Vivid Sydney Drones Sink, Future Uncertain

Hopes remain for drones to illuminate Sydney's skies at future Vivid festivals, despite a recent incident where over 80 drones sank into Darling Harbour. The search for a dedicated operations manager for Vivid Sydney 2027 began just a day after the aerial display malfunctioned. This timing is coincidental, according to the state's tourism agency, Destination NSW, but highlights an ongoing desire to feature drone shows.

Vivid Sydney had planned its most extensive drone program this year, but the much-anticipated return was cut short when drones began falling into the water during a performance on Monday. The following day, a job opportunity for a 'special events operations manager' with significant drone show experience was posted. This role requires identifying risks and reporting incidents, with applications closing on June 9.

Destination NSW stated that planning for the 2027 festival commenced well before the 2026 event, and the job publication was unrelated to the drone show cancellations. The incident led to the cancellation of drone shows on Tuesday and Wednesday, with all remaining performances officially called off on Saturday and replaced by fireworks. British operator SkyMagic, involved in the show, cited radio interference as the probable cause, though further assessment is needed.

A recovery operation has retrieved a significant number of the submerged drones. While fireworks provided an alternative for some, interest in harbour cruises reportedly slowed after the drone cancellation. The 2023 and 2024 drone shows were managed by Australia Traffic Network, while SkyMagic was credited for this year's Star-Bound show.