Sydney welcomes New Year with tribute to Bondi attack victims

SYDNEY: Sydney ushered in 2026 with its spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks, held under heightened security, weeks after a mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah event claimed 15 lives.

The city’s iconic celebrations featured 40,000 pyrotechnic effects stretching over seven kilometres across the Harbour, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House. At 11:00 p.m. local time, organisers held a minute of silence for the victims, with the Harbour Bridge illuminated in white and a menorah projected onto its pylons.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said ahead of the event: “After a tragic end to the year for our city, we hope that New Year’s Eve will provide an opportunity to come together and look with hope for a peaceful and happy 2026.”

The father-and-son gunmen allegedly carried out the attack on December 14, Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in almost 30 years. The tragedy shook the nation and raised concerns about rising antisemitism.

Traditional Christmas celebrations at Bondi were subdued this year, and several planned New Year events there were cancelled.

Around 3,000 police personnel, some armed with long guns, were deployed across the city to manage the crowds, which normally attract over a million revelers.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said: “We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we’re not going to be cowed by this kind of terrorism, and we’re not going to change the way we live our life in our beautiful city.”

Sydney’s celebrations marked the start of 2026 with a mix of remembrance, resilience and hope, reflecting the city’s determination to maintain its festive spirit despite recent tragedy.