Sydney Spectaculars will not be publishing updates temporarily.
This is unfortunate given the recent announcement of the 125th Commonwealth Naval Force Federation International Fleet Review to be held on March 21.
If we are not back by then, to all, enjoy!
In the meantime, remember moments matter!
An International Fleet Review will be held on Sydney Harbour on Saturday the 21st of March to celebrate the 125th anniversary of Australia’s colonial navies federating into the Commonwealth Naval Forces, which later combined with the British Empire’s Australian Squadron to form the current Royal Australian Navy.
The milestone will celebrate the enduring values that define Australia’s naval service personnel.
The actual anniversary is today, Sunday the 1st of March.
There will be no fireworks display as part of this event, which tend to be reserved for RAN anniversaries or national anniversaries such as Centenaries Of Federation & Bicentenaries’ Of European Settlement. As is often the case with fleet reviews, it is based around a naval exercise, this time being the biannual Exercise Kakadu.
Participants in Exercise Kakadu & thus, the International Fleet Review currently are:
6,000 personnel from the above participants currently will feature in the International Fleet Review on just under 30 ships, with around 17 berthed & anchored in eastern Sydney Harbour. This is currently the largest gathering of international warships on Sydney Harbour since the iconic 2013 edition, which celebrated the 100th anniversary of the 1st entry of RAN ships into Sydney Harbour. 1.5 years ago, a Monarchical Fleet Review was held for the 1st time ever, though with only 5 RAN ships.
With 17 countries currently attending, its international representation equals the 2013 International Fleet Review, though at least 7 warships less are attending so far.
The schedule for the International Fleet Review day is below:
As we mark 125 years of our proud naval history, this is an opportunity to honour the thousands of Australians who have chosen to serve.
Vice-Admiral Mark Hammond, Chief Of Navy, RAN
1.5 million people attended the International Fleet Review in 2013. However, most of the crowd was mainly there for the Spectacular in the evening as fireworks on Sydney Harbour are more popular than fleet reviews since the turn of the Millennium so a significantly smaller crowd is expected than in 2013. However, it should be significantly higher in attendance compared to the 2024 Monarchical Fleet Review except around the Sydney Opera House’s Southern Forecourt, where it should be just as busy as on that occasion, where it reached capacity.
A program booklet is being made for the International Fleet Review. However, it is not yet on sale. Tickets for cruises though are already! (The below list updates):
There are currently no confirmed planned broadcasts of the event.
A fleet review is essentially an inspection of a navy & are rare occasions – occurring roughly once every decade on Sydney Harbour. However, the past 4 naval reviews that went ahead plus the upcoming one were spaced apart with another by about 3 years approximately so having another one so soon after 2024’s Monarchical Fleet Review isn’t exactly rare. All naval reviews bar the inaugural one were held on Sydney Harbour. However, the 1988 one was also held in Melbourne’s Port Phillip Bay, which was where the 1920 inaugural edition was held also as a thank you for the RAN’s effort in World War I.
During a fleet review, the reviewer will be stationed on a ‘flagship’ – the main vessel used to review the fleet. In 2026, the reviewer, highly likely the Governor-General Of Australia, Sam Mostyn, will be stationed on His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Leeuwin, an RAN hydrographic surveyor which was last used for the role in 2013. Garden Island is the beginning & end of the flagship’s journey as it is Sydney Harbour’s main naval base. HMAS Leeuwin will then travel around Sydney Harbour to inspect the 17 berthed and anchored naval vessels & for their sailors to salute and give 3 cheers to the reviewer. Mid-way through, sailing naval vessels will parade east (entering Sydney Harbour 20 minutes into the Review) to west past the flagship, accompanied by an RAAF-RAN aerial display & the sailors on board those sailing naval vessels will also salute and give 3 cheers to the reviewer. There will also be a Ceremonial Gun Salute just before HMAS Leeuwin reaches its penultimate ship to review.
Below are the land vantage points for the day of the International Fleet Review with our ratings for each & the best event associated with that vantage point:
Clark and Shark Islands & Fort Denison will be closed on event day.
There is no 100% perfect vantage point. To see everything, you need to travel around.
It is best to catch public transport. Queues are expected at ferry stops so allow plenty of extra ferry travel time & be patient. No round ferry trips are permitted – you must alight at the terminus of the ferry’s journey. Additional Route 324/325 buses (from Walsh Bay Arts Precinct to Robertson Park at Watsons Bay & return) will run every 8 minutes between 11am & 4pm.
The entire Sydney Metro will be closed on event day for trackwork. It will be replaced by buses between Tallawong and Chatswood while trains will replace the Metro at Epping, Sydenham & between Chatswood and Redfern. Hop off/on at Redfern for buses to/from Waterloo.
In the morning, on the Central Coast line, some trains towards Hornsby will be replaced by buses at the stop of Cowan only. All other stops on that line will still have a train stopping as per the usual timetable.
If crowd volumes increase or traffic is too congested, New South Wales (NSW) Police may implement other road closures near vantage points which may impact some bus services in local areas. Ferries may reach capacity & experience delays during the event.
Heading home, trains to Brisbane will terminate at Casino due to trackwork. If you need to go to Brisbane, catch the replacement coach. If you need to go to Kyogle, catch the replacement mini-bus.
If you want to drive, expect heavier traffic approaching vantage points with parking around many of the local vantage points very limited with fees applied so allow extra driving time. Bradley’s Head Road will be closed at the intersection with Athol Wharf Road from 6am to 4pm. NSW Police may implement other road closures near vantage points if crowd volumes increase or traffic is too congested.
Below is a schedule of all boating restrictions with a map being available here or below. All exclusion zones will be marked by yellow buoys & official patrol vessels.
All exclusion zones will be deactivated & the above ‘No stopping, drifting & anchoring’ rule will end the following day on Sunday the 22nd of March at 1pm.
There will be courtesy moorings at the following places (except those who names are italicised) for the day of the International Fleet Review with the number of courtesy moorings (note: plural), our ratings for each location & the best event associated with those places next to each listing:
There is no 100% perfect vantage point. To see everything, you need to travel around where allowed.
On the night of Sunday the 22nd of February, 2 drone shows were held above Cockle Bay in Darling Harbour to mark a week until the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Women’s Asian Cup – Australia 2026.
The 2 drone shows, held at 8:15pm & 9:15pm, each used 500 drones.
Inspired by the tournament’s culture, players & dynamic spiritual energy, a story about the 12 competing teams was told during both drone shows.
1 of the images was of a brand-free version of the iconic Adidas Telstar football.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup – Australia 2026 will not be recognised as an extraordinary Sydney Spectacular given there are more prestigious tournaments in women’s football, namely The Games Of The Olympiad & the FIFA Women’s World Cup, both of which have already been held in Sydney in 2000 & 2023 respectively.
The Matildas (Commonwealth Of Australia) will open the AFC Women’s Asian Cup – Australia 2026 against The Republic Of The Philippines before heading to the Gold Coast to face the Islamic Republic Of Iran, after which they head to Sydney’s Stadium Australia for a final group match against the Republic Of Korea. Whether they progress out of the group stage, we will have to wait & see, though it is extremely likely.
The AFC Women’s Asian Cup – Australia 2026 will be held between the 1st & 21st of March with 11 of the 25 matches being held in Sydney at either Stadium Australia (which will host the Final) or Western Sydney Stadium. It also acts as the Asian qualifiers for the FIFA Women’s World Cup – Brazil 2027. Other matches will be held in Perth (which host the Opening Ceremony & match) & on the Gold Coast. Tickets are available for purchase here.
On the evening of Thursday the 12th of February, the Sydney Opera House was illuminated red for Lunar New Year 2026.
A Lunar New Year 2026 event attended by hundreds of community members was also hosted that night by the New South Wales (NSW) Premier, Chris Minns & the NSW Multiculturism Minister, Steve Kamper, at the Museum Of Contemporary Art on the other side of Circular Quay southwest of the Sydney Opera House.
The Lunar New Year, which in Chinese culture this year is the Year Of The Horse, formally begun on Tuesday the 17th of February.
Lunar New Year is a special time to celebrate life, family and culture & to express gratitude, hope and joy.
As a festival, it is a wonderful example of how deeply we are connected to global traditions while giving them a uniquely local twist.
The Minns Labor government wishes all communities celebrating a happy, healthy & prosperous new year.
NSW Multiculturalism Minister, Steve Kamper
At its heart, Lunar New Year is about renewal, family & connection, values that resonate strongly across our multicultural society.
Multicultural NSW Acting Chief Executive Officer, James Jegasothy
Sydney has put on its most stunning drone show to date during Australia Day In Sydney which was held over a week ago as the day featured 2 tributes to the victims & responders of the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism as well as their families.
Drone shows made their debut at the Australia Day LIVE Concert with 2 sequences featuring throughout the Concert.
Both drone shows were accompanied by the New South Wales (NSW) Public Schools Choir (at the top left of the Sydney Opera House’s Monumental Steps) & the Australian Pops Orchestra (on stage).
The latter drone show was the most stunning, set to Apii Ayatku Muruu (We Sing As 1 Country) & Yolngu (The 1 People), which was performed by the Yidaki Orchestra (who made their debut at the WulgulOra Morning Ceremony about 13.5 hours prior) & Rrawun Maymuru, it featured a traditional display of images of anchored seaweed, flowing water & a starry sky featuring the Southern Cross whilst, in what could be a world 1st, illuminated jellyfish were hung off 3 drones & flown around Circular Quay, providing a haunting 3-dimensional view of life underwater, akin to the Deep Sea Dreaming segment of the Opening Ceremony of The Games Of The XXVIIth Olympiad: Sydney 2000. This sequence was accompanied by Indigenous artwork on the stage, a teal light show (Sydney By Sail yachts’ hulls were also blue while towards the segment’s end, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Circular Quay spotlights & NSW Public Schools Choir/ticketed spectators’ wristbands changed to blue) as well as a repeat of the Dawn Reflection on the Sydney Opera House sails.
This latter sequence was preceded by a drone show about 45 minutes earlier of a giant 145-metre-long eel, which snaked its way around Circular Quay, enabling all spectators to see it from all angles, something rare for traditional drone shows:
The movement of the eel, which was created with 240 drones, was set to Yothu Yindi hits, Djapana (Sunset Dreaming) & Treaty, which were performed by the Yidaki Orchestra, Rrawun Maymuru, Aunty Delmae Barton, Cianna Walker & Olivia Coe Fox, all accompanied by the Doonooch Dancers.
The Sydney Opera House featured a projection of the Australian Aboriginal Flag while a multi-coloured light show illuminated Circular Quay, though it was predominantly in the colours of red & yellow. Pyrotechnics & flame throwers featured throughout from the Sydney Opera House (pyro only), a barge and pontoons in Circular Quay, Sydney By Sail yachts (flares only) & the stage (flame throwers only), the latter having images of red Indigenous dot animated art, fire, red ochred rock or molten lava, the colour red & what looked like golden-orange plasma screened too.
With these drone shows, it without a doubt makes the Australia Day LIVE Concert home to the most creative drone shows in Australia & probably 1 of the most creative in the world.
The drones were launched from Campbells’ Cove while the Yidaki Orchestra‘s 4 members, sharing their songlines, represented the 4 winds of the Australian continent. The members were William Barton (east), Jamie Goldsmith (south), Jayden Boundry (west) & William Hewitt (north). They performed Apii Ayatku Muruu (We Sing As 1 Country) also at the WulgulOra Morning Ceremony.
Australia Day In Sydney featured 2 tributes to the victims, responders & their families of the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism.
The LIVE Concert tribute saw a sing-along, led by Sarhit Michael, Ilan Kidron & other members of the Jewish music festival group, SHIR, of the song Od Yavo Halom Aleinu (Peace Will Yet Come Upon Us). Translations from Hebrew to English were provided on the screens at the event but not for the broadcast, which was a significant oversight by broadcaster, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge & vessels were illuminated blue while the NSW Public Schools Choir/ticketed spectators’ wristbands were teal coloured. The tall ship, James Craig & the general Circular Quay light show remained white throughout. The stage featured wavy blue animations followed by glittering shining beams of spotlights.
Accompanied by projections on the Sydney Opera House’s western sails of images of the menorah and floral tribute placed outside the Bondi Pavilion as well as the lifeguard coastal tribute & mass swim out tribute on & off Bondi Beach, the song then transitioned into I Am Australian, which Olivia Coe Fox & Cody Simpson joined in with a special appearance by the song’s original main singer & guitarist, Bruce Woodley.
The stage then featured images of the Australian National Flag, of which colours the Sydney Harbour Bridge & vessels then changed into as the NSW Public Schools Choir/ticketed spectators’ wristbands turned white.
The tribute concluded with fireworks from a barge & pontoons in Circular Quay including a ground firework representation of a love heart.
Just like with the drone shows, both songs were accompanied by the NSW Public Schools Choir & the Australian Pops Orchestra.
Representatives from more than 30 organisations that showed the best of Australian resilience & mateship during & after the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism took pride of place on the 4 competing ferries including:
Also, there was Australian Defence Force representatives from all 3 branches & their cadets. This was in addition to the already-announced Defence Department members being onboard.
Australia Day is about celebrating what makes us unique, our Australian spirit & shared values as well as the strength, diversity & generosity of our people.
The New South Wales Government is proud to recognise the organisations & people, across frontline & support roles alike, who have shown the best of Australian humanity during 1 of the city’s darkest times, through one of Australia Day’s most beloved events.
Acknowledging these special people is a small but meaningful gesture that I’m sure will resonate deeply with many across our community.
The Ferrython embodies the best of community spirit, bringing together families, friends & visitors in celebration of our national day.
Steve Kamper, NSW Tourism & Jobs Minister
All times are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)
The new Sydney Fish Market‘s roof will illuminate green & gold tonight from sunset (8:17pm) until sunrise (6:10am) on Australia Day. It will not be illuminated after sunset on Australia Day.
The new Market’s roof comes with a programmable light display so whilst this is the 1st special illumination, it certainly won’t be the last & the wait until the next one shouldn’t be long.
The Market will also host in their new Civic Plaza a Welcome To Country by Uncle Lloyd Webber at 11:45am on the 26th followed by a yidaki performance by Ralph Hatzi. Then, at 12pm, there will be face painting for children, live music, roving performers & oyster shucking demonstrations until 5pm.
The live music & roving performers will also be held today, the 25th, at the same time but finishing at 3pm instead.
The new Sydney Fish Market, which opened its doors for the 1st time on the 19th, is on the shores of Sydney Harbour’s Blackwattle Bay at 1 Bridge Rd, Glebe. To get there, you can catch the light rail from Central or Dulwich Hill to Wentworth Park (400 metre walk) or a bus from Parramatta or Bondi Junction to Harris Street (550 metre walk). There is also a dedicated taxi & ride share drop-off & pick-up area outside as well as basement car parking, which, due to it being a special event long weekend, is expected to have a flat cashless $15 fee (definitely 5pm-10pm) except for mobility permit holders (1st 2 hours only), taxis & emergency services. There is NO FERRY access.
After initially reporting it was excluded, an expanded Mega Kidz Zone is back as being included in Harbourfest between 11am & 3pm. Held in the Overseas Passenger Terminal south to the Museum Of Contemporary Art, this is mainly an interactive arcade for kids in the Arrivals Hall featuring the Wipe Out Challenge, ninja-inflatable obstacle course, classic arcade games & a new Lego Zone. Outside, there will be roaming street performers & in the Undercroft Food Court, there will also be wheelchair basketball & a disc jockey.
On the lawn in front of the Museum Of Contemporary Art is Fun In The Sun – included in the Mega Kidz Zone for the 1st time ever after being held as a separate event since 2023.
Hosted by Surf Life Saving New South Wales (NSW) volunteer surf life savers, Fun In The Sun teaches kids how to stay safe in the water with games, colouring-in & free sunscreen. An important activation especially as Australia Day In Sydney is already affected by a shark attack within Sydney Harbour killing a 12-year-old boy (see below).
Look, you know, we really look forward to Australia Day like all the community does & how iconic to have Australia’s most iconic organisation – the red & yellow Surf Life Saving – there celebrating Australia Day & we’ve done that year-on-year in, in here with the activation so, you know, we’re going to be over at Circular Quay with all our lifesavers. The red & yellow flags will be flying over there. We’re inviting people to come over onto the grass. Come & talk to a lifesaver. Free sunscreen will be handed out & obviously, you know, we will be talking all about lifesaving & water safety this summer.
Lifesavers are really looking forward to it. We love the appreciation & support of everyone but importantly, it’s just a great platform for us to promote water safety here along the, uh, New South Wales beaches.
We love Australia Day. We love the festivities & we just love celebrating everything about Australia.
Steve Pearce, Surf Life Saving NSW Chief Executive Officer
Harbourfest‘s Salute will now begin at 11:30am when His Majesty’s Australian Ship (HMAS) Canberra, a landing helicopter dock naval ship, arrives to float in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the eastern side. It is the 1st time HMAS Canberra has featured in the Salute since 2020.
Centred in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on the eastern side, the Salute weaves together cultural & ceremonial traditions in a tribute to Australia including, from 11:55am, a smoking ceremony from the vessel, Wirwai, the Navy Helicopter Flag Display (departing from Middle Head) & a 21-gun salute from Bradfield Park. After which, the National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair, will be played concluding at 12pm with a F35-A Lightning II stealth strike fighter jet aircraft flypast & handling display.
The route & estimated times of the whole Navy Helicopter Flag Display are below:
The Salute will end at 1pm with a sing-along of the National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair & the Navy Helicopter Flag Display landing in Nowra.
After the shark attack in Rose Bay on the 18th of January, the Harbour Splash swim was cancelled the next day. The shark attack, yesterday, become a fatality. The event, which would have begun at 8am on Australia Day, features swims around Sydney Harbour of up to 5 kilometres in length beginning & ending in Rose Bay with loops up to Hermit Bay. The shark attack occurred in Vaucluse Bay 700 metres further to the north. A statement from the 19th on the cancellation is below:
Following the tragic incident in the Harbour off Vaucluse on Sunday the 18th of January, the Organising Committee for the Sydney Harbour Splash has made the difficult decision to cancel the 2026 event taking place next week on Monday the 26th of January.
This decision has been made following extensive consultation with New South Wales Police & experienced, senior Harbour and waterways personnel as well as our event partners. This cancellation is made out of deep respect for the young boy who was tragically attacked yesterday & for his family and friends. Our thoughts & prayers are with them during this difficult time.
The Sydney Harbour Splash is a valued community event & we respect the Sydney and eastern suburbs community. We also acknowledge & thank the many 1st responders and waterways personnel who protect & patrol our Harbour.
We’ll be in touch with registered participants via e-mail with the next steps.
On behalf of the entire Sydney Harbour Splash family, we thank you for your continued support.
‘Harbour Splash’ Cancellation Statement
All the below can also be accessed on our Watch LIVE page
10 Kilometre: The Great Australian Wheelchair Race will be broadcast on YouTube & Facebook from 8:45am.
The Yabun Festival will be broadcast on their website in full with 4 separate streams, one for each stage/event area.
The Wollongong Fireworks will have local radio station, i98FM, playing the fireworks soundtrack at 9pm.
The official event map has been published but note that it also features the now-cancelled Harbour Splash.
Lastly, on Circular Quay Way, there will also be food trucks selling easy family meals from 11am to 9pm.
Australia Day 2026 is held on the 26th of January.
Australia has lit up for the National Day Of Mourning.
Other Pillars Of Light featured at:
Lastly, organisation buildings were also illuminated around Australia as a ‘symbol’ of light.
Other places to be generally illuminated include:
All the above illuminations occurred from sunset (8:06pm) to Midnight local time.
The 15 Pillars Of Light & general illuminations are in mourning of the victims of the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism. Therefore, Sydney Spectaculars is not considering these illuminations as a ‘Spectacular‘.
More to come.
The Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has announced that organisation buildings will be illuminated & following a request by the Executive Council Of Australian Jewry, a national commemorative installation titled 15 Pillars Of Light will be lit up around Australia as part of the National Day Of Mourning following the massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism in the suburb of Bondi Beach just over a month ago.
The National Day Of Mourning is being observed today, Thursday the 22nd of January, with the illuminations being held in the evening. The day is themed Light Will Win: A Gathering Of Unity & Remembrance, which was chosen by Rabbi Ulman, the spiritual leader of the Bondi Jewish Chabad community.
The 15 Pillars Of Light, a symbol of mourning, remembrance & national solidarity. will feature 1 light beam each at:
The Pillars Of Light will end at Midnight local time (that is, 3am AEDT the latest). Other places to be generally illuminated include:
The general illuminations are being done as a ‘symbol’ of light.
Today, the National Day Of Mourning, sunset is at 8:06pm, which is when the Australian organisation buildings’ illuminations are also expected to begin with it being completely night-time at 9:44pm. All general illuminations will end at Midnight local time (that is, 8am AEDT the latest).
The 15 Pillars Of Light & general illuminations are in mourning of the victims of the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism. Therefore, Sydney Spectaculars is not considering these illuminations as a ‘Spectacular‘.
The Sydney Opera House is not being specially illuminated.
Today, we mark the National Day of Mourning to honour victims of the Bondi antisemitic terrorist attack. It is a solemn opportunity for every Australian to stand with the Jewish community & remember the 15 lives stolen in this deadly attack.
Today is an opportunity for us to remember & pay respect to the 15 lives. A chance for us to, uh, if, uh, we have faith, to pray. Uh, if we don’t, to, uh, hope that those who still suffer from injuries & are recovering, both physical & mental, have the opportunity to do so. It’s an opportunity for us as a nation to wrap our arms around the Jewish community because people were targeted because they were Jewish Australians.
Today, we share their grief. A grief with no ending, only a beginning. Grief is love wrapped around an absence & today, uh, we remember those people. Uh, those people were deeply loved & uh, we look back though as well on the other thing that happened that night, which was that at the worst of times, we saw once again, the best of the Australian character.
Australia was born out of an instinct to unify. That’s what we did 125 years ago when the Federation came together.
The Day Of Mourning will be an opportunity for all Australians to stand with those who are grieving, those who lost loved ones, family members & members of the Bondi Chabad community but others as well.
Buildings and landmarks right across the country, uh, will be lit up this evening. The MCG in Melbourne, Story Bridge in Brisbane, Adelaide Town Hall, Optus Stadium in Perth. Following a request by the Executive Council Of Australian Jewry, a national commemorative installation titled 15 Pillars of Light will be lit up from sundown in each of these locations around the country: The Captain Cook Memorial Jet here on the Lake in Canberra, Bondi Pavilion and Byron Bay Lighthouse in New South Wales, Parliament House in Darwin, the South Bank Cultural Forecourt in Brisbane, Surfers Paradise Esplanade, Adelaide Holocaust Museum, the Tasman Bridge in Hobart, uh, the, uh, Town Hall in Launceston, uh, Flinders Street Station in Melbourne, Parliament House in Perth & the Town Hall in Albany in Western Australia as well.
This will be a very important Day Of Mourning. It will be an opportunity for us to pay respects as a nation to those people who lost their lives.
During what was a very difficult time, we have seen the very best of the Australian character and that’s, uh, what I want to see & I hope that there is, uh, very wide and broad participation in the National Day Of Mourning today.
I want to thank the spiritual leader of the Chabad community, Rabbi Ulman, for his extraordinary leadership during this time. I’ve met with him many times now in his home in, uh, at the, uh, Chabad, uh, Centre there in Bondi, uh, as well and with his community & it is, uh, him who has, uh – He came up with the theme, uh, today, Light Will Win: A Gathering Of Unity & Remembrance so, remembrance, respecting people who, uh, whose lives, uh, were taken so cruelly that night but a positive message as well: Light will win. How will light win? Through a gathering of unity by us coming together & that’s what today’s about.
Anthony Albanese, Australian Prime Minister
Being chosen as one of just 15 locations to participate in the Pillar Of Light tribute is deeply significant. It reflects our City’s commitment to compassion, respect & unity in the face of such profound loss.
The beam of light above the Civic Centre will be a powerful symbol of remembrance & hope.
Lynette Martin, City Of Mount Gamier Mayor
All times are in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)
The Australia Day LIVE Concert is going to feature a tribute to the families affected by the Bondi Beach massacre & Jewish genocide terrorism on December 14.
The tribute will be done by Sydney Jewish music festival group, SHIR, which means ‘song’ in Hebrew.
The announcement comes as the New South Wales (NSW) Government emphasised all their agencies are supporting all Sydney events that day & all agencies are focused on safety.
Meanwhile, the Australia Day LIVE Concert line-up has been revealed (All are musicians except where stated):
Olivia Coe Fox will also sing the National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair, as well as provide backing vocals for the Yothu Yindi songs, Treaty & Djäpana. Yothu Yindi has not been announced as part of the line-up with their songs likely to be covered by another artist in the line-up.
The Australia Day LIVE Concert will also feature an “aerial show” over Circular Quay. Whilst history states this should involve planes, kites or parachuters, there is a possibility something will debut at the Concert, as stated at the end of this article.
Held from 7:30pm-9:30pm, the Australia Day LIVE Concert will be broadcast on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television (TV) & iView.
Dawn Reflection sees the western Sydney Opera House sails illuminated with an Indigenous artwork for 20 minutes from 5:20am.
The artist for Dawn Reflection in 2026 is Garry Purchase, a proud Indigenous man descended from the Dharawal, Bidjigal and Dhungutti peoples & hailing from the renowned Timbery family. Painting from lived experience & contemporary social issues, his work is a modern interpretation of traditional Indigenous art, pushing boundaries to tell stories that are honest, sometimes confronting & deeply connected to identity, resilience and community.
This year, we’re honoured to have artwork of Garry Purchase who is a Dhungutti, Bidjigal man that is showcast, showcasing his artwork & it’s a complete honour for him but it’s also a complete honour for us that representation from 1st light, uh, in the skies to a 1st projection onto the Sails from a First Nations person & what it shows that where Australia Day begins here, uh, in this city, across the whole of the country, it begins in such a way with that reflection of First Nations people coming together with all of us.
Yvonne Weldon, Australia Day Council Of NSW Chair
As the projection fades into the sunrise, head to either Barangaroo Reserve to get a spot for 7:30am’s WugulOra Morning Ceremony or you could continue the Dawn Reflection by heading to…
For the 1st time in 2 years, Dawn Reflection at Bondi Beach is also included in the Sydney program. Held at 5:30am for an hour on the sand in front of the Bondi Pavilion, it will feature:
Firstly, the WugulOra Morning Ceremony will be simulcast on National Indigenous TV & the Special Broadcasting Service from 7:30am.
The hour-long ceremony involves a smoking ceremony, Indigenous artistic performances, speeches & the National Anthem sung by Olivia Coe Fox in both Gadigal and English.
I’m very excited for January 26th so in the morning, I’ll be starting off at WugulOra at the Morning Ceremony where I’ll be leading the National Anthem in both Gadigal and English & then in the evening, I’ll be on the Opera House Forecourt at the Australia Day LIVE Concert also singing the National Anthem as well as backing vocals for Treaty & Djäpana which I’m really excited for.
On such a day like January 26th, it’s so important that our voices are seen and heard and valued & I’m really grateful to be partaking in such massive events where you know a lot of eyes are going to be on both WugulOra & the Concert. It’s a great opportunity to be a part of & to be with such amazing artists and you know, some of the biggest names in Australia so I’m really grateful that I get to not only be there but to sing in language. You know, that’s very important to me & I’m very excited for it.
Olivia Coe Fox
Also, the 10 Kilometre (10K) Wheelchair Race has been renamed to 10K: The Great Australian Wheelchair Race while the Parade has been renamed to Boat Parade.
Lastly, Indigenous advisors have been involved in guiding the overall Australia Day In Sydney program.
There’s a lot of planning that goes in, in behind the scenes & uh, the team are amazing and you know, we start planning the, the seeds of, I guess, you know, reflection and celebration and respect, you know, the, the moment we finish the last one-sort of thing and so it is about, you know, really working with the community and, and, and our multiculturalism to sort of, I guess, uh, uncover the new talent as well that’s coming out which is really beautiful to see.
I think with the, the, the, the evening Concert is about that connection of lullaby to Country and uh, you know, the ancestors, you know, bringing that energy here collectively, uh, between different nations of, um, of, um, you know, First Nations people from around Australia & also how that integrates, uh, you know, sorta seamlessly with the, the other performances & you know, we got the wonderful Kate Ceberano and everyone & so you know, it’s going to be, uh, uh, uh, a powerhouse performance.
William Barton, ‘Australia Day In Sydney’ Co-Creative Director
Australia means lots of things to different people. It is in this land that we share with hundreds of different traditions, nations, religions & practices, yet it is in the sharing of who we are & who we need to be – together.
Our coming together on Australia Day can & will bring all of our diversity together because that’s where kindness is, us. We don’t always agree but we can & need to be kinder to one another, to commemorate, to reflect, to respect & to honour who we are in Australia where everyone is included.
The 26th of January starts, uh, with the Dawn projection, um, you know, beautiful city & even more beautiful artwork on the sails of our Opera House. Uh, from there, we have an early morning, uh, event at Barangaroo called Wug, WugulOra. It’s been happening for a couple of decades now & it certainly shows and showcase, um, the First Nations practices and traditions and all of us coming together, um, celebrating our survival and certainly reflecting about this whole country, whose in here in this country and how we walk together…& later in the evening when we have the Australia Day LIVE Concert, there are Aboriginal artists that are participating in that & also co-directing it with, uh, sensitivity but also with inclusion from a First Nations perspective for the whole of the nation perspective.
We can make a positive difference if we actually start to walk together & we can do that starting, um, on the 26th of January to make sure that we honour and we are reflecting and being respectful in that reflection but also celebrating the survival of the world’s oldest continuous living culture.
Yvonne Weldon, Australia Day Council Of NSW Chair
Australia Day 2026, friends, is going to be the biggest yet as New South Wales proudly hosts the nation’s largest Australia Day celebration. From suntri, from sunrise to when after the sun sets, Sydney Harbour will host events that celebrate the Australian spirit, honour our First Nations history & showcase, showcase our vibrant multicultural communities.
Australia Day 2026 gives us the chance to come together again with care, respect & unity to reflect on who we are and what we stand for and recognise what makes our country so wonderful. Australia Day is about what unites us, our shared values, our diversity & the mateship that defines us as, as Australians.
We saw that spirit at its strongest at the end of last year when communities came together in solidarity following the tragic events at Bondi.
This year, the Australia Day LIVE Concert will include a special tribute featuring Sydney band, S-S-H-I-R, as, w, which, which is part of the Australian Jewish, uh, music festival group, uhm, (exhales) who, who performed a moving, uh, rendition of I Am Australian at the Bondi vigil.
An all-star Australian line, line-up will perform including Cody Simpson, Kate Ceberano, Olivia Coe Fox, William Barton & many, many more. The Concert will feature a wonderful fireworks display & a & a spectacular aerial show.
No city delivers big, bold, bold & unmissable events like Sydney. Whether you’re firing up at the barb, firing up the barbecue with friends & family, heading to the beach or joining 1 of our iconic Harbour events, there’s something, there’s something for everyone…& with a day filled with free events for all ages, I encourage everyone to get involved & make the most of Austra, Australia Day 2026 so however you choose to celebrate, enjoy your day & have a sensational Australia Day.
Steve Kamper, NSW Multiculturalism, Tourism & Jobs Minister
Earlier, we speculated about the aerial show at the Australia Day LIVE Concert. The media release also mentions this:
More exciting additions to the Australia Day program are coming soon.
‘Sydney To Host The Country’s Biggest Events As ‘Australia Day’ 2026 Program Is Unveiled’ Media Release
While at the media launch, Australia Day In Sydney Co-Creative Director, William Barton, also said:
There will be, uh, you know, some special surprises that, uh, haven’t, uh, been seen before during, uh, Australia Day LIVE at the Opera House as well as for the WugulOra as well.
William Barton, ‘Australia Day In Sydney’ Co-Creative Director
So standby.
Interesting it will appear during the daytime too…
Vivid Sydney 2025 – Dream has won 16 International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Gold Pinnacle Awards outright.
The Pinnacle Awards, presented across 64 categories, recognise the outstanding accomplishments of events from around the world, with it regarded as the gold standard of achievement for the global events industry.
We’re proud to celebrate this major milestone with our 30th year of the Pinnacle Awards.
These awards showcase the incredible innovation, passion & dedication of festival and event professionals around the world.
The Pinnacle Awards not only set the standard for excellence in our industry – They help elevate & inspire new ideas and best practices across all budgets and locations.
Steven Wood Schmader, IFEA President & Chief Executive Officer
Winners were announced in Palm Springs, California, United States Of America on the 22nd of September 2025 at the 70th annual IFEA Convention & Expo. Vivid Sydney 2025 – Dream won outright the following categories:
They also tied in gold for the category, Best Event/Program To Benefit A Cause (Our Shared Dream: A World With No Waste).
While most of their wins are related to marketing, notable is their wins of ‘Best Overall Entertainment Program’ & ‘Best Emergency Preparedness and Risk Management Plan’.
Vivid Sydney 2025 – Dream also won silver for the following awards:
They also tied in silver for Best Video Promotion.
Lastly, Vivid Sydney 2025 – Dream won bronze for Best Event (Within An Existing Festival) (Hollywood Dreaming).
Vivid Sydney 2025 – Dream was the last under the direction of Gill Minervini. Vivid Sydney 2026 will be under the direction of Brett Sheery & will begin on Friday the 22nd of May, concluding on Saturday the 13th of June.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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