Vivid Sydney 2026 - Fire Kitchen

⁠⁠⁠Project goals

Vivid Sydney is produced by Destination NSW and is a festival celebrating light, music, ideas, and food. A key highlight of the festival is the Vivid Food program, which brings NSW’s vibrant culinary scene to life through immersive dining experiences, unique activations, and collaborations with world-class chefs.

At the heart of Vivid Food is the Vivid Fire Kitchen, a signature 23-night event where guests can witness live cooking demonstrations and savour an array of fire-cooked dishes from the world’s top pitmasters, chefs, and barbecue legends. This open-air, free-access experience is more than just a feast—it’s a celebration of culture, community, and the joy of food. Destination NSW is currently seeking proposals from suitably experienced agencies with regards to the assistance in curation, production and delivery of the 2026 Vivid Fire Kitchen.

Scope

The Request for Proposal contains a detailed description of Destination NSW's requirements for Vivid Fire Kitchen and should be considered carefully by all respondents.

Specifications of Services:

The selected contractor will be responsible for the end-to-end delivery of the Vivid Fire Kitchen, including:

1. Creative Concept & Guest Experience

• Develop an original concept aligned with the Fire Kitchen vision, to take place in Barangaroo Reserve, see map in Annexure A.

• Curate and showcase NSW culinary talent, food, and beverages.

• Assist with obtaining and managing a Special Event Liquor License.

• Design immersive experiences to enhance guest engagement.

2. Production & Technical Delivery

• Provide staging, lighting, audio-visual, and other technical elements.

• Supply specialist cooking infrastructure (live fire pits, grills, smokers, etc.).

• Plan and manage event layout, ensuring smooth flow for guests, vendors, and staff.

• Implement risk management and ensure compliance with fire, food safety, and crowd regulations.

3. Staffing & Operations

• Deploy skilled event management and onsite teams, including chefs, technical crews, and front-of-house staff.

• Coordinate all aspects of services delivery to ensure seamless execution.

4. Financial & Budget Management

• Provide a transparent budget including both expenditure and income streams.

• Demonstrate value-for-money strategies while maintaining quality.

• Identify potential revenue opportunities such as sponsorships or ticketing.

5. Sustainability & Environmental Practices

• Implement sustainable practices including waste reduction, recycling, and responsible packaging

• Prioritise locally sourced, seasonal produce.

• Apply energy-efficient production practices and engage guests and vendors in sustainability initiatives.

6. Timeline & Reporting

• Deliver a detailed project timeline covering planning, approvals, delivery, and post-event reporting.

• Provide contingency planning for unexpected challenges.

• Report on financials, event outcomes, and lessons learned post-event.

Requirements

Mandatory requirements

There are no mandatory requirements for this opportunity.

Opportunity requirements

1. Deadline for receipt of clarification requests

Any requests respondents may have for further information or clarification about this Request for Proposal must be submitted by no later than 21 October 2025.

Response type

Checkbox (Agree)

2. Response to Request for Proposal

Respondents should carefully consider all requirements set out in the Request for Proposal and ensure responses address all such requirements.

Response type

File upload (Multiple)

Please see attached files in the link for more information