New Year’s Eve as it happened: Sydney welcomes 2026 with spectacular fireworks display

2 months ago 5

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In review: Sydney welcomes 2026

By Josefine Ganko

That’s a wrap on our live coverage of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Here’s what we covered:

Another spectacular fireworks display rang in the new year, with revellers packing out the key vantage points around the harbour to watch the show.
In honour of the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting, and in solidarity with the Jewish community, a moment of unity was observed at 11pm. A menorah, a dove and the words “Peace” and “Unity” were displayed on the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Crowds observed a minute’s silence and lifted torches and candles into the sky.
The harbour spectacle also included a smoking ceremony, a welcome to country, the 9pm Calling Country family fireworks, and a 10pm tribute to Beyond Blue.
In the wake of the Bondi Beach shooting, a significantly increased police presence was in place during the festivities. 3000 officers, some of whom carried long-arm rifles, were deployed in the biggest security operation ever conducted in the city on New Year’s Eve.
NSW Health issued a warning to the public to take care during celebrations after multiple high-dose MDMA (also known as ecstasy) tablets were detected in NSW.
To handle New Year’s Eve crowds, more than 1000 extra train, bus and light rail services were put on – about 40 per cent higher than the busiest weekday – and public transport operated continuously for 46 hours.
Six kilometres of criss-crossing cables, nine tonnes of explosives and 40,000 pyrotechnic effects were involved in the fireworks display, for what is widely considered the most iconic New Year’s Eve spectacle in the world.

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12.48am

The long journey home

By Josefine Ganko and Matt O'Sullivan

With the fireworks wrapped up, Sydneysiders who gathered around the harbour to watch the show are making the long journey home.

Most revellers will be travelling via public transport.

To handle New Year’s Eve crowds, more than 1000 extra train, bus and light rail services are in service – about 40 per cent higher than the busiest weekday – with public transport operating continuously for 46 hours.

It is the second New Year’s Eve that the city section of the M1 metro line has been operating, which boosts capacity on the rail network by 10 per cent.

Unlike last year, Barangaroo metro station will remain open through the night to help get people in and out of the inner harbour precinct.

12.29am

The view from above

Photographer Edwina Pickles had a unique viewpoint of the fireworks, capturing the display from above.

Here are her incredible pictures:

A side-on view across the harbour from the CBD.

Green fireworks spread from all sides of the bridge.

12.21am

The incredible pictures keep coming

Golden fireworks spray from the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

12.05am

In pictures: Midnight fireworks thrill Sydney

The midnight New Year’s Eve fireworks on Sydney Harbour, photographed from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.

The Sydney Opera House during the midnight fireworks.

An overview of the harbour during the fireworks display.

12.00am

Happy New Year, Sydney!

By Josefine Ganko

Welcome to 2026! It’s officially midnight and the fireworks display has begun.

It’s been a heartbreaking few weeks for our city, but on New Year’s Eve, Sydneysiders have come together and are looking forward to the new year with hope.

Our photographers are positioned at the harbour’s best vantage points to see the display, and we’ll be posting the money shots in a matter of minutes.

Until then, watch the display with the ABC’s livestream below:

yesterday 11.55pm

Five minutes to go...

By Josefine Ganko

2026 is so close you can almost taste it, as Sydneysiders get in position for the countdown.

Many revellers have been in position at various vantage points around the harbour for hours, all in the hope of catching a glimpse of the 12-minute display.

To watch the show, switch your TV to the ABC, or watch the YouTube livestream here.

And for those hoping to ring in the New Year with a kiss, now is the time to lock down your partner!

yesterday 11.43pm

What to expect from the midnight fireworks

By Josefine Ganko and Cindy Yin

We’re just minutes away from what is widely considered the world’s best fireworks show.

Foti International Fireworks is responsible for Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks, an arrangement that’s been in place for 28 years now. The fireworks are launched from various landmarks, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, with the show lasting about 12 minutes.

The spectacle is scored by Jono Ma, with this year’s soundtrack title Higher Together.

In an exclusive story, urban affairs reporter Cindy Yin got the behind-the-scenes scoop on the fireworks display, with photographer Dominic Lorrimer climbing to the top of the Harbour Bridge to capture the preparations.

As Yin writes, a team of up to 80 pyrotechnicians can clock up to 35,000 steps a day walking up and down the 1332 stairs on the bridge during the installation process, using a production line method to put the equipment into place.

But all roads lead back home to the “Cracker Hut” – a room inside an unassuming brown structure at the halfway point at the base of the bridge, where signals to set off the fireworks are triggered.

Read the full story here.

yesterday 11.27pm

Another perspective of the Moment of Unity

A tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack is displayed on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

yesterday 11.15pm

Lights shine on Sydney harbour in moving Bondi tribute

By Josefine Ganko

The New Year’s Eve crowds fell silent for one minute to remember the 15 people killed in the Bondi Beach shooting earlier this month, in a show of solidarity with Sydney’s Jewish community.

With the Sydney Harbour Bridge illuminated white and the lights of thousands of torches glowing, the city stopped to remember and reflect.

As the minute of silence ended, singer Matt Corby gave a moving performance of INXS’ Never Tear Us Apart on the ABC’s New Year’s Eve coverage.