More than two million people are expected to visit Vivid Sydney's 10th "birthday bash", which is being touted as the biggest and best ever.
The annual light and music festival kicks off on Friday with the unveiling of lights on the Sydney Opera House just after sunset.
It runs until June 16, with light installations, music and workshops across multiple venues.
NSW Tourism Minister Adam Marshall expects to break last year's record crowd of more than 2.3 million people, who spent an estimated $143 million over the 23-day event.
"This year, if the weather is kind, then we anticipate seeing even more than that," Mr Marshall told reporters on Thursday.
"It will be our biggest, our best, our brightest Vivid yet with lots of new inclusions this year, (and) we want to make it a huge birthday bash".
"(People) can come and enjoy the sites, spectacular music and creative ideas sessions".
Luna Park, Government House, and Customs House will be lit up, with light installations also at Taronga Zoo, Barangaroo, Chatswood, and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Visitors are urged to catch public transport, with an extra 6000 train, ferry, bus and light rail services being rolled out.
But authorities warn daily road closures from 3pm will impact some services.
"We really think you should leave your car at home and get public transport," Marg Prendergast from Transport NSW told reporters.
The festival will also be overseen by an additional 2000 plain and uniformed police, water police, sniffer dogs, and mounted patrol.
"Our main priority is the safety of the community and there will be a significant amount of extra police here across all the Vivid sites," assistant commissioner Mark Walton said.
Australian Associated Press
