Sydney harbour New Year 2026 live streaming: Fireworks & Timing

Sydney’s New Year’s Eve fireworks will once again take centre stage as one of the world’s most anticipated year-end spectacles, lighting up the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and surrounding skyline to welcome the new year. Since Sydney is 5 hours and 30 minutes ahead of India, the midnight fireworks at 12am in Sydney will be visible in India at 6.30pm IST, allowing Indian viewers to watch the celebrations live in the evening.

Sydney New Year fireworks time

The evening programme began at 7.30pm Sydney time (2pm IST) with a Smoking Ceremony, a ritual of purification and unity using smouldering native plants, conducted aboard the vessels Tribal Warrior, Mari Nawi and Wirawi and presented by the Tribal Warrior Association.

At 8.30pm Sydney time (3pm IST), projections and lighting effects illuminated the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the eastern harbour foreshore. The projections were created by VANDAL, with lighting by 32 Hundred.


A Welcome to Country followed at 8.45pm Sydney time (3.15pm IST), delivered by Aunty Joan Bell from the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council, welcoming visitors to Gadigal land. The segment was created by We Are Warriors and Johnathon Karalis.

At 9pm Sydney time (3.30pm IST), the Calling Country fireworks took place, celebrating sky, land and sea country through music, dance and illustration by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists. The display was curated by We Are Warriors.

At 9.15pm Sydney time (3.45pm IST), Sydney Harbour Lights featured illuminated vessels moving across the harbour in a coordinated display presented by the Australian Commercial Marine Group.

At 10pm Sydney time (4.30pm IST), the Sydney Harbour Bridge was lit up for the Beyond Blue moment, recognising the event’s official charity partner providing free mental health support.

At 11pm Sydney time (5.30pm IST), a Moment of Unity was observed, with the city pausing for one minute to reflect on the Bondi attack. The Harbour Bridge glowed white as a symbol of peace and unity, and people were encouraged to shine their phone torches across the harbour in solidarity with the Jewish community and those affected.

The celebrations concluded at midnight Sydney time (6.30pm IST) with the main fireworks display, featuring pyrotechnics launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House and other landmarks. The fireworks were delivered by Foti International Fireworks with a soundtrack by Jono Ma.

How to watch live from India

Viewers in India and other countries could watch the Sydney New Year’s Eve celebrations through live streams available on platforms such as YouTube, official city websites and television broadcasts including ABC and BBC. The live streams allowed audiences worldwide to follow the events in real time and experience the fireworks and harbour displays as they welcomed 2025, even from outside Australia.

Where to view the fireworks in Sydney

The fireworks were visible from several vantage points around Sydney Harbour, including Barangaroo, Birchgrove Park, Blues Point, Bradfield Park and Mary Booth Reserve, Bradleys Head, the Cahill Expressway, Campbells Cove, Cockatoo Island, Darling Harbour and Circular Quay. Viewing options included both ticketed and non-ticketed locations, as well as cruises on the water. The event was broadcast live on ABC TV and live streamed on YouTube for viewers outside Australia.

Sydney fireworks 2025 Events, security and weather

At 11pm, a minute’s silence was observed as a symbol of solidarity with the Jewish community following the Bondi terror attack. Waverley Council cancelled events planned at Bondi Beach.

Media reports suggest that there will be a significant police presence at major events to reassure the public, including some officers armed with machine guns, in the aftermath of Bondi beach shooting.

Weather conditions on New Year’s Eve were partly cloudy, with temperatures ranging between 17C and 27C. New Year’s Day saw the possibility of showers, with temperatures between 18C and 24C.