A huge crowd unites for a memorable start to 2026

City of Sydney

Sydney has united in a spirit of unity and celebration welcoming 2026 with a spectacular New Year’s Eve show on its famous harbour.

Nearly a million people are estimated to have come together on the night for an incredible fireworks display that left crowds in awe. 

People across the foreshore also observed a minute’s silence at 11pm remembering the victims of the Bondi terror attack. 

“New Year’s Eve is about more than just fireworks and once again we showed the best of Sydney. It was a true reflection of who we are – a diverse, inclusive and creative city,” Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said. 

“I was truly impressed by the phenomenal New Year’s Eve show that brought together fireworks, music, lights and pylon projections into a show Sydney will be proud of. 

“In a show of support for the Jewish community, we respectfully marked the horrific attack in Bondi that has brought so much sorrow to Sydney over the last few weeks.   

“I was moved to see people right across the harbour embrace the moment of unity, showing the world we will not let this hateful act of terror divide us. We are a respectful, inclusive and welcoming city, and a home to so many people of different nationalities and faiths. Sydney demonstrated to the world that we stand together as one community.

“I’d like to thank our amazing events crew, the thousands of emergency service men and women, security and transport staff, volunteers, as well as our clean up teams who gave up their night to allow us to enjoy the celebrations safely.  

“I hope New Year’s Eve gave people the chance to end 2025 on a positive note and I wish everyone in Sydney a peaceful, safe and prosperous start to 2026.”  

People across the harbour and watching around the world enjoyed 20 minutes of fireworks during the 9pm Calling Country and midnight shows that were synched to two bespoke soundtracks. 

Nine tonnes of fireworks were shot from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, 6 city centre buildings and 8 platforms on the harbour. 

Dazzling effects launched from 6 aerial pyrotechnic platforms hovering above the water. 

At 11pm, Sydney fell silent as people respectfully marked a minute’s silence for the victims of the Bondi terror attack. 

More than 270 volunteers and 2,100 accredited personnel worked behind the scenes and on the night. Another 100 artists, musicians and creatives worked on the two shows. 

To get Sydney sparkling as quickly as possible, nearly 100 City of Sydney staff were out in force cleaning our streets and parks throughout the evening and long after crowds had gone home. Hundreds of extra bins and nearly 40 trucks and other vehicles were used in the event clean-up operation.  

Images from the evening can be found here.

For media enquiries: 
Andrew Booth: 0482 530 091 or email [email protected] 
Roxanne Macara: 0438 554 640 or email [email protected] 

For interviews with Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO: 
Anna Buono 0457 956 264 or email [email protected]    

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