Sydney's Vivid Festival cancelled amid coronavirus outbreak

By Stuart Marsh

Sydney's annual Vivid Festival which attracts more than two million visitors to NSW has been cancelled as impending coronavirus legislation seeks to ban gatherings of more than 500 people.

In a short statement to its website, festival organisers said they will not be postponing the festival but simply re-scheduling until next year.

"Unfortunately, Vivid Sydney 2020 has been cancelled on the recommendations of the Australian Government and health authorities regarding non-essential, organised gatherings of more than 500 people," the statement reads.

The annual festival attracts millions of visitors and raises billions of dollars for the local tourism economy. (Vivid Sydney)

"Vivid Sydney will shine brighter than ever in 2021!"

The light and music-based festival was due to start on May 22.

The festival is responsible for billions in tourist revenue to the NSW State Government and is just one of thousands of events being postponed until the COVID-19 festival can be contained.

Sydney's St Patrick's Day Festival, due to be held at the Rocks on Sunday, was cancelled on Saturday afternoon after "further reflection" by the event organisers.

"While the government restrictions on large events don't come into play until Monday, on further reflection and on listening to our supporters and community, we have decided to cancel the event," Sydney St Patrick's Day president Karen Murphy said on Facebook.

Sydney's Opera House lit up during Vivid 2019. (Supplied)

"It has been a difficult decision for our voluntary committee, but we believe it is in the best interest of the community at this time."

It follows the federal government's announcement on Friday that non-essential mass gatherings of 500 people or more should not be held from Monday.

The Sydney Royal Easter Show, which was due to start in three weeks' time, has also been cancelled.

The Royal Easter Show has been cancelled. (Brook Mitchell/The Sydney Morning Herald)

Royal Agricultural Society of NSW chief executive Brock Gilmour said the decision to cancel was a "huge disappointment" that would cost the society tens of millions of dollars.

RSL NSW said the government's decision on mass gatherings "will obviously have an impact on planning for Anzac Day".

Representatives will meet with the state government on Monday "to further understand the impact of this advice" before informing sub-branches of the outcome, the league said on Facebook.

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