Sydney has spectacularly ushered in 2026, with its globally renowned New Year's Eve fireworks transforming the night sky into a canvas of colour and light. The celebrations carried a profound sense of reflection and unity this year, as the city honoured the memory of the 15 lives lost in the Bondi terror attack just weeks earlier.
A Harbour Alight with Colour and Sound
The iconic 12-minute pyrotechnic display, set to a high-energy sonic soundtrack composed by Jono Ma, captivated over one million people gathered on the foreshore and on the water. More than 40,000 individual pyrotechnic effects erupted from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, and six city rooftops, painting the sky in vibrant seas of red, green, pink, orange, and yellow.
The grand finale featured the breathtaking iconic waterfall of fireworks cascading from the bridge into the harbour, officially marking the start of the New Year. For many, securing the perfect view was a marathon effort, with some dedicated revellers having waited for more than 18 hours before the gates to free and ticketed areas opened on Wednesday.
A Solemn Moment of Remembrance and Tribute
An hour before the midnight spectacle, the mood shifted to one of quiet reflection. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was illuminated in white, with a projection of a menorah lighting up the pylons, as the city observed a minute of silence for the victims of the Bondi attack.
Crowds across the harbour participated in a moving show of solidarity, turning on their phone torches and lifting them into the air in a unified gesture of remembrance for those who lost their lives. This poignant moment underscored the resilience of the community amidst the festivities.
Celebrating Culture and a Global New Year
The earlier 9pm family fireworks also delivered a vibrant show, with a musical track celebrating Australia's First Nations people. Images of native wildlife, including kangaroos, emus, and cockatoos, were projected onto the bridge's pylons, adding a uniquely Australian flavour to the proceedings.
As the clock struck midnight in Sydney, Australia became the 12th country in the world to enter 2026, following nations like Kiribati in the Pacific. The celebrations followed a colourful fireworks display over Auckland's Sky Tower in New Zealand. Sydney's event successfully turned the page on a challenging year, blending joyous celebration with heartfelt commemoration as the city stepped boldly into a new chapter.
