Tag: Sydney New Year’s Eve

All times are in Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

More firing locations will feature on the western face of the Sydney Harbour Bridge during Sydney NYE2025 after last year’s major expansion of the Bridge’s pyrotechnics, just as North Sydney Council makes Blues Point, a prime viewing spot for those new pyrotechnics, a paid ticketed vantage point after being declined a New South Wales (NSW) Government subsidy.

This is despite North Sydney becoming more popular than Circular Quay for the 1st time ever last year.

The NSW Government doesn’t subsidy other local government vantage points including the City Of Sydney’s.

Back in July, North Sydney Councillors had varying reasons for supporting re-introducing paid ticketing to Blues Point or alternatively, at least asking for an NSW Government subsidy instead. The originator of the idea to ask the NSW Government for a subsidy while arguing against paid ticketing of Blues Point said:

300,000 dollars or a million dollars is less than a rounding error for the State Government. Uh, that is, it is a big impact for this Council & I think that, uh, they, they wax lyrical, uh, in, uh, tourism publications, about the, the benefits of, of New Year’s Eve & I think that that should be reflected in their contributions to Councils.

Angus Hoy, North Sydney ‘Greens’ Councillor

Arguing in favour of both a subsidy request & in the event of its refusal by the NSW Government, paid ticketing of Blues Point, Councillor Christopher Holding erroneously thought the NSW Government organises the event:

It’s a party that the State Government puts on & we, uh, in our area, are, have the, the blessing of having a great viewpoint for it but unfortunately, we don’t get any costs for our side of, um, supporting the, the crowd management & uh, & all those other aspects that come with, uh, the New Year’s Eve fireworks so I think this is a really balanced, uh, educated way of looking at it.

Christopher Holding, North Sydney ‘The Real Independents’ Councillor

This is not true (the State Government putting on Sydney NYE). The City Of Sydney organises the event with the NSW Government playing a supporting logistical role. The NSW Government did fully take the reins of Sydney NYE2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic though.

A final reason for them supporting both was provided by the Mayor, Zoë Baker. She referred to a “really precarious financial position”, a likely reference to the cost blowout to AUD$122 million on the redevelopment of the North Sydney Olympic Pool, which hosted aquatics at the IIIrd British Empire Games: Sydney 1938. The Council, which had its election in September 2024, in response, had applied to the Independent Pricing & Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) in February for a special rate variation consisting of an increase by 87.05% over 2 years, which was declined in May. In a last desperate measure, at the July Council meeting, they made the decision to write to the NSW Government asking for a subsidy for North Sydney’s NYE vantage points & if it was declined, Blues Point would become paid ticketed:

As Mr MacDonald (Public Forum speaker) said, well let’s push aside what IPART did. Well we can’t. I would love to but we’ve got to be a financially sustainable Council & so unfortunately, this is one of those unpleasant things that we have got to do & so I do support, I do support the motion.

Shannon Welch, North Sydney ‘Labor’ Councillor

I share your principle on this & have & um, for, for, for every year that I have been on this Council, I have always voted, um, to keep public open space free & access free but unfortunately, we, as a Council & a governing body, have inherited, um, a really precarious financial position that has not been relieved by our seeking a special rate variation & so it is with exceptionally heavy heart, um, that I find myself supporting the motion for 1 year only.

Zoë Baker, North Sydney Mayor

On the 24th of November at 10am, the subsidy request was declined by the NSW Government. Therefore, 8000 tickets for Blues Point went on sale at the last possible moment for North Sydney Council. They went on sale for AUD$50 (+booking fees) at the moment their subsidy request was declined.

Ticketholders can access Blues Point from 11am on NYE until 12:30am in the new year, with gates closing at 9pm on NYE & the price comes with food trucks, a 4-hour live music set at 2pm by The Steff Domazet Duo and from 6pm until the Midnight Fireworks, disc jockeys, Shanie D and James Alexandr.

The Blues Point vantage point is Hidden Disability Sunflower program-recognised.

Blues Point offers 1 of the best vantage points anywhere on the Harbour.

North Sydney Council is introducing cost-recovery ticketing to ensure that residents won’t have to foot the bill to cover the costs of visitors attending New Year’s Eve celebrations & to ensure that it’s an enjoyable night for both residents and visitors.

Zoë Baker, North Sydney Mayor

Meanwhile, in other firework news, there will be 2 extra drones during the fireworks, bringing it to a record total of 6 pyrotechnic drones.

Also, there will 6 city buildings for pyrotechnics in 2025, after a decrease to just 3 city buildings last year. City buildings are only used during the Midnight Fireworks currently. This will be the most city buildings used for pyrotechnics in 13 years.

Most ticketed vantage points are already sold out.

Native Flora & Fauna

In total, there will be a total of 9 tonnes of fireworks this Sydney NYE including 25,000 individual pyrotechnics, which will include “made-for-Sydney” aerial shells that will “shape shift” & that are shaped into native fauna and flora species including Cockatoos, Koalas, Bottlebrush & Waratah.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections will feature the above native flora as well as reimaginations of native plants through the combination of artificial intelligence & the actual sequencing of the plants’ deoxyribonucleic acid in a collaboration between the Royal Botanic Gardens & Sydney NYE2025 Pylon Projection Designers, VANDAL, using the Genomics For Australian Plants database. The overall narrative for the pylon projections this year tells the story of the deep connection between land & Sydney with nature reclaiming Sydney, capturing the spirit of rewilding, told in 3 parts: Ground Dwellers, Sky Seekers & Bloomers.

Ground Dwellers sees fungi & ferns such as the Ruby Bonnet, Ghost Fungus, Coral Lichen & Bird’s Nest Fern glowing & growing across solid stone. Sky Seekers sees Sydney’s own Red Gum, Scribbly Gum & Cabbage Tree Palm stretching skyward, joined by the Golden Wattle & Blueberry Ash. Lastly, Bloomers sees Gymea Lilies, Christmas Bells, Fringe Lilies & the Waratah bursting into bloom. 

This year, we imagined what it would feel like if the city gave way to nature.

Our streets, footpaths & foreshore are already teeming with extraordinary plant life but it’s so often overlooked.

The projections imagine these species reclaiming the built environment, climbing up the granite pylons & taking over the Harbour Bridge with movement, colour and life.

It’s a rewilding of Sydney in the most joyful, celebratory sense.

Chris Scott, VANDAL Creative Director

This isn’t just a creative flourish. It’s nature helping to shape its own representation. We’re combining art, science & technology to let the plants speak in their own visual language.

Alice Robinson, VANDAL Producer

The Calling Country Fireworks projections will also feature native fauna (see below).

Light Show

This year’s light show will feature 5,000 moving spotlight beams & light-emitting diode effects.

Midnight Fireworks Soundtrack

Jono Ma, a founding member of local psychedelic electronic rock dance band,  Jagwar Ma, will be the official artist of the Sydney NYE2025 Midnight Fireworks soundtrack, beginning a 3-year contract with the City Of Sydney so expect his work to appear in the following 2 editions as well!

Jagwar Ma‘s song, Come Save Me, featured in the Sydney NYE2014 – Inspire Midnight Fireworks soundtrack so he is no stranger to appearing in the big party!

Also returning for a 2nd year straight on vocals is Josie Mann.

For 2025, Jono Ma has also joined forces with American soul gospel family group, Annie & The Caldwells, who just happened to be in Sydney when Jono needed such voices.

Also appearing in the soundtrack is Maanyung on vocals and clap sticks, Matteo Zingales on strings, brass and percussion, Jonti Danilewitz on vocals and synthesisers & Jackson Mico Milas on strings.

It was recorded at Sonar Music, Space Mountain Studios Sydney & EMS4 London.

Inspired by the acid house texture legacy of his late mentor Andrew Weatherall, Jono Ma’s composition is “designed to let go, turn up & welcome the new year with sound that’s alive, unapologetic & unforgettable” in a “high-energy tribute” to Sydney, which “channels the city’s pulse”, “bombastic, turbocharged & deeply personal”, “dynamic & joyful”, “imagined as a direct conversation with Sydney”. 

The soundtrack was initially conceived as an “ethereal” piece.

Calling Country

The Calling Country Live Performance at 8:57pm will see the world premiere of Yuin/Thunggutti rapper, Nooky & Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung woman, Jem Cassar-Daley’s new song Silver Lining.

At 9pm, the Calling Country Fireworks will have themes of creation, life connections, memory, renewal, strength & pride celebrating harmony and resilience with the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections reminding everyone that Country, from the stars to the water, “ties us together & that all living things are part of our story” with their inclusion of depictions of native flora (including waratahs) and “glowing” fauna, life symbols, spears, boomerangs, tears, spirits & the moon, all designed by Jerrinja/Djirringanj Yuin artist, Aaron Kennedy & Bundjalung/Yugambeh artist, Shal (Shaun Daniel Allen) in the colours of pink, green, yellow & blue. Each depiction reflects the enduring presence of Country & the beauty that rises from loss.

Their depictions were animated by VANDAL‘s Jeremy Mansford.

The 3-song fireworks soundtrack by Nooky & produced by Caleb Tasker begins with a Djiranganj welcome song performed by Warren Foster. It is followed by a Dharrawal–Dhurga song composed by renowned cultural teachers, Cecil McLeod and Richard Scott Moore that speaks to the wild dog and his 2 names, Mirrigan and Warrigal. The final song is a Djiranganj song from Wallaga Lake, telling of fishing with the woven handline & abalone hook, carrying the rhythm of sustenance & tradition. The soundtrack is of a 600-kilometre journey, beginning in the Bega Valley heading north to Sydney’s outskirts before returning.

Cecil McLeod has been in the soundtracks for Sydney New Year’s Eve 2010 – Make Your Mark‘s Acknowledgment Of Country, Vivid Sydney 2016: Light – Lighting Of The Sails: Songlines & co-conducted a Welcome To Country at Australia Day LIVE 2016.

Sydney Opera House Northern Broadwalk Concert

The concert line-up was revealed:

• Melanie C
• Matt Corby
• The Cat Empire
• Peach PRC
• Marcia Hines
• Casey Donovan
• Don West
• Ayesha Madon

Plus, more to be announced!

All ticketholders have to be 18 years or older to attend.

Tune in to Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) Local Radio Sydney Breakfast from Friday the 5th of December for your chance to win 1 of 15 double pass to the concert! When you hear the cue to call, call 1300 222 702 & correctly perform the on-air task asked by the presenter to win. You can only enter once & must be 18 years old or over to enter. The competition closes on Friday the 12th of December.

General tickets to the Concert go up for ballot at 9am on Monday the 8th of December. They cost AUD$60 (+booking fee) but all proceeds go to RizeUp, who support families affected by domestic violence. Only 4 tickets can be bought per person.

Remember, if you miss out on a ticket, you can still listen to the concert down by the Harbour on ABC Local Radio Sydney (702 AM), which will be synchronised to the Sydney Harbour Bridge light show.

The concert begins at 9:10pm & concludes at 12:20am on television and 12:45am in person.

Beyond Blue Moment

I am happy to welcome Beyond Blue as our official charity partner of 2025 Sydney New Year’s Eve

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

At 10pm, Sydney Harbour including its Bridge will light up blue to honour
the work and message of hope from the official charity partner, Beyond Blue.

At the Pirrama Park vantage point from 2pm, Beyond Blue representatives will be running activities & providing tips about setting and sticking to a daily mental health practice in 2026.

Through the collaboration with the City Of Sydney, Beyond Blue is encouraging people to prioritise self-care & consider small, regular and meaningful actions that will benefit their mental health in ways that last beyond NYE.

That could be committing to volunteering, catching up with a friend for coffee on a regular basis, going for a walk each morning, starting that hobby you’ve been keen to try or if it’s needed, booking an appointment with a mental health professional.

This partnership allows us to talk to Australia about mental health at an important moment & encourage people to take action to look after their mental health in the coming year.

Lighting up the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge blue will be a powerful reminder that no matter who you are or where you are, Beyond Blue is there for you if you need support.

Georgie Harman, Beyond Blue Chief Executive Officer

Welcome To Country

The Welcome To Country is being conducted by proud Wiradjuri/Gadigal woman Aunty Joan Bell, on behalf of the Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council. It was filmed by We Are Warriors & Johnathon Karalis at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Broadcasts

The television/Internet broadcast will once again by co-hosted by Charlie Pickering and Zan Rowe & will feature a 60th birthday tribute to Australian preschool learning television program, Play School, featuring some classic songs, iconic hosts & special guests that have graced the show. The concert portion is simulcast on ABC Local Radio.

The executive producer of the ABC broadcasts is Nikita Agzarian.

For the 1st time ever, the Midnight Fireworks soundtrack will be simulcast on KIIS 106.5 & ABC Local Radio nationwide!

ABC’s 2025 New Year’s Eve broadcast will be truly memorable & lots of fun. It’s a joy to collaborate with City Of Sydney & share this celebration with audiences across Australia and around the globe.

Kath Earle, ABC’s Arts, Music & Events Head

Other News

In other news, there is also a new designated accessible viewing area for the 9pm Calling Country Fireworks only. It is Circular Quay’s Wharf 3. It is a unique vantage point in that attendees have to meet at Redfern Railway Station at 7:30pm & travel together by train to Circular Quay. This is because Circular Quay Railway Station is closed to the public from 3pm. You also have to bring your own chairs to this viewing area. You can register for that viewing area here.

Also, this year’s edition took 18 months to plan – that’s since July 2024! 3 months longer than last year’s edition & the longest to plan since the Millennium, which took 4 years – a record unlikely ever to be beaten again!

City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, extended an open invitation for everyone to come & celebrate:

Sydney’s New Year’s Eve is like nowhere else. This year will be another spectacular showcase of our brilliant harbour city to people enjoying the celebrations in person & the millions of people watching around the world.

Sydney New Year’s Eve is about celebrating our incredible city & our creative and inclusive community. It is time to reflect on the year that has passed & look forward with hope to the year ahead.

The 9pm Calling Country fireworks will remind us how Country unites us all & we’re proud to have some of Sydney’s most talented Aboriginal artists bringing their culture to life with 8 minutes of animated projection content, fireworks & a bespoke soundtrack.

Front row seats to the greatest New Year’s Eve celebrations in the world are free at City Of Sydney vantage points. It’s great to see so many agencies & councils across the foreshore offering free viewing access so we can continue to make our fireworks accessible to everyone.

I want us all to begin the year on a high note & I can’t wait to welcome 2026 alongside Sydneysiders and the visitors who’ve chosen to spend New Year’s Eve in our city.

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

This announcement was made on December 4.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2025 begins on Wednesday the 31st of December 2025 at 2pm AEDT.

The updated Sydney NYE website has revealed the 2025 edition will have its biggest expansion since NYE2006 with the addition of the 1st new major fireworks location since that Diamond Night In Emerald City.

The firing location is located at White Bay, about 3 kilometres southeast of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, where all the pyrotechnic barges are actually set up. It is understood a barge is not being used but the land on the water’s edge instead, thus reducing costs for the event.

It is the 1st major pyrotechnic location in the history of the event to not run east-west along the Harbour. Darling Harbour & 5 regional cities of New South Wales were used during the Closing Night Harbour Spectacular of The Games Of The XXVIIth Olympiad: Sydney 2000.

Whilst White Bay’s appearance in the Midnight Fireworks has been confirmed, it has not been confirmed if it will feature in the Calling Country Fireworks at 9pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

The reasoning for the addition is unknown particularly as it is out of the way. Maybe they are considering adding barges down to Darling Harbour and/or the Australian & New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) Bridge?

The nearest vantage point to the White Bay pyrotechnic location is Giba Park, a free accessible vantage point with bring-your-own food/alcohol allowed. It has good views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s western side. However, the Sydney Opera House is not visible. With a capacity of 1,540, gates open at 4pm AEDT with it reaching capacity at around 9:15pm AEDT based on last year, though with closer fireworks this year that could happen even earlier. There are bag checks on entry at this vantage point, which also has drinking water stations & toilets.

Other Vantage Point Information

The City Of Sydney is also now discouraging overnight camping in make-shift queues prior to NYE.

The Sydney Opera House will become a balloted vantage point this year with the ballot opening at 10am on the 26th of December, Boxing Day, the day the Sydney-Hobart Yacht Race starts. The tickets are free, up to a maximum of 6 per person. The 6000 ticketholders enter the vantage point between 12pm & 3pm – at least 4.5 hours before the event begins – & can also pre-order an optional picnic hamper.

Also, The Rocks is not an official vantage point this year.

Whilst the Vantage Point Finder has been updated on the website, the City Of Sydney says more vantage point information will be released closer to NYE so keep an eye on the website for updates.

Welcome To Country & The Broadcast

Meanwhile, the event schedule has revealed the Welcome To Country is going to be held at 8:45pm AEDT, 15 minutes later than last year. This also aligns with the television/Internet broadcast, which has also been announced to be produced once again by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation & will start at the same time as the Welcome To Country, therefore the broadcast is 15 minutes shorter than last year, making it the shortest broadcast in 12 years.

Sydney puts on a New Year’s Eve like nowhere else & with more than 1 million people travelling to the foreshore to watch the fireworks, a little planning goes a long way.

Whether you’re committed to securing a family-friendly front row spot at 1 of the many free viewing areas at parks & headlands around the Harbour or planning to go big with your booking, the official website has you covered.

We’d love you to celebrate with us in Sydney.

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

This announcement was made on September 4.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2025 begins on Wednesday the 31st of December 2025 at 7:30pm AEDT.

The Sydney New Year’s Eve 2025-2027 visual identity has been revealed with the event’s website being updated for the 2025 edition on Thursday the 4th of September.

The visual identity was designed by Frost*Collective.

Described as a “future-focused” “bold, modular brand system…that could flex across formats” universally, it was “designed to move a city” with “strong graphic forms, a vibrant palette & welcoming brand voice” uniting to unmistakably capture Sydney’s more playful side.

Meanwhile, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders have been invited to express interest in providing Calling Country creative services for the NYE2026-28 editions of the event.

An online information session for interested & registered applicants took place at 9:30am, 21 August 2025. At the briefing the City’s representative discussed, answered or clarified any issues raised by a respondent about any expression of interest (EOI) requirements.

In what is a 2-stage process, EOI proposals opened for submission on the 12th of August & close at 5pm on Friday the 5th of September. Following a review of the EOI proposals, at the City Of Sydney’s discretion, within a week of the 29th of September, they will invite shortlisted applicants to register with Tenderlink & file, by the 20th of October, formal Request For Tender documents for services including a detailed budget within AUD$132,000 & to present their creative concept for consideration at an 1 hour meeting with City Of Sydney staff in the week commencing the 27th of October, after which the applicant will be paid a AUD$3,000 fee. The successful applicant will be informed & contracted in December.

The criteria the applicants will be evaluated on upon the initial EOI proposal application include:

• Demonstrated creative concept delivery experience including providing 3 previous work case studies aligning to the program elements including visual storytelling, music programming & artist collaboration
• Demonstrated organisational program & key project personnel delivery capacity
• Demonstrated creative Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander culture celebration/support program delivery experience
• Draft creative outline presenting a theme & overall vision
• Work, Health & Safety commitment acknowledgment
• Required insurances commitment acknowledgement
• City of Sydney budget for services delivery acknowledgement
• Stage 2, if selected, detailed costing breakdown provision acknowledgement

The Sydney NYE2026 Calling Country soundtrack artists including musician & composer will be confirmed by 27 April 2026.

This announcement was made on August 29.

The City Of Sydney has entered into an agreement with Beyond Blue to become the charity partner of Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2025 with an option to extend to NYE2026.

Beyond Blue is one of Australia’s most trusted & visited organisations, offering easily accessible & personalised mental health support for Australians to feel safe, connected and well earlier & to stay that way. In the 2024-2025 financial year, 276,000 people reached out to Beyond Blue. The feedback Beyond Blue receives demonstrated people felt less distressed, able to receive the information they had seeked & were allowed to feel that they were being heard and understood all resulting in them feeling more hopeful as well.

Beyond Blue will be given an online or face-to-face awareness raising campaign opportunity. Other benefits offered to Beyond Blue, subject to City Of Sydney approval, include:

• on-site activation support opportunity
• speaking opportunities
• fundraising opportunity
• activities associated with the online or face-to-face awareness raising campaign
• marketing material incorporation
• general media opportunities
• other partners’ opportunities leveraging

To support the work of Beyond Blue, Sydney NYE2025 may produce a paid activity which would be operated by Beyond Blue volunteers. All income would be paid directly to Beyond Blue.

It follows a 3-week expression of interest period between 10th of April and the 1st of May with applicants needing to meet the following criteria:

• no religious affiliation
• meet the definitions of charity & charitable purpose under the Charities Act 2013 (Commonwealth)
• official registered charity or public benevolent institution
• holds insurance reasonably required by the City of Sydney
• has an organisational focus that is compatible with City Of Sydney values & explain how this is important for Sydney New Year’s Eve
• demonstrated successful online or face-to-face fundraising experience
• undertakes work which produces significant community benefit

Beyond Blue met these criteria as they “focus on community & fostering positive, collaborative and inclusive environments, empowering people to proactively take charge and get the support they need”.

An evaluation panel of City Of Sydney Life staff recommended them to the City Of Sydney Community Services & Facilities Committee on the 16th of June, who also unanimously recommended them to the full Council on the 23rd of June, with the Council unanimously approving Beyond Blue the same day. By mid-July, the agreement was then signed between the City Of Sydney Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Beyond Blue, formally allowing them to participate in Sydney NYE2025.

Beyond Blue will provide the City with a written report on activities & issue a joint press release with the City following the successful conclusion of Sydney NYE2025.

On June 23, the City Of Sydney Council also requested the City Of Sydney CEO to provide advice to the Council about ways that the Council could encourage local, small & medium-sized not-for-profit organisations to become Sydney NYE charity partners in the future & to report back via the CEO Update.

This announcement was made on August 20.

Back in 1983, Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) was in its 8th edition – a sporadic series of concerts floating around Sydney Harbour with a Midnight Fireworks display on a barge. Violence in the city on the night was common. Cyndi Lauper had just released her hit song Girls Just Want To Have Fun & Sydney NYE was directed by a man, the creator of the event back in 1976, Stephen Hall. It took 29 years after the inception of the event before a woman produced it & 32 years before a woman creative directed it. Now, in 2024, with more women than ever working on the event, they put on an edition that focused entirely on women, whether through current issues like breast cancer or on major historical figures like Barangaroo, they showed Cyndi Lauper‘s 1983 hit is no longer simply a wish but a reality. They helped Sydney welcome in 2025 by showing the world that girls do know how to & can have fun.

At 8:30pm, a Welcome To Country was held as part of the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections (though televised as a video on a few minutes delay). However, the projections were very meaningless without knowing what they were saying. Last year’s had transcripts provided. The message stick presentation from Indigenous elders to the City Of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, was also completely removed this edition.

In the broadcast, roving co-host Concetta Caristo, after partially co-hosting the last 90 minutes of the concert last year, ended up co-hosting all but the first 18 minutes of the broadcast. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation must have been pleased with her co-hosting during Sydney NYE2023. Whilst Zan Rowe was only added to full hosting duties last edition, maybe Concetta Caristo is being lined up as a potential future permanent host?

Calling Country then started at 8:57pm. The live performance started late & thus, ran into the 1st 13 seconds of the fireworks, though on television this was unnoticeable as the rhythm of the finale of Nooky‘s Country’s Calling, performed with Becca Hatch & Kaiit, blended in with the start of the fireworks. The beginning of the fireworks saw the debut of a new western pontoon, which despite the location noted on boating maps was more centred to the middle of the Sydney Harbour Bridge than advertised – all the better! At the same time, the Australian debut of the aerial pyrotechnic platforms (drones) occurred & as expected, they were not on the scale of Paris. However, it was what was expected for its Australian debut – just doing simple shots out into the air in a horizontal alignment of drones – though during the Midnight Fireworks, they went a bit riskier by putting the drones above one another for the final 10 second countdown. A disappointing aspect to the drones was that they were advertised to be in-between the Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House when in reality, they were more north of the Opera House and some, to the north-east of the World Heritage site. Those spectators around Circular Quay looking for the drones may have had their views of this limited by the Sydney Opera House & the Toaster buildings. We understand the drones were lifted off from Man O’War Steps, flying along the eastern side of the Opera House to their show position, about 4 minutes prior to each display.

Shortly after the ‘Calling Country Fireworks’ started, a big surprise happened on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which last year notably lacked any fireworks at 9pm for the 1st time in 15 years. The debut of a new type of waterfall – the pattern waterfall!

Apart from the traditional dripping candle waterfall, which has featured in Sydney fireworks displays since the 1880’s & from the Sydney Harbour Bridge since 1986, the last debut of a waterfall was in 2009, when the Roman candle waterfall made its debut. The pattern waterfall uses precision millisecond timing & slow falling pyrotechnics called “drop comets” to create images as they fall to the water. The 1st image was of a blue shark, which was followed by a yellow shark & then an orange fish. The pattern waterfall returned in the Midnight Fireworks very briefly at the very beginning, in what was probably the biggest start to a new year in Sydney since the Millennium’s famous Big Bang moment. So many fireworks were fired around the Harbour at that moment, it was easy not to see the pattern waterfall. The word ‘Sydney’ fell just a moment after the clock struck Midnight, though from the western side, read back to front but they got Bridge fireworks shooting out to them this year so that makes up for that, even though the hangars weren’t used on that side in the end too. Whilst the word ‘Sydney’ usually appears at the start, the amount of fireworks fired in the moment meant it should have been placed at less crowded moment in the display, given it was its debut.

Last year, the Calling Country projections were found to be shown at other times of the night thus reducing their significance at 9pm. This year, the final 4 minutes were repeated once later in the night at 11:45pm so only the 1st 5 minutes were exclusive to 9pm. The Midnight Fireworks projections were shown throughout the night too this year & apart from their transitions being synchronised to the soundtrack at Midnight, the images during the fireworks had no narrative development after Midnight compared to before Midnight so the projections shouldn’t be considered part of the Midnight Fireworks show. Nevertheless, the pyrotechnic & light element was brilliant as usual.

In the end, for Calling Country, it is still the greatest annual expression of Indigenous creativity & culture on this continent.

The Pink Moment, which was due to begin at a rescheduled (on the morning of the event) 10:25pm, in fact started pretty much on the originally scheduled time but a minute late at 10:01pm – for a ‘2 Hours To Go’ projection, understandably. However, unlike previous Moments that last no more than 5 minutes, this year the Pink Moment lasted until the Robbie Williams Sing-Along just before quarter to Midnight, well past the 30-minute advertised duration. Well, at least on the Sydney Harbour Lights boats. The pylon projections only featured in 2 separate slots – the 1st for 5 minutes at 10:01pm & the 2nd for 2 minutes at 10:55pm. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was also lit pink during these times & for a little bit longer. 10 buildings were advertised to feature in this Moment but excluding the pylons, we didn’t see any light up.

The Robbie Williams Sing-Along also began early by a few minutes & only featured 1 song, Better Man, which clearly was chosen to promote his film of the same name that is currently in cinemas. Despite lyrics being provided on the pylons to help spectators, Robbie managed to humorously change a few of the lyrics, when he sung, to promote his movie. It was disappointing the lyrics weren’t put on the TV broadcast for viewers as it would have brought the actual event closer to the wider audience.

The many schedule changes during this part of the night & even pre-event in the morning made it very confusing to figure out if you had missed a part of the program or not. If the program says 11:45pm, it should be at 11:45pm, not 11:42pm & you shouldn’t change the schedule by 25 minutes, only to have it take place at the originally scheduled time. This obviously can’t happen at Midnight but neither at any other time of the event in any case. It is very inconvenient for spectators, listeners & viewers.

The rest of the event was standard Sydney including the iconic Midnight Fireworks, though the barge finale could have been longer. The TV broadcast was an improvement on last year’s though more of the pyro from the drones (particularly the Midnight countdown) & the western lower arch and catwalk of the Bridge should have been shown, particularly as it was their debut year.

Whilst the spotlights on the barges weren’t very visible in the broadcast, they were there appearing about 2.5 minutes into the Midnight Fireworks & are particularly noticeable after the finale. Their lack of visibility might the reason why they have not been done since the early 1990’s but in 2015, the light show on the Sydney Harbour Bridge was similar poor before reaching perfection the following edition with the light show we still see today so let’s give the City Of Sydney a chance on that.

With more women working on Sydney NYE than ever before & strong links creatively to women through Barangaroo, her fellow fisherwoman & breast cancer, the women of Sydney have shown everyone how to have fun on NYE.

My rating for the Sydney NYE2024 event: 9/10

This post updates.

With the western catwalk, hangars & lower arch of the Sydney Harbour Bridge being used for fireworks for the 1st time ever, crowds have been heading to North Sydney for their prime views of the western side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge around Lavender Bay including in Bradfield Park, on Blues Point & in heritage-listed amusement park, Luna Park, for tonight’s Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks.

As all vantage points in North Sydney are now full, please do not travel into these areas. This happened at 4:28pm AEDT.

This early reaching of capacity in North Sydney is a surprise given the long history & popularity of the event. However, it does show that western Sydney audiences have really been wanting the western half of the Sydney Harbour Bridge to be used for pyrotechnics for a long time, more than organisers realised.

Corresponding to this news, the southern side of the Harbour has been unusually slower in filling up to capacity this year.

The Sydney Central Business District is now full as of 5pm. As of 5:59pm, Barangaroo as well & Observatory Hill Park at 6:38pm. Please do not travel into these areas. However, Dawes Point (Tar-Ra) Park & The Rocks are still not at capacity.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2024 begins at 7:30pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time tonight, the 31st of December.

Tonight’s Pink Moment as part of Sydney New Year’s Eve 2024 has been rescheduled to 10:25pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT).

Originally scheduled for 10pm AEDT, the Pink Moment sees Sydney will glow pink in support of & to raise awareness of the event’s charity partner, the National Breast Cancer Foundation. To honour the 58 people in Australia diagnosed with breast cancer each day, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Harbour Lights parade boats, 10 city buildings, the 6 pyrotechnic barges & the Luna Park Ferris Wheel will be lit pink, remaining that colour for half an hour to celebrate the Foundation’s 30th anniversary.

The National Breast Cancer Foundation was formed in 1994.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon projections during the Pink Moment will include a photo of NBCF Community Ambassador, Tarryn Fowler, accompanied by key breast cancer statistics & the Foundation’s logo.

Sydney New Year’s Eve 2024 begins at 7:30pm AEDT tonight, the 31st of December, with the Pink Moment on at 10:25pm AEDT.

While thousands of extra public transport services will run throughout the day & into the early hours, services close to the Harbour do pause for periods & extensive road closures are in place.

We’re expecting big crowds & it can be a long, hot day so please make sure you’re prepared with water & sun protection.

Celebrate safely by coming into the city centre early on public transport, regularly checking how busy viewing spots are online & planning your trip home.

Stephen Gilby, City Of Sydney Producer

Once again, the eyes of the world will be on Sydney as we ring in the new year & we’re ready for our biggest New Year’s Eve event ever.

Tonight’s spectacular event will feature world-leading fireworks, incredible musicians, spectacular light shows & hours of cutting-edge Sydney Harbour Bridge projections.

Sydney sets the global benchmark for New Year’s Eve & whether you’re joining us along the foreshore or watching on TV, I hope you enjoy the show. Happy New Year!

Clover Moore AO, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

As part of the Sydney New Year’s Eve (NYE) 2024 fireworks displays, for the 1st time ever in Australia, 4 pyrotechnic drones (“aerial pyrotechnic platforms”) will be used.

Replacing 3 pontoons to the east of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the drones will launch around 600 pyrotechnic effects.

The drones will feature in both Calling Country & the Midnight Fireworks.

Pyrotechnic drones have been used around the world since 2021. Mostly seen in the Middle East so far, the 1st prominent display of firework drones was utilised at the 2021 Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile Formula 1 Saudi Arabian Grand Prix:

Golden waterfalls have been used on these aerial pyrotechnic platforms already but the most creative use of these drones so far was held in Paris earlier this year & surprisingly not at The Games Of The 33rd Olympiad! On Bastille Day, the annual fireworks display off the Eiffel Tower & around the Trocadero Gardens, which, since 2019, Sydney Spectaculars has deemed as the best annual pyrotechnic display on earth, was jaw dropping with their use of drones, even if it got repetitive after a while. Themed to the values of the City of Lights, Olympism & Paralympism, the full 20-minute display can be watched below as a preview to the potential these pyrotechnic drones provide to Sydney NYE:

The above Paris display used 1000 drones, not all pyrotechnic drones, while Sydney will use just 4 pyro drones in their Australian debut so don’t expect Paris-sized pyro drone spectacles yet in Sydney.

Anyway, back to the Harbour City. Despite the removal of 3 pontoons on the eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge for these 4 aerial pyrotechnic platforms, 1 pontoon will remain there.

A special waterfall creating the name, ‘Sydney’, will also feature during the fireworks displays. This is highly likely not the traditional ‘streaming candle’ waterfall effect but rather the ‘Roman candle’ waterfall effect that used to feature frequently during the 9pm fireworks. However, it is more likely this ‘Sydney’ waterfall will feature during the Midnight Fireworks.

One of the fish-shaped fireworks will form the shape of sharks. Looking out for the sharks will be fireworks in the shape of fishhooks while accompanying fireworks of emu’s feet are fireworks in the shape of tracks of emus.

The official pyrotechnics provider, Foti International Fireworks, has worked 4500 hours in preparation for the iconic displays, including unpacking 120 tonnes of equipment from 18 shipping containers to link 80 kilometres of wires & cables to 16 computers & 32 firing panels since the 20th of December. On NYE, when 70 staff from the pyrotechnic company will work for the event, 1000 fireworks will be fired off the Sydney Opera House’s western sails while the Sydney Harbour Bridge will feature 30,000 pyrotechnic effects fired from 7500 cues.

The Calling Country Fireworks soundtrack was also revealed to be called Our Greats.

It’s no wonder our New Year’s Eve display is regarded as one of the largest & most technologically advanced fireworks shows on earth.

Every year, the Foti family works its magic to produce an event that continues to be bigger, brighter & more innovative and entertaining.

Clover Moore, City Of Sydney Lord Mayor

We spend weeks meticulously planning the displays to ensure they are perfectly synchronised with each show’s specially created soundtrack.

We work through every segment of the soundtracks – the lyrics, the highs & lows of the music, the breaks & the crescendo – to ensure the display visually matches the mood & energy as perfectly as possible.

We’re always looking at how we can evolve our show & believe this will be one of the most innovative New Year’s Eve displays in the world.

Not only do we have more fireworks than ever before, we’re extremely excited to introduce the aerial platforms concept – the 1st time this has been done in Australian fireworks history.

The introduction of 80 new positions on the Bridge & an additional firing location on the western side has enabled us to extend the footprint of the display & offer people a better view of the fireworks. No matter where you are around the harbour, you’re in for a great show!

Fortunato Foti, Foti International Fireworks Director