Sydney Festival Digital Archive

The first Vigil (2019)

This was the birth of a beautiful annual tradition which has become a cornerstone of the Festival's First Nations program.

An opportunity to come together and reflect on Reconciliation on the eve of 26 January, The Vigil is a poignant legacy from Wesley Enoch's tenure. Evolving in formats over the years under the custodianship of different artists, it remains a platform for First Nations voices, an opportunity to come together through song and ceremony, and a way to diffuse and process the tension in the lead up to 26 January. 

The first Vigil was an overnight vigil starting at dusk and running until dawn by the fireside. There were stories and songs shared from elders, and reflections on the impact of colonisation.