A series of special tributes will feature in tonight’s Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks including acknowledgements to frontline workers and the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s 90th birthday.
With just hours to go, the countdown is underway until one of the world’s largest fireworks spectacular begins and heralds the start of a new year of hope for Australians and those watching around the world.
Sydney will look to uphold its reputation as the world’s New Year’s Eve capital with a celebration of the world’s oldest living culture, pylon projections, lighting effects and two fireworks displays above Sydney Harbour.
“No one does New Year’s Eve quite like Sydney,” Lord Mayor Clover Moore said.
“If you have a booking at a restaurant or a free ticket to one of our harbourside parks, come in and enjoy what Sydney has to offer.
“For those staying home, they’ll be able to ring in the new year with the fireworks airing on ABC and iView.
“2021 has been very challenging, and it’s still presenting challenges even now. But this New Year’s Eve will mark the beginning of what we hope will be an entirely new year – for us, and for the world.”
In keeping with tradition, the night’s celebrations will kick off with a smoking ceremony around the harbour, paying homage to the beauty and richness of our First Nations’ cultural practices.
Animations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander dancers will light up the pylons as part of a unique Welcome to Country curated by Blak Douglas. As the countdown to the 9pm Welcome to Country fireworks begins, 10 black and white images of distinguished local First Nations custodians will be beamed onto the pylons.
The 9pm fireworks are synchronised to an atmospheric soundtrack with a thumping dance beat that perfectly encapsulates Welcome to Country for the extravaganza.
The Welcome to Country will also feature on the ABC TV New Year’s Eve broadcast and outdoor concert at the Sydney Opera House, with live performances by hip hop artists Dobby and Barkaa and Indigenous drag Queen Nana Miss Koori.
At 10pm a blue hue will descend across the harbour and around the foreshore as a special thank you to frontline workers.
Lighting director Ziggy Ziegler said the ‘blue moment’ is a mark of respect and intense admiration for frontline workers and their families.
“We know the hard work and inherent risk our frontline workers face every day and we want to acknowledge that,” Ziggy said.
“So as a ‘thank you’ on New Year’s Eve, the water will glisten as 5,000 lights on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Luna Park Ferris wheel turn a brilliant blue, followed by a soft twinkling blue sparkle in unison with the pylon projections.
“At the same time, other sites around the harbour foreshore will shine with blue lights and projections, bathing Sydney in a swathe of blue to honour our fabulous frontline workers."
An event for frontline workers on the Cahill Expressway is also being organised by Transport for NSW.
The ‘gratitude moment’ will be followed by a tribute to mark the 90th birthday of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, with historic images of the bridge projected on to the pylons.
Also marking significant milestones in the new year will be the City of Sydney’s event charity partner The Smith Family, which turns 100, and broadcast partner ABC TV, which celebrates its 90th anniversary.
At midnight, the fireworks, projections and lighting show will ignite Sydney Harbour in a burst of celebrations to mark the start of the new year.
Six tonnes of fireworks, 25,000 shooting effects, 9,000 aerial shells, 80,000 pyrotechnic effects and more fireworks than ever before will be launched from the top of the Sydney Opera House sails, all synchronised to a soundtrack by The Presets.
The exclusive soundtracks, for the 9pm and midnight fireworks, will also air live on KIIS 1065.
Tickets are essential for many vantage points around the harbour. The City of Sydney’s vantage point map has up-to-date information on where you can view the fireworks.
Local residents and the general public attending the City of Sydney’s vantage points are encouraged to be fully vaccinated, look after one another, wear a mask if you can’t social distance and plan your night.
If you don’t have a vantage point ticket or venue reservation, or are feeling unwell, you are encouraged to stay at home.
For those planning to stay at home, you can see Sydney shine on TV or online. ABC TV will broadcast live from Sydney Harbour at 8.30pm. The 9pm and midnight fireworks will be live streamed at sydneynewyearseve.com/live-stream and on ABC iview.
For full event details visit sydneynewyearseve.com
For media inquiries or images, contact Elaine Kelly. Phone mobile 0477 362 550 or email ekelly@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Jack Begbie.
Phone 0481 759 580 or email lordmayormedia@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For New Year’s event information, visit the Sydney New Year’s Eve website.