Share and Follow
Vivid Sydney has decided to cancel its remaining drone displays after experiencing “technical difficulties” that caused drones to crash into the harbor, leading to multiple show cancellations this week.
In a statement, Vivid Sydney explained, “Due to an unexpected technical problem during Monday night’s ‘Star-Bound’ drone show, we regret to announce that the rest of the year’s scheduled drone performances will not take place.”
Instead, fireworks will now accompany the Laser Lightfall spectacle in Darling Harbour at the times initially set for the drone shows.
READ MORE: Man receives 15-year sentence for planning an attack at Taylor Swift’s concert in Austria
Vivid Sydney also mentioned that efforts are underway to retrieve the drones that fell from the sky during Monday’s mishap.
Vivid Sydney also confirmed a retrieval process is underway following Monday night’s incident, which saw dozens of drones fall from the sky.
There was chaos on Monday night when nearly 90 drones fell into the harbour during the 7.30pm Star-Bound show, which was subsequently called off.
The 9.30pm event was cancelled, as were several other performances this week to allow for a “full technical and safety review”.
READ MORE: End in sight for rain, storms hammering east coast
SKYMAGIC, the operator leading the drone show, previously said the incident was caused by “an unforeseen change in the radio frequency (RF) environment occurring after take-off”.
It has now confirmed it is working closely with the relevant authorities to identify the external interference that caused the failsafe response at Monday evening’s drone show.
“This process requires further technical, operational data and local assessment,” it said in a statement.
A retrieval process is now underway to recover the 89 drones that dropped into the harbour. Nine
READ MORE: Rents to jump 350 per cent under budget measures, modelling shows
Vivid Sydney understands the news will be disappointing for some visitors but said providing certainty for attendees and ensuring public safety remain its highest priorities.
The annual festival kicked off last weekend with an array of light installations, music performances, food and other experiences around the city.
It also saw the return of the drone show, which was such a hit in 2024 that it was cancelled in 2025 due to safety concerns.
There were snags from the start though, with the first performance on Sunday night having to be cancelled due to rain.
The 9.30pm show went smoothly, only for the Monday night shows to be plagued with technical issues.
Vivid Sydney is slated to run until June 13.