Sydney Opera House sails light up to mark 50 Years of Apple

Wednesday, 25 March 2026 15:40

The sails of the Sydney Opera House will light up with colour over the next three nights as part of a global celebration of Apple's 50th birthday.

A brightly coloured celebration of creativity will kick off a year of collaboration between Apple and the Sydney Opera House with newly commissioned artworks labelled Illuminating Creativity, which is a showcase of original artwork created on iPad using the Australian app Procreate.

Earlier this month, members of the public were also encouraged to create their own digital art at Apple stores across Australia, with those artworks submitted to be part of this week's projection on the Eastern sails.

The artwork It's Beautiful Down Here by Rebecca Mills.

Opera House CEO Louise Herron AM said: "The Sydney Opera House, like Apple, is synonymous with creativity. This collaboration is a natural fit between two organisations that continue to search for new ways for people to experience the world. From our first international children's festival to exciting programming highlights throughout the year, Apple's support will enable us to continue to inspire and welcome more of the community in line with our ambition to be Everyone's House."

Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak, said: "For 50 years, Apple has been at the forefront of empowering creativity, providing tools that allow people to imagine, design, and share their unique visions with the world. The yearlong collaboration with the Sydney Opera House and Illuminating Creativity is a celebration of this legacy, bringing together the incredible talent of Australian artists and the transformative power of iPad and Procreate. We are thrilled to be working with such an iconic Australian cultural landmark to help inspire the next generation of creatives."

Sydney's Opera House lighting up with iPad artworks is part of a global celebration of Apple's 50th birthday, with events taking place across the world in places like China, Bangkok, Seoul, and New York City, where Alicia Keys performed at Grand Central Station.

Some of the artists being highlighted in lights include Aussies Jonathan Zawada from Northern NSW with artwork inspired by the ground beneath your feet, and a stunning underwater-inspired creation "It's Beautiful Down Here" by Perth-based Rebecca Mills.

There's a stunning First Nations artwork by Ryhia Dank, a Gudanji, Wakaja, and Kalkadoon woman whose artwork shows the journey of a goanna moving through the bush.

It's worth getting a harbour-side seat to take in all the art, including a spectacular creation which captures the Aussie surf and sun - tilted "A FRAME" with its wave shape plans with the form of the Opera House Sails and was created by Sydney-based Japanese artist Kentaro Yoshida.

There's even a glimpse of Aussie suburban life, with Phoebe Paradise's "A Brisbane Story" capturing a little balcony in Brisbane to show the sheer "average-ness" of the night sky and a porch light - it's well worth a look.

All these artworks and more will be displayed over the next three nights.

Apple's 50th birthday is officially on April 1.