A huge fireworks display on Sydney Harbour has ushered in the New Year with colour and music, but not before the city was brought to a halt for a silent “moment of unity” following the Bondi Beach terror attacks.
The midnight fireworks are watched around the world as one of the first major events to mark 2026.
Organisers the City of Sydney council said the show was choreographed to “bespoke soundtracks” featured more than 40,000 pyrotechnic effects with fireworks springing from
water, land and aerial platforms, six city rooftops and the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
The reception was largely positive. “That was awesome,” said one online. “Magnificent fireworks show in Sydney,” said another.
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It wasn’t just Sydney. Fireworks rang out in Melbourne and Adelaide as well. With New Year events in Brisbane and Perth.
However, festivities were cancelled in New South Wales’ third largest city of Wollongong due to dangerous swells impacting the harbour.
“Due to the height of waves impacting the break wall, and the predicted increase leading up to and beyond the scheduled 9pm start-time, it has been determined that the fireworks cannot be safely released from their planned launch positions,” the council said in Facebook post about 6pm on Wednesday.
‘Moment of unity’ for Bondi
Sydney’s New Year events went quite at 11pm as tens of thousands of people packed along Sydney Harbour on Wednesday night were encouraged to turn on their phone torches as hours of music and fireworks were temporarily paused.
Earlier, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said she hoped the commemoration “will provide an opportunity to come together and look with hope for a peaceful and happy 2026”.
“On our biggest night of the year, Sydney coming together will demonstrate to the world that we stand together as one community, united in love.”
ANC New Year coverage hosts Charlie Pickering and Zan Rowe said the moment of silence, organised by the City of Sydney, was to “pause and reflect on what happened at Bondi”.
“Our hearts are with everyone impacted by the tragedy, the victims and their families and those that showed such incredible courage and humanity, people from all backgrounds and in particular the Jewish community, which is my community,” Pickering said.
“This terrorist attack came on the first night of Hanukkah, a time of light, fate and family and now is the harbour shines brightly we will have a moment of unity.”
The image of a blue menorah was projected onto the bridge pylons after an 11th-hour decision from Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore following calls from 30 Jewish-Australian artistic and cultural figures urging the council project a “Jewish-specific symbol”, as opposed to an image of a dived and the word “peace”.
A similar image was previously projected onto the Sydney Opera House.
Some viewers found it difficult to see the image.
“Beautiful minute’s silence at #NYE on Sydney Harbour – but where was the menorah?” one person wrote on X.
It’s not clear how long the menorah was displayed for it to be captured by the BAC coverage.
The image of a dived – a traditional symbol for peace – was previously projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge by sponsor Beyond Blue.
Following the moment of silence, singer-songwriter Matt Corby performed Never Tear Us Apart by INXS.
First fireworks light up the night
The first round of fireworks lit up the night sky early as Australians prepared to welcome in the new year.
In Sydney, beloved Australian animals featured in the 9pm fireworks show for the first time.
More than 25,000 individual pyrotechnics shaped into cockatoos, koalas, bottle brush, waratah and other native plants and animals lit up the bridge pylons during the eight minute show.
The ABC’s coverage of the event, hosted by Zan Rowe and Charlie Pickering, came under fire yet again.
“Every year the Sydney #ABCNYE somehow gets worse – the fireworks are more unimpressive, the booked acts more lame and third rate, the enthusiasm more feigned as if it is NYE Pyongyang on the harbour … In awe of this ongoing commitment to mediocrity tbqh (to be quite honest).,” lawyer Gray Connolly said
. It should be pointed out that the ABC is not responsible for the forewords themselves.
Another added: “Mel C, Casey Donovan and the Cat Empire, so glad I’ve tuned into 2002 NYE on ABC”.
Although many praised Casey Donovan’s performance. “Can we just have Casey come out and do a 90 Min set of party anthems?” said one.
The event also featured a special performance in honour of the 60th anniversary in 2026 of ABC children’s program Play School.
Heavily-armed police in Bondi
Heavily-armed police wielding long-arm weapons were spotted in Bondi ahead of Sydney’s famed New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
NSW Police carrying Colt M4 carbines were deployed at Bondi Beach and other locations following the Bondi Beach terror Chanukah attack which left 15 innocent people dead.
Premier Chris Minns earlier said the sight of heavily-armed police would be confronting, but was likely here to stay.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said Sydney residents should “be respectful to one another and have some joy and enjoy yourself”.
“We can’t be in a situation where this horrible criminal terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city,” he said.
“We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we’re not going to be cowered by this kind of terrorism, and we’re not going to change the way we live our life in our beautiful city.”
Heavily armed tactical police will be seen across the city as the celebrations unfold.
“There are extra measures in place,” Mr Minns told reporters on Wednesday.
“They’ll be operational and highly visible.
“It’s so the public is aware that there is a change in the protocol, and if they see a heavily armed officer, it doesn’t mean that there’s an active operation. It means that they’re there in preparation for any eventuality.”
He said the community had come together following the tragic event.
“We need to show strength and resilience during this event,” he said.
The Colt M4 is capable of firing more than 700 rounds per minute from a 30-round magazine.
The firearm has been used by NSW police since 2017, primarily by the Public Order and Riot Squad.
