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!
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.
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…
All times are Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)
Australia Day LIVE Concert tickets will go on sale at 10am, the 14th of January 2026 here. They are free & are limited in stock but don’t worry if you miss out, you can still enjoy the event without a ticket from around Circular Quay on the night or through the visual broadcast provided by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation! The Australia Day LIVE Concert goes for 2 hours & features Australian musical acts & fireworks celebrating Australian identity, beginning at 7:30pm, following a 1-hour non-broadcasted pre-show. Meanwhile, here are some other updates on Australia Day In Sydney for the 2026 edition…
Mega Kidz Zone is no longer a Harbourfest event but will still be held in the Overseas Passenger Terminal between 10:30am & 4pm.
Centred in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Salute weaves together cultural & ceremonial traditions in a tribute to Australia including a smoking ceremony from the vessel, Wirwai & opening with a 21-gun salute from Bradfield Park.
After a 2-year absence, the Navy Helicopter Flag Display will return to doing a leg down and along the South Coast to Nowra.
The Navy Helicopter Flag Display sees a Royal Australian Navy helicopter tow a giant Australian flag. The route & estimated times are below:
The Salute will see His Majesty’s Australian Ship Canberra returning for the 1st time since 2020 & at 12pm, a F35-A Lightning II stealth strike fighter jet aircraft returns for the 1st time since 2023 to do a flypast and handling display.
The Salute will end with a sing-along of the National Anthem, Advance Australia Fair. The National Anthem will also be played following the 21-gun salute.
The Ferrython Race & Maritime Mayhem, while still being 2 distinct events, will be combined under a new umbrella term, Ferrython Fun, this year. It begins at 12:10pm and lasts until 12:30pm.
The race sees 4 of Sydney’s Emerald Class ferries racing each other from in 2 laps in-between the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Fort Denison.
This year, the competing ferries will be carrying members of the Department Of Defence.
Beginning at 12:15pm, Maritime Mayhem sees tugboats pulling off stunts within Circular Quay as for the 1st time ever as part of the event, jet boats also carve up those waters.
The Parade will start 15 minutes later than usual this year at 1pm. It will run the same duration so it will finish at 2:15pm, 15 minutes than usual though. If you want to be part of the Parade, you can register here by 3pm, 21 January.
The Parade, which begins in front of Mary Booth Lookout, sees vessels dressed to impress judges in a display of national spirit. The Parade goes west to turn around in front of Goat Island before heading back east past the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House to finish in Athol Bay.
The Australia Day Eve Open Air Cinema film this year is Kangaroo. Rated PG (Parental Guidance Recommended – Mild Themes, Violence & Coarse Language) & inspired by the true story of The Kangaroo Sanctuary, it is about a former television star, Chris Masterman, stranded outside Alice Springs (Mparntwe), who teams up with a 12-year-old Indigenous Australian girl, Charlie, to rescue orphaned joeys.
This 2-hour event is held at 6:30pm on the 25th of January in Rat Park, Warriewood. Gates open at 5:30pm with the following food trucks on site:
There will be water stations available for you to refill your own water bottles.
Free tickets must be reserved here to gain entry before 6:45pm on event day. Tickets can only be cancelled before 6:45pm on the 18th of January.
The Australia Day Council of NSW is now 50% Indigenous & 50% Non-Indigenous with a total of 6 members. The 3 new members are:
This follows the Council becoming Indigenous majority for the 1st time ever last year.
Australia Day In Sydney will be held on January 26.
A 1st Responder Expo is to replace the Great Aussie Barbeque (BBQ) as part of Australia Day In Sydney‘s Harbourfest.
After a lengthy absence, the return of The Great Aussie BBQ saw the multicultural diversity of Sydney come together at a sausage sizzle that let you taste test their interpretation of a sausage sanga (sandwich for international readers) among the others as well as the classical version (plus with onions).
Lambda Sydney presented a Greek gyros-style version while Mr & Mrs Pho crafted an authentic Vietnamese version & the team from Turbans 4 Australia offered a Tandoori-inspired vegan version. The snags (sausages) were provided by Our Cow & each purchase resulted in a 100% donation to Rural Aid that helped NSW’s farmers. It was held from 10am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) whilst stocks lasted.
In the end, its return only lasted for that 1 edition last year. It is being replaced this year by a 1st Responders Expo to be held at Hickson Road Reserve, the location of last year’s Great Aussie BBQ, underneath the south-eastern pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The timing is a bit different to its predecessor with the Expo beginning at 12pm AEDT & lasting 4 hours.
The event name, timing & location are the only confirmed details of the Expo based on an Accessibility & Inclusion Sensory Map but a few other details can be gathered based on earlier Australia Day In Sydney announcements.
At approximately 11:38am AEDT, the 4 ferries participating in Harbourfest‘s Ferrython will do a pre-race lap of Circular Quay. The 4 ferries are the May Gibbs, Catherine Hamlin, Bungaree & Pemulwuy, each decorated themed to its name.
Onboard the ferries will be representatives of 4 emergency agencies, with 1 emergency agency per ferry to give the race more competition. The emergency agencies are:
It is likely these 4 emergency agencies will be represented at the Expo, the location of which is right beside the start line of the Ferrython: the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The actual race begins at 12:09pm AEDT, with the ferries heading out to Fort Denison in an anticlockwise direction before returning. They then repeat this path except instead of finishing at the Sydney Harbour Bridge, they will finish in-between 2 tugboats, the Engage Renegade & Engage Rascal, off the Sydney Opera House.
The Ferrython should conclude at around 12:22pm. The winning ferry will then do a lap of honour around Circular Quay, which should finish at approximately 12:29pm.
The Ferrython & 1st Responders Expo are a part of Harbourfest, which actually begins at 10:30am AEDT with the Mega Kidz Zone in the Arrivals Hall of the Overseas Passenger Terminal. Held in 45-minute sessions, the last session is held at 3pm. This is mainly an arcade with wheelchair basketball & a silent disco.
The main entertainment, the Salute, begins at 11:40am & concludes at 1:30pm. It begins with a smoking ceremony onboard the Wirwai. This vessel will enter Circular Quay at around 11:48am. At 11:56am, the Australian Army will then fire a 21-gun salute from Bradfield Park. At 12pm, the National Anthem will ring out in English & Eora across Circular Quay as jet-skiiers, each in alternate, holding the Australian National & Aboriginal Flags, circle it. The Anthem will conclude with the Royal Australian Air Force Roulettes doing a 13-minute display overhead. The Salute then concludes with a Royal Australian Navy Seahawk helicopter flying a giant Australian National Flag underneath from the Northern Beaches at 12:30pm, up Sydney Harbour to west of the Sydney Opera House at 1:30pm.
Other Harbourfest entertainment includes:
Australia Day In Sydney‘s Harbourfest is held on the 26th of January between 10:30am & 4pm AEDT. The 1st Responders Expo is held between 12pm & 4pm while the Ferrython is held from 12:09pm, finishing at around 12:22pm.
Australia Day In Sydney has revealed James P. Simon has designed this year’s Dawn Reflection projection in consultation with the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council with a work titled River Life.
Born in Wellington, near Dubbo NSW, he belongs to the Wiradjuri – Biripi people & has painted all his life. He grew up around Newtown and Redfern in Sydney, where he has seen many changes over the last 50 years.
Although he completed a 6-month art course, James is largely self-taught continuing to develop his own distinctive style, which mainly involves oils. In 1987, he was awarded a grant from the Aboriginal Arts Council.
His work, which extensively features commissions, is found in many collections, which has been included in lots of exhibitions & publications. His favourite artists are Picasso, Tom Roberts, Salvador Dali & Albert Namatjira.
At the end of this article is a statement from James P. Simon about River Life.
Australia Day In Sydney‘s Dawn Reflection is held at 5:20am Australian Eastern Daylight Time on the 26th of January on the western sails of the Sydney Opera House.
For Aboriginal people, fishing anywhere on Country, whether it is on the ocean beaches or coastal estuaries or inland rivers & lakes, it has always been about more than simply collecting food. We have this connection to water, with spirit, culture, songlines, our dreaming.
Waterways also form tribal boundaries. Waterways are critical to the culture & wellbeing of Aboriginal communities. Water provides food, medicine, tools, kinship, connection, recreation, stories, songlines & healing. It can be deeply spiritual. A chance for people to connect with their ancestors.
Water is seen as a living entity with its own spirit & it is believed that we have a responsibility to protect and care for it. For our peoples, water is not just a commodity but a language, a community & a source of knowledge and law.
Our Country encompasses land, water, sea and sky & the connections between them. Cultural flows are essential for Our People to continue their spiritual relationship with Country.
James P. Simon, ‘Dawn Reflection’ 2025 – ‘River Life’ Artist
The Australia Day LIVE! concert has returned to its usual finish time of 9:30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time according to the event’s website.
The main concert is a television event featuring musical performances of Australian songs from Australian artists. Held from the Southern Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House, the concert is coordinated with fireworks from Circular Quay, city buildings & the Sydney Opera House, the latter also featuring projection mapping while the Sydney Harbour Bridge hosts a light show. Aquatic entertainment & sometimes aerial displays feature around Circular Quay as well, which is rounded out by pre-recorded television packages and live interviews that fill in the remainder of the time of the concert. Sometimes extra performances from other Circular Quay foreshore locations are also held.
While free tickets for the seated area are now sold out, you can still sign up to the waitlist. There is also a competition that closes at 5pm today (16th of January). Also, access to the rest of Circular Quay is not ticketed on the evening so you can watch the fireworks & other aquatic entertainment from there with its capacity of 55,000!
The news comes after Australia Day In Sydney held their media launch yesterday revealing SHEPPARD, Paulini, William Barton, Emma Pask, Ben Lee, James Morrison, Dragon, the New South Wales (NSW) Public Schools Choir, Clarissa Spata & Sync Or Swim will star in a “revitalised” concert with a new stage & the introduction of a focus on dance, which Burn The Floor will provide with their reinvention of ballroom dancing.
Other musicians to feature include Junkyard Beats, Véronique Serret, Cameron Leon, Rruwan Maymuru, Djakapurra Munyarryun, Australian Guitar Quartet, Cianna & Olivia, David Pritchard Blunt (musical director) & the Australian Pops Orchestra while other dancers to feature include Sundowners & Burrundi Dance Theatre For Performing Arts.
Australia Day LIVE! 2025 will be held at 7:30pm AEDT on the 26th of January, televised on Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television & iView.
SHEPPARD, Paulini, William Barton, Emma Pask, Ben Lee, James Morrison, Dragon, the New South Wales (NSW) Public Schools Choir, Burn The Floor, Clarissa Spata & Sync Or Swim will star in a “revitalised” Australia Day LIVE! concert in 2025 on the Southern Forecourt of the Sydney Opera House with a new stage & the introduction of a focus on dance.
Sync Or Swim are a rock band created through the Australian Broadcasting Corporation Television (ABC TV) series, Headliners, whose members all having a lived experience of disability. Clarissa Spata is a soprano while Burn The Floor are dancers who have reinvented ballroom dancing globally & their performance will mark the introduction of dance as a new focus of the concert, which previously focused solely on music, apart from the Circular Quay activities. This is part of why the concert has been “revitalised”. The other reason is because a new innovative stage design will be introduced.
The NSW Public Schools Choir will perform from the Monumental Steps.
It was also announced the concert will, once again, be hosted by Australia Day In Sydney creative director, John Foreman with Jeremy Fernandez & for the 1st time, ABC Classic Breakfast host, Megan Burslem.
Other musicians to feature include Junkyard Beats, Véronique Serret, Cameron Leon, Rruwan Maymuru, Djakapurra Munyarryun, Australian Guitar Quartet, Cianna & Olivia, David Pritchard Blunt (musical director) & the Australian Pops Orchestra while other dancers to feature include Sundowners & Burrundi Dance Theatre For Performing Arts.
Free tickets for Australia Day LIVE! are available here from 10am Australian Eastern Daylight Time, today (Wednesday the 15th of January). They are expected to sell out quickly as the capacity is just in the thousands.
If you miss out on a ticket, you can still watch the fireworks, projections, lights, aerial & on-water action from Circular Quay, with its capacity of 55,000.
For those who are unable to make it to Circular Quay, Australia Day LIVE! will be broadcast live on ABC TV & iView from 7:30pm.
Meanwhile, during Harbourfest‘s Ferrython, representatives from NSW Police, Fire and Rescue NSW, Ambulance NSW & the NSW State Emergency Service will this year be onboard the 4 ferries, probably an emergency agency per ferry for extra competition!
Free tickets for Ferrython are available here from 10am Australian Eastern Daylight Time, today (Wednesday the 15th of January). They are expected to sell out quickly as the capacity is just in the thousands.
Australia Day In Sydney is held on the 26th of January.
Sydney locals & visitors want to spend Australia Day in a way that’s meaningful to them. This program allows them to do just that. The other great thing about this program is that it’s all free so families dealing with the cost-of-living crisis can have a fun & meaningful day out without blowing the budget.
John Graham, NSW Tourism & Jobs Minister
A deep respect for Aboriginal culture is infused into everything that we undertake as part of our programming for Australia Day In Sydney & we’re committed to continually evolving the program to ensure it is appropriate, respectful and reflects modern Australia.
Yvonne Weldon, Australia Day Council Of NSW Chair
The line-up this year is the best yet featuring iconic Australian band Dragon, Ben Lee, Paulini & SHEPPARD. We look forward to seeing Circular Quay & the Sydney Opera House forecourt come alive with tens of thousands joining together, sharing the cultural landscape, enjoying this unforgettable Australia Day LIVE concert & epic fireworks display.
William Barton, ‘Australia Day LIVE!’ Co-Creative Director
Australia Day In Sydney is giving you the chance to win a trip to their 2025 edition, valued at AUD$8000, over 2 nights with 3 other guests of your choice.
The prize includes:
To enter, you need to tell them in 25 English words or less what is your ‘Only In Australia’ moment as well as provide your 1st & last name, e-mail address, mobile phone number, birth date and postcode & read and accept the terms & conditions & Destination New South Wales’ (NSW) privacy policy. You must be 18 or over to enter.
You must also agree to receive marketing communications from Destination NSW & confirm you can travel to Sydney on Saturday the 25th of January 2025.
The competition opened at 9am Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT) on the 8th of January & closes at 5pm AEDT on Thursday the 16th of January.
The most enthusiastic, creative & original entry will win.
Click here to enter.
Winners will be announced on Australia Day In Sydney’s Facebook & Instagram pages on the 17th of January.
Sydney Spectaculars 
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