Key Takeaways
- A record number of police officers will patrol Sydney on New Year’s Eve, with over 2,500 officers in uniform and plain clothes, as tensions remain high after the Bondi terror attack.
- NSW Premier Chris Minns encouraged people to attend New Year’s Eve events and not to let the terrorists change the way they live in the city.
- Thousands of people are expected to attend New Year’s Eve events in cities across Australia, including Sydney, Hobart, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Canberra.
- Fireworks displays will be held in each city, with some featuring pyrotechnic shows and others having multiple displays throughout the night.
- The Prime Minister and Opposition Leader have released New Year’s messages, promoting togetherness and hope for the future.
Introduction to New Year’s Eve Celebrations
As the clock strikes midnight, ushering in the start of 2026, Australians are gearing up to celebrate New Year’s Eve in style. With a record number of police officers set to patrol Sydney, the city is bracing itself for a massive turnout, despite tensions remaining high after the Bondi terror attack. Over 2,500 NSW Police officers will be conducting patrols, with some carrying long-arm firearms, to ensure the safety of the more than one million people expected to attend the celebrations.
Sydney’s New Year’s Eve Preparations
In Sydney, the gates to coveted vantage points like Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in the Royal Botanic Gardens opened at 10am, with revellers queuing for hours to secure a prime spot. The scene was frenzied, with people running as soon as the gates opened, and some waiting over 24 hours to get a spot in line. One woman, who had traveled from Germany, described the scene as "crazy" and "like animals," while another man said it was "insane." Despite the chaos, the atmosphere was largely festive, with people eager to ring in the new year.
Hobart’s New Year’s Eve Celebrations
In Hobart, foodies and early New Year’s Eve revellers formed long queues to get into the Taste of Summer festival, which features food and music, as well as two fireworks displays along the skyline. Thousands of people are expected to attend the event, which will include over 1,000 shells fired off in each of the shows. Fireworks operator Allan Spiegel, who has been organizing the display for 17 years, encouraged people to "enjoy the night, enjoy the spectacle, you’ll be able to see it for miles around Hobart."
Adelaide’s New Year’s Eve Celebrations
In Adelaide, preparations are underway for a live entertainment and fireworks display at Elder Park along the River Torrens. Pyrotechnician Andrew Howard described the show as featuring "lots of beautiful new pyrotechnic effects, glittering comets, mines, aerial shells, a very colourful start to the new year." South Australia Police will have a visible presence at key celebration hotspots, with some areas declared as Declared Public Precincts, giving police extra powers to search people for weapons or to order them to leave the area.
Brisbane’s New Year’s Eve Celebrations
In Brisbane, revellers are gathering along the banks of the river to ring in the new year. Six barges moored along the river will treat the crowds to displays boasting "more than 100,000" pyrotechnic effects. Traditionally, South Bank is where the biggest crowd gathers to watch the fireworks and celebrate the new year. This year is no exception, with people arriving early to secure a spot. Colleen Klasen and her husband, who arrived at 9am, said they thought it would be crowded, but were pleasantly surprised by the laid-back atmosphere.
Canberra’s New Year’s Eve Celebrations
In Canberra, the city will farewell 2025 and ring in 2026 with its biggest ever New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Some 50,000 people are expected to celebrate on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin, with two fireworks displays launched from barges in the lake’s central basin. Martin Brady from Fireworks Australia said it was the "biggest show" they have ever done in Canberra, with two more barges than last year and bigger barges as well.
Political Messages
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Sussan Ley have released New Year’s messages, promoting togetherness and hope for the future. The Prime Minister acknowledged that the excitement about the new year had been "tempered by the sadness of the old following the terror inflicted on Jewish Australians on Bondi Beach," but said that the Australian spirit had shown courage and compassion in the face of adversity. The Opposition Leader said there was "real reason for hope" in the new year, and that Australia was at its best when people looked out for one another and rejected division.
