Vivid Sydney is one of the world’s largest festivals of lights, music, ideas and food, drawing millions of visitors to Sydney. Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO called the 2026 event “a festival of a lifetime”, a fitting description for a celebration that transformed Sydney Harbour into a canvas of light and creativity. With Vivid Sydney expected to return in 2027, visitors can once again look forward to experiencing the festival from one of the city's best vantage points: Vivid Sydney cruises.
The ‘Magistic Two’ is a luxury catamaran with three spacious outer decks and wide panoramic windows. As the cruise moves across Sydney Harbour, you will see major Vivid Light installations along the waterfront and skyline, and glimpses of some land-based installations as well. Here are a few notable mentions from Vivid Sydney 2026:
The ‘Magistic Two’ has two departures, and each cruise runs approx. 1.5 hours, and includes a complimentary drink on arrival. You can also bring your own snacks/food for a smooth cruising experience.
On this departure, you'll be out on the water for the official 6pm ‘Lights On’ moment, watching the harbour shift from golden-hour glow into full Vivid spectacle in real time. Great for families and anyone who wants the full Vivid experience without the late-night rush.
This is the most popular and prime-time cruise, with the harbour at its liveliest and the illuminated skyline in full swing. This is ideal for groups and people wanting the peak-time photos of the light exhibits.
So, choose your preferred Magistic cruise and secure your spot on the water before the festival nights fill up.
We send out a customer survey form to all guests that join us on board. This form aims to understand how we can improve our cruise experience for future guests. Our customer service team regularly follows up with guests that report a sub-optimal experience to better understand their concerns.
While we feature positive reviews on our website, all feedback is appreciated and taken into consideration when developing our products & training staff.
Charter the ‘Magistic Two’ or hire a private deck to celebrate your special occasions. Tailored cruise packages available!
