New Year’s Eve Australia LIVE UPDATES: Revellers party their way into 2026 after celebrations marked by touching Bondi tribute and backlash at bizarre ABC coverage

Australians around the country have rung in the new year with spectacular fireworks and their dazzling party attire.

All eyes were on Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve where the crowd held their phone torch lights aloft while a menorah was projected onto the Harbour Bridge’s pylons and a dove with the words ‘peace’ and ‘unity’ were displayed.

The tribute to victims of the Bondi attack contrasted with the brilliant firework display that rang out across the world-famous harbour at midnight.

There was a heavy security presence throughout the festivities, with thousands of armed police in attendance to ensure the crowds were safe.

Sydney’s skies lit up at midnight with colourful fireworks as Australia rang in the New Year.

At midnight AEDT, a massive 12-minute display covered the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

NSW, Victoria, Tasmania and the ACT were the first Australian states to welcome 2026.

South Australia followed half an hour later. Queensland and the Northern Territory celebrated an hour after Sydney.

Western Australia had the longest wait to 2026, three hours behind NSW.

Australia’s Jewish community was outraged last week after it was announced the tribute to the lives lost in the Bondi attack would be the image of a dove.

Community leaders claimed the vague dove symbol dismissed the identity of those targeted in the attack – Jewish.

Following the uproar, Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore announced the dove would be replaced by a menorah for the minute of silence at 11pm.

The dove would instead appear as the bridge turned blue earlier in the night.

However, many Aussies thought the menorah on display was disappointing, to say the least.

The small outline picture was difficult to spot with many missing it all together.

‘A beautiful moment at Sydney Harbour minutes ago as 11pm struck and a packed foreshore awaiting the fireworks lit up their phones in a minute’s silence for the Jewish victims of Bondi. No menorah on the bridge as expected,’ one wrote.

‘Beautiful minute’s silence at NYE on Sydney Harbour – but where was the menorah?’ another wrote.

‘Where’s the Menorah? Is there going to be nothings to honour the Bondi Beach victims on the Sydney Harbour Bridge as promised?’ another asked.

The menorah appeared in the same style as the social media image created by the NSW Government following the attack.

The image showed a line drawing of a candle alongside the words, ‘Stronger together, unite for Bondi’.

A 9pm short display of fireworks has set off the celebrations ahead of the 12pm main event.

But less than an hour into the ABC’s coverage of Sydney’s New Year’s Eve festivities and many Aussies are already calling for a different broadcaster.

The coverage has bizarrely included a lengthy segment and multiple musical numbers focusing on the ABC’s own show Playschool celebrating its 60th year on air next year.

After a difficult December, Sydneysiders and tourists alike hugged their loved ones and smiled their way into the New Year.

Millions of Australians around the country fell silent at 11pm AEDT in honour of the innocent lives lost on December 14.

On that day, alleged gunman Naveed Akram and his father, Sajid Akram, allegedly opened fire on a Jewish festival celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.

What should have been a fun day for families quickly turned into one of the darkest in Australia’s history.

A total of 15 innocent people lost their lives, aged 10 to 87.

Australians beside Sydney Harbour lit their torches to create a sea of light as a menorah – the candelabrum used for Hanukkah – was projected on the bridge pylons.

The menorah appeared as an outline drawing at the bottom of the pylons, making it difficult for some audience members to see.

Beyond Blue is the official charity partner of this year’s NYE event in Sydney.

At a time when all sides of the city are feeling uneasy, Beyond Blue has reminded Aussies there’s always someone to talk to.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit blue at 10pm while pylons displayed an image of a dove alongside the words ‘peace’ and ‘unity’.

It’s a reminder for all Australians to come together and be there for each other following the terror attack at Bondi Beach.

Wollongong, south of Sydney, announced on Wednesday afternoon it would not go ahead with its firework show.

‘Unfortunately, due to dangerous ocean swells impacting Wollongong Harbour, Wollongong City Council has made the very difficult decision to cancel the planned New Year’s Eve fireworks display scheduled for 9pm this evening,’ the council said in a statement.

‘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.

‘Unfortunately, it was not possible to safely rearrange launching points to mitigate the risks and  ensure public safety and the safety of staff in time for the scheduled 9pm start.

‘It is not the way we wanted to end 2025, but we wish our community a very happy New Year and all the very best for 2026.’

Viewers around Australia have been left disappointed by this year’s NYE lineup.

From ‘old’ performers to ‘boring’ fireworks, the overall consensus is Aussies expected more.

But the night’s still young with the main firework show more than two hours away.