Sydney New Year's Eve

Sydney New Year's Eve is run by the City of Sydney on the harbour on Thursday 31 December 2026. Fireworks light the harbour twice, at 9pm and at midnight, and the midnight show is launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and other landmarks. Destination NSW says more than one million people gather around the harbour to watch.

The shape of the night

The published schedule starts with a Smoking Ceremony at 7.30pm and a Welcome to Country at 8.45pm, given by an Elder from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council on Gadigal land. At 9pm come the Calling Country fireworks, presented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, which the City of Sydney recommends for families with young children. Boats decorated with lights cross the harbour from 9.15pm, and the main fireworks follow at midnight.

Where people watch

The City of Sydney lists 48 vantage points around the harbour. Most are free and open on a first-come, first-served basis. A handful are free but need a ticket or registration, including the Sydney Opera House Forecourt and the Cahill Expressway, and ten are paid events, among them Taronga Zoo, Luna Park and the islands in the harbour. Most vantage points don't allow re-entry once you leave, so plan to stay until after midnight.

• Midnight fireworks launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and other landmarks.
• Calling Country fireworks at 9pm, presented by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists, the City of Sydney's pick for families with young children.
• Smoking Ceremony (7.30pm) and Welcome to Country (8.45pm), given by an Elder from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council.
• Sydney Harbour lights from 9.15pm: boats decorated with lights cross the harbour.
• 48 vantage points on both shores, most free, with some ticketed sites on the islands and at Taronga Zoo.

• The Rocks and Circular Quay: walk to the foreshore by the bridge and the Opera House. Circular Quay station is closed to trains from 3pm until midnight, so being able to walk helps.
• City centre (CBD): a walk to Barangaroo, the Royal Botanic Garden and Mrs Macquarie's Point, with most train and metro lines close by.
• North Sydney and Milsons Point: close to the Bradfield Park and Blues Point vantage points on the north shore, which face the bridge and the city.
• Pyrmont and Darling Harbour: near Pirrama Park and Darling Harbour, which the City of Sydney lists as family friendly.

Fly into Sydney Airport (SYD), 8 km from the city centre. Trains reach the city in about 13 minutes and run about every 10 minutes. Trains don't serve the airport between 12.30am and 4.30am, when the airport is closed, so don't plan a flight right after midnight.

On the night, the City of Sydney says public transport is the only way to travel. Tap on and off with an Opal card, a contactless bank card or a linked device. Circular Quay station is closed to trains from 3pm until midnight. City-to-North-Shore trains skip Milsons Point from 6pm until midnight. Martin Place, Gadigal and Victoria Cross metro stations have restricted entry and exit from 11pm. Ferries fill up from mid-afternoon and harbour ferries stop at about 5pm. After midnight, trains and the metro run into the early hours and light rail runs until 4am. If you can, travel home after 1am.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is closed in both directions from 11pm to 1.30am, and the Cahill Expressway closes from 4am on 31 December to 6am on 1 January. Roads in Circular Quay and The Rocks close from midday, and special event clearways apply on most city and Pyrmont roads. Check Live Traffic NSW on the day. We don't have a Sydney city guide yet; see our Australia guide.

Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights.

Most of the 48 vantage points are free and first-come, first-served. Four are free but need a ticket or registration: the Sydney Opera House Forecourt (tickets from 10am on 26 December 2026), the Cahill Expressway (Transport for NSW ballot) and Bradleys Head and Strickland Estate (both sold out). Ten paid sites include Blues Point, Lower Bradfield Park, Luna Park, Taronga Zoo, Dudley Page Reserve, the Royal Botanic Garden Foundation & Friends picnic and the harbour islands; several are already sold out.

Book only through the links on the City of Sydney's ticketed vantage points page, which go to each venue's own ticketing.

• Arrive early and together. Most vantage points don't allow re-entry, so stay until after the midnight fireworks.
• Pack for a long day outdoors: sunscreen, a hat, water, snacks, wet-weather gear and a blanket to sit on. December is summer in Sydney.
• Alcohol: most free vantage points are alcohol-free in 2026. Some allow BYO and some sell drinks, so check the listing for your site. Glass containers and large bags are often banned, and there are bag checks.
• Pets aren't allowed at most sites. Assistance animals are allowed.
• Families: the 9pm fireworks suit young children. Dawes Point and Darling Harbour have space for children to play.

The City of Sydney sets aside accessible viewing areas for people with disability or access needs and their companions. They are at Pirrama Park, the Sydney Opera House, Barangaroo, Bradfield Park and Mary Booth Reserve, the Cahill Expressway, the Royal Botanic Garden (Foundation and Friends) and Wharf 3 at Circular Quay. Bookings are essential; see each site's listing for how to book. Most vantage points have standard and accessible toilets, and a few have accessible change rooms.

There is an accessible pick-up and drop-off zone at Shakespeare Place, Macquarie Street. Spinal Cord Injuries Australia runs accessible taxis, which must be booked. ABC Radio carries a live audio description of the midnight fireworks, and the ABC TV and iview broadcast from 8.45pm has live captions. To ask about access, contact the City of Sydney access and inclusion coordinator on +61 2 9265 9333 or see the accessibility page.

Expect bag checks at vantage points, and follow signs and staff instructions. FCDO notes that bushfire risk in Australia is higher from October to February; check its advice before you travel.

• Before you go, read the UK government's FCDO travel advice for Australia (entry requirements, safety and local laws).
• Flight delayed or cancelled on the way? See our Travel Disruption guide for your rights and live alerts.