Fresh Leadership for Vivid Sydney: Brett Sheehy AO | Australian Markets

The Minns Labor Government has appointed famend arts chief Brett Sheehy AO as Festival Director of Vivid Sydney, Australia’s largest occasion and the Southern Hemisphere’s main multi-artform competition.

With a profession spanning more than 20 years, Brett Sheehy AO has led 4 of Australia’s premier arts organisations, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival, Melbourne Festival and Melbourne Theatre Company, delivering transformative growth, worldwide acclaim and lasting legacies at every.

Under his management, works he programmed acquired 117 Helpmann Award nominations (24 wins) and 186 Green Room Award nominations (35 wins). In 2024, he was appointed to reset the Adelaide Festival, the place in simply eight months he reversed a seven-figure deficit and delivered each essential acclaim and a robust surplus.

Widely recognised as one of the nation’s most influential arts leaders, Brett has been named amongst The Australian Financial Review’s “20 Australians to Watch” and as one of the nation’s most influential arts figures by each AFR and Limelight magazine.

In 2012, he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to the performing and visible arts, worldwide inventive exchange and mentoring.

With his daring artistic imaginative and prescient and deep respect for Vivid Sydney’s legacy, Brett Sheehy will information the competition into its subsequent chapter, increasing its international impression whereas persevering with to ship immersive, thought-provoking experiences.

His appointment follows the excellent success of Vivid Sydney 2025 which included 2.53 million guests and delivered Sydney’s highest May lodge occupancy since 2019, peaking at 89.1 per cent.

Over 23 nights, the competition remodeled the CBD into a showcase of Light, Music, Ideas and Food, with highlights together with 4 Saturdays every drawing close to 200,000 people, more than 400 native companies concerned, Vivid Fire Kitchen welcoming 110,000 guests, and #vividsydney content material seen more than 830 million occasions worldwide.

Building on this momentum, Vivid Sydney 2026 will current an formidable program that pushes artistic boundaries whereas remaining true to the competition’s distinctive spirit. Further particulars on the 2026 program might be introduced within the coming months.

Minister for Jobs and Tourism Steve Kamper stated:

“Vivid Sydney demonstrates how world-class occasions ignite our metropolis, increase native companies and drive growth throughout all the NSW customer economic system. This competition doesn’t simply mild up our streets – it solidifies Sydney’s standing as a main international cultural capital and a must-experience vacation spot within the Asia-Pacific.

“As we sit up for 2026 and past, the appointment of Brett Sheehy AO as Festival Director ushers in an thrilling new chapter for Australia’s favorite occasion.

“The NSW Government looks forward to Brett building on the festival’s proud legacy and shaping a bold and inspiring future for Vivid Sydney.”

Destination NSW CEO Karen Jones stated:

“Destination NSW is delighted to welcome Brett Sheehy AO because the new Festival Director of Vivid Sydney.

His artistic imaginative and prescient and industry experience will elevate Vivid Sydney’s place as one of the world’s most iconic main occasions.

“We also extend our sincere thanks to outgoing Festival Director Gill Minervini for her passion, creativity and dedication over her past four years, which have been instrumental in shaping the festival’s success.”

Vivid Sydney Festival Director Brett Sheehy AO stated:

“It is an absolute thrill to be appointed to this position and contribute to Australia’s largest, and one of the world’s most attended festivals.

“Sydney has remained my chosen home-base because the Eighties and my love for this metropolis has by no means light. When Vivid Sydney appeared on the nation’s festivals calendar 16 years in the past, I coveted the likelihood of sooner or later being its director and I couldn’t be happier that day has now come.

“Vivid Sydney makes use of the best natural canvas within the world to showcase a joyous celebration of mild, artwork, concepts, music, efficiency and our stellar food tradition.

“This new era will build on Vivid Sydney’s extraordinary legacy and with our outstanding team I’m confident we’ll deliver to Sydney, to Australia and the world a suite of knockout festivals which will be the envy of every creative city on the planet.”

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