Revellers have camped overnight to secure a prime spot to watch the Sydney Harbour New Year’s Eve fireworks, ahead of celebrations taking place across the country to mark the start of 2026.
A record number of police officers will patrol the city, as tensions remain high after the Bondi terror attack, with more than one million people expected to attend.
More than 2,500 officers in uniform and plain clothes will conduct patrols, with some carrying long-arm firearms.
Upwards of 2,500 NSW Police officers are expected to patrol New Year’s Eve events in Sydney. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)
Authorities said measures were in place to help people feel safe, but said there was no greater, active or imminent threat to safety.
NSW Premier Chris Minns encouraged people to attend New Year’s Eve events and to not cower to the terrorists.
There will be a highly visible police presence across Sydney this New Year’s Eve. (Supplied: City of Sydney )
“We can’t be in a situation where this horrible criminal terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city,” he said.
Revellers queue for hours
There were frenzied scenes when the gates opened at 10am at coveted vantage point Mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney’s Royal Botanic Gardens, which hit capacity by midday.
One woman said people started running as soon as the gates opened.
Some revellers waited more than 24 hours to secure their spot in the line for the best fireworks vantage points. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)
“[It was] crazy. I live in Germany. I’ve never experienced anything like this before.”
“People are like animals, they just run,”
another man said.
“I was thinking, this is insane. I think we were some of the first 100 people in the line.”
Two women said they had been overwhelmed by the number of people rushing for the best spots.
“It was a bit scary,” said one. “I was a bit scared that I would get run over, but it was all right.”
Queues at Hobart’s Taste of Summer
At Hobart’s waterfront, foodies and early New Year’s Eve revellers formed long queues to get into the Taste of Summer festival.
The festival gates opened at midday with food and music on offer up to and including the fireworks tonight.
Thousands of people are expected to attend New Year’s Eve events in Hobart. (ABC News: Meg Whitfield)
Thousands of patrons are expected through the gates this evening.
There will be two fireworks displays along Hobart’s skyline — the first at 9:30pm and the last at midnight.
Fireworks operator Allan Spiegel has been organising the display for 17 years.
He said more than 1,000 shells would be fired off in each of the shows.
“Enjoy the night, enjoy the spectacle, you’ll be able to see if for miles around Hobart,” he said.
Tributes to Bondi terror attack victims
Some events in Sydney will pay tribute to the 15 lives lost on December 14 when two shooters opened fire on a Jewish celebration.
At 11pm, a minute’s silence will be observed on Sydney Harbour to honour the victims.
At the same time, the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be illuminated in white, with the image of a menorah projected onto the pylons.
Fifteen people killed during the Bondi terror attack will be remembered at New Year’s Eve events across Sydney. (ABC News)
City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the $6 million event was an opportunity for people to come together after what had been a “tough and tragic year for many”.
“It’s always been a most wonderful opportunity for people to come together and appreciate Sydney,” she said.
There are more than 50 vantage points to watch the fireworks across the Sydney Harbour. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)
‘We will rise,’ PM says
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s new year’s message promoted togetherness while acknowledging excitement about the new year had been “tempered by the sadness of the old following the terror inflicted on Jewish Australians on Bondi Beach”.
“Yet what Bondi also showed us was the best of the Australian spirit in all its courage and compassion,” he said.
“That is why I’m optimistic and determined that in the new year we will rise to meet the challenges ahead of us in the same way Australians always do.”
There is a hopeful mood from crowds on the ground this New Year’s Eve. (ABC News: Fletcher Yeung)
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said in her message there was “real reason for hope” in the new year.
“Australia is at its best when we look out for one another, when we reject division and when we meet challenge with courage and common purpose,” she said.
“The year ahead brings new challenges, but it also brings opportunity — opportunity to strengthen our communities, to restore trust and to build a future that is safer, fairer and more hopeful for the next generation.”