Sydney welcomes 2026 new year with spectacular fireworks display

Sydney welcomed the start of 2026 on Thursday (January 1) with the city's biggest ever fireworks display, which featured a waterfall effect falling from the top of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The display covered the largest area to date with more launch sites added on the western side of the bridge and another city centre rooftop, according to organisers. 

The 12-minute spectacular stretched seven kilometres (4.4 miles) along Sydney Harbour and featured 25,000 individual pyrotechnic shots that shaped into cockatoos, koalas, bottle brush and other Australian native plants and animals.

Fireworks were also launched from the Sydney Opera House, six city building rooftops and six aerial pyrotechnic platforms hovering above the water.

According to organisers, the display used nine tonnes of fireworks shot from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, city centre buildings and eight platforms on the harbour.

-Stefica Bikesh/Reuters