Vivid Sydney has canceled all remaining drone shows following an incident on Monday where 83 drones malfunctioned and plunged into Darling Harbour’s Cockle Bay, with six others landing on a nearby boardwalk. No injuries were reported.
The technical failure, attributed to an “unforeseen change in the radio frequency environment” by operator Skymagic, prompted the cancellation of four performances on Tuesday and Wednesday. A full safety and technical review led to the decision to scrap the remaining shows scheduled for the next two weeks.
In a statement, Vivid Sydney emphasized that “public safety remains the absolute priority” and confirmed that fireworks would replace drone shows at Laser Lightfall in Darling Harbour, maintaining the event’s schedule. The organization acknowledged the disruption but stated that the decision was made to ensure certainty for attendees.
Skymagic’s head of operations, Dyfan Rhys, clarified that while the incident involved drones encountering geofence boundaries and shutting down to preserve safety, early investigations found no evidence of foul play. The fleet’s positional accuracy was compromised, leading to the malfunction. Despite dramatic visuals on social media, officials confirmed the public was never at risk.
The drone show, which returned this year as Australia’s “most extensive” such event featuring 1,000 custom-built drones, was previously canceled in 2023 due to crowd control concerns. Vivid Sydney will continue until June 13, with adjustments made to maintain its signature spectacle.