impacts where possible.
“The health and safety of our community is our highest priority, which is why we’re encouraging everyone to get vaccinated so we can get back to enjoying Covid-safe events again soon.”
Ayres' statement builds on to the Australia government's new vaccination targets, which will determine the easing of restrictions and the long-awaited reopening of its economy.