‘Moment of unity’ brings Sydney’s NYE to a halt in honour of Bondi victims
A massive fireworks display on Sydney Harbor kicked off the New Year with color and music, but the city ground to a halt for a quiet “moment of unity” following the Bondi Beach terror attacks.
The midnight fireworks are watched around the world as one of the first major events celebrating 2026.
Organizers City of Sydney council said the show was choreographed to “bespoke music” and included more than 40,000 pyrotechnic effects along with the fireworks.
water, land and air platforms, six city rooftops and the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House.
The reception was largely positive. “This was amazing,” said one online. “Great fireworks display in Sydney,” said another.
It wasn’t just Sydney. Fireworks also rang out in Melbourne and Adelaide. With New Year events in Brisbane and Perth.
However, the festivities in Wollongong, New South Wales’ third largest city, were canceled due to dangerous waves affecting the harbour.
“Due to the height of the waves hitting the wall and the anticipated swell to the planned 9pm start time and beyond, it has been determined that the fireworks cannot be safely released from their planned launch locations,” the council said in a statement on Facebook at around 6pm on Wednesday. he said.
‘A moment of unity’ for Bondi
Sydney’s New Year events took place at 11pm; Tens of thousands of people gathered along Sydney Harbor on Wednesday night and were encouraged to turn on their phone flashlights as hours of music and fireworks were temporarily halted.
Earlier, Sydney Mayor Clover Moore said she hoped the commemoration “will provide an opportunity to come together and look forward to a peaceful and happy 2026”.
“Sydney coming together on our biggest night of the year will show the world that we are one community, united in love.”
ANC New Year news presenters Charlie Pickering and Zan Rowe said the moment of silence organized by the City of Sydney was “to pause and think about what happened in Bondi”.
“Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the tragedy, the victims, their families, those who demonstrated incredible courage and humanity, people of all backgrounds, and especially my congregation, the Jewish community,” Pickering said.
“This terrorist attack took place on the first night of Hanukkah, a time of light, destiny and family, and now the harbor is shining brightly, it will be our moment of unity.”
The image of a blue menorah was projected onto the bridge pillars, following the decision taken at the 11th hour after Sydney Mayor Clover Moore and 30 Jewish-Australian artistic and cultural figures called for the council project to replace the image of a diver and the word “peace” with a “Jewish symbol”.
A similar image was previously projected on the Sydney Opera House.
Some viewers had difficulty seeing the image.
“A beautiful moment of silence at #NYE in Sydney Harbor – but where was the menorah?” one person wrote to X.
It is unclear how long the menorah was on display before it could fall under the BAC.
The diving image, a traditional symbol of peace, was previously projected onto the Sydney Harbor Bridge by sponsor Beyond Blue.
After the moment of silence, singer-songwriter Matt Corby took the stage. Never Separate Us by INXS.
The first fireworks lit up the night
The first round of fireworks has lit up the night sky early as Australians prepare to welcome the new year.
In Sydney, beloved Australian animals took part in the fireworks display for the first time at 21:00.
More than 25,000 individual pyrotechnics shaped like cockatoos, koalas, bottlebrushes, waratahs and other native plants and animals illuminated the bridge pillars during the eight-minute show.
ABC’s coverage of the event, hosted by Zan Rowe and Charlie Pickering, has once again come under fire.
Lawyer Gray Connolly said: “Sydney #ABCNYE somehow gets worse every year; the fireworks are less impressive, the bookings are poorer and the acts are third-rate, the euphoria is more fake as if it’s NYE Pyongyang on the harbour… tbqh (honestly) in awe of this continued devotion to mediocrity.”
. It is worth noting that ABC is not responsible for the prequels.
Another added: “Mel C, Casey Donovan and Cat Empire, so glad I watched New Year’s Eve 2002 on ABC.”
Although many people praised Casey Donovan’s performance. “Can we get Casey to come out and sing 90 minutes of party anthems?” said someone.
The event also featured a special performance in honor of the ABC children’s show’s 60th anniversary in 2026. Play School.
Heavily armed police in Bondi
Heavily armed police wielding long-armed weapons were spotted in Bondi ahead of Sydney’s famous New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
Following the Bondi Beach terror Hanukkah attack that killed 15 innocent people, NSW Police carrying Colt M4 carbines were deployed to Bondi Beach and other locations.
Prime Minister Chris Minns has previously said heavily armed police would be confronted but likely to stay put.
Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he said Sydney residents should “respect each other, have some enjoyment and fun”.
“We cannot be in a situation where this horrific criminal act of terrorism is going to change the way we live in our beautiful city,” he said.
“We must stand up to this terrible crime and say that we will not bow to this type of terrorism and change our way of life in our beautiful city.”
Heavily armed tactical police will be seen all over the city as the celebrations continue.
“There are extra measures in place,” Mr. Minns told reporters on Wednesday.
“They will be operational and highly visible.
“Just because the public is aware of a change in protocol and sees a heavily armed police officer does not mean there is an active operation. It means they are there prepared for any eventuality.”
He said the community came together following the tragic incident.
“We need to show strength and endurance 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, particularly by Public Order and Riot Squad.
