Vivid Food returns with a generous celebration of flavour, creativity and connection, bringing together world-leading chefs and passionate producers to shine a light on the remarkable breadth of dining across New South Wales – and the stories behind every ingredient. At the heart of this year’s new Regional Dinner Series is A Shared Table with Yotam Ottolenghi, where the world-renowned chef will craft a menu inspired by the extraordinary produce of the state.

Ottolenghi’s headline event sets the tone for the wider Regional Dinner Series, which brings the best of regional talent to Sydney through a series of thoughtful chef collaborations. These one-off dining experiences champion exceptional producers and artisans from across the state, with pairings including Mindy Woods with Danielle Alvarez at the Sydney Opera House, Ben Devlin with Lennox Hastie at Firedoor, and Christine Manfield with Sander Nooij at Yellow. Together, they offer a delicious snapshot of the people, produce and places shaping the state’s food story right now.

Standing 23 metres tall, Molecule of Light is the festival’s most towering installation. Created by British artist Chris Levine, the internationally acclaimed work arrives at Barangaroo Reserve as a striking fusion of laser and sound. Single-frequency beams and shifting geometric patterns of light are paired with a solfeggio soundscape inspired by ancient healing frequencies, creating a quietly meditative atmosphere.

Obstacle is one of the longest works in the program, stretching 45 metres along the harbour. Created by Melbourne collective Reelize, the high-resolution LED installation transforms Wulugul Walk into a pulsing corridor of colour and movement after dark.

New South Wales’ most celebrated food and wine producers come together for a one-night-only dining experience beneath the soaring tinted-glass ceiling of the heritage-listed The Strand Arcade. Presented by Restaurant Pendolino, the exclusive long-table dinner will be hosted by chef, restaurateur and cookbook author Nino Zoccali, with MC duties handled by veteran broadcaster Simon Marnie. Across three generous courses, Zoccali shines a spotlight on outstanding NSW producers, with each ingredient chosen for its provenance, story and deep connection to land and sea. Every dish is thoughtfully paired with standout wines from leading NSW vineyards. Long Table Dinner at The Strand Arcade: NSW Icons of Land & Sea blends fine dining, storytelling and cultural heritage, offering a rare opportunity to dine after hours in one of Sydney’s most beautiful historic spaces.

See the Sydney Opera House in an entirely new light with this exclusive after-hours experience, beginning with a guided tour before settling in for a show-stopping three-course dinner by celebrated First Nations chef Mark Olive. Guests will be welcomed into one of the Opera House’s beautiful hidden spaces – an intimate, immersive dining room where the evening begins with a Rosella Gimlet and atmospheric projections overhead, inspired by Olive’s menu. Known to many as The Black Olive, the trailblazing chef brings native ingredients and culture to the forefront across a thoughtful three-course feast, with each dish paired with New South Wales wines, craft beers or carefully chosen non-alcoholic options.

At its new home in Barangaroo Reserve, Vivid Fire Kitchen returns as a smoky, flame-lit playground where some of the country’s most exciting chefs gather to cook over fire, share stories and celebrate bold, elemental flavours. Expect live demonstrations, generous tastings and plenty of chef-to-crowd conversation as the grills roar each night. The 2026 line-up brings together a stellar mix of Australian culinary talent – including Mark Best, Luke Mangan, Sharon Salloum and Annita Potter – while also welcoming a fresh wave of food personalities such as Julia Goodwin, Adriano Zumbo, Declan Cleary and Karima Hazim, with more names still to come.