Sydney New Year 2027: Countdown & Fireworks
New Year 2027 arrives in Sydney at midnight AEDT (UTC+11) on Friday, January 1, 2027, which is 13:00 UTC on Thursday, December 31, 2026.
until midnight in Sydney (AEDT, UTC+11)
2027 event
Sydney Fireworks 2027
Confirmed Ballots, bookings and ticket sales for New Year's Eve 2026 are already open through links on the City of Sydney's official Sydney New Year's Eve website, and its schedule lists fireworks at 9pm and midnight. Last year's show (New Year's Eve 2025) drew nearly a million people to the harbour, by the City's estimate.
- Event
- Sydney New Year's Eve
- Type
- Fireworks
- Where
- Sydney Harbour
- When
- 00:00 (AEDT), Friday, January 1, 2027
- Also on the night
- 21:00 Calling Country fireworks
- Admission
- Free and ticketed areas
- Tickets
- Ticket information
- Organizer
- City of Sydney
- Watch live
- The ABC is the official TV broadcast partner named by the City of Sydney for New Year's Eve 2026, and the midnight soundtrack is played on KIIS 1065 radio.
Where to watch in Sydney
- Dawes Point (Tar-Ra) Park — Free, no ticket required, open 10am to 1am. Under the Harbour Bridge, with partial fireworks views that get congested during the evening; it reached its 32,000 capacity at 7:30pm on New Year's Eve 2025.
- Mrs Macquarie's Point (Royal Botanic Garden) — Free, no ticket required, open 10am to 12:30am. Great views of both the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House; holds up to 10,000 people, and alcohol is sold on site (no BYO).
- Observatory Hill Park — Free, no ticket required, open 2pm to 1am. Close to the fireworks with a good view of the western side of the Harbour Bridge; steep grassy slopes, and large trees can block views. Holds up to 4,500 people.
- Cremorne Point — Free, no ticket required, open 1pm to 12:30am. Excellent views of the eastern side of the Harbour Bridge; managed by North Sydney Council, with alcohol prohibited.
- Sydney Opera House Forecourt — Free but ticketed through the Sydney Opera House, with tickets released at 10am on 26 December. Holds up to 6,000 people; ticket holders enter between noon and 3pm and latecomers are refused entry.
Getting there
- Public transport is the way to go: the City of Sydney says road closures and parking restrictions make driving to vantage points, or watching from a car, impossible, with thousands of extra services running through the night.
- The official viewing guide says Circular Quay Station closes from 3pm to midnight. Use Wynyard, Martin Place or St James stations for Circular Quay vantage points, or Victoria Cross for North Sydney ones, and allow extra time.
- Full transport and road-closure details for New Year's Eve 2026 are due in November; plan your trip at transportnsw.info/sydney-nye.
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AT A GLANCE
- Timezone
- Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT)
- UTC Offset
- UTC+11
- Midnight arrives
- Friday, January 1, 2027 at 12:00 AM AEDT
- Celebration order
- 2nd of 37 cities to celebrate (same time as Melbourne)
How Sydney celebrates
Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks over the Harbour Bridge are among the world's first and most watched, drawing nearly a million people on New Year's Eve 2025, by the City of Sydney's estimate, and audiences watching around the world.
Fireworks are launched from the Harbour Bridge itself and from platforms on the harbour, creating a 360-degree spectacle above the Opera House; on New Year's Eve 2025 the midnight display ran for about 12 minutes. A family-friendly fireworks show at 9 PM precedes the main event.
New Year's Eve falls during Australian summer, so conditions are warm and perfect for outdoor celebrations. Top vantage points include Mrs Macquarie's Point, Cremorne Point and Dawes Point. Most of the official vantage points are free and first come, first served, while a few need a free ticket or ballot and some are paid.
Frequently asked questions
Will there be fireworks in Sydney for New Year 2027?
Yes. The City of Sydney's official Sydney New Year's Eve website already links to registrations, ballots and ticket sales for New Year's Eve 2026, and its schedule lists fireworks at 9pm and midnight. In September the Lord Mayor said more than one million people are predicted to head to the harbour.
Do I need a ticket to watch the Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks?
Not always. Most of the 48 official vantage points are free and first come, first served, such as Dawes Point, Mrs Macquarie's Point, Observatory Hill and Cremorne Point. A few free sites need a ticket or ballot, such as the Sydney Opera House Forecourt and the Cahill Expressway, and others are paid, such as Taronga Zoo and Luna Park. Check each site's listing on the official website.
What time are the Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks?
There are two shows: the family-friendly Calling Country fireworks at 9pm and the main fireworks at midnight. The City's schedule also lists a smoking ceremony at 7.30pm, Harbour Bridge pylon projections from 8.30pm and a Welcome to Country at 8.45pm. Last year's midnight show (New Year's Eve 2025) had a 12-minute soundtrack; this year's length has not been announced.
What time is New Year in Sydney?
New Year arrives in Sydney at midnight Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11). In 2027, that is 13:00 UTC on December 31, 2026.
Why does Sydney celebrate New Year before most cities?
Sydney is in one of the world's earliest time zones. On New Year's Eve, Sydney observes AEDT (UTC+11), making it among the first major cities to reach midnight on January 1.
Where are the best places to watch Sydney's New Year fireworks?
Popular vantage points include Dawes Point, Observatory Hill, Mrs Macquarie's Point, Cremorne Point and the Sydney Opera House Forecourt. Most of the official vantage points listed on the Sydney New Year's Eve website are free and first come, first served; a few need a free ticket or ballot (such as the Opera House Forecourt and the Cahill Expressway) and some are paid.
What time zone is Sydney on New Year's Eve?
Sydney observes Australian Eastern Daylight Time (AEDT, UTC+11) on New Year's Eve, as December falls during Australian summer when Daylight Saving Time is in effect.
Is Sydney one of the first or last cities to celebrate New Year?
Among the 37 cities on this site, Sydney is the 2nd to reach midnight, at the same time as Melbourne. At UTC+11, it celebrates relatively early in the global celebration window.
Where do people celebrate New Year's Eve in Sydney?
A focal point for New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney: Sydney Harbour Bridge. See the where-to-watch list above for more places.
What time should I tune in to watch Sydney's New Year celebration?
Midnight arrives in Sydney at 12:00 AM AEDT (UTC+11) on Friday, January 1, 2027. The main moment of Sydney New Year's Eve is scheduled for midnight (00:00 AEDT) on Friday, January 1, 2027. The ABC is the official TV broadcast partner named by the City of Sydney for New Year's Eve 2026, and the midnight soundtrack is played on KIIS 1065 radio.
What time is the family fireworks in Sydney?
Sydney holds a family-friendly fireworks show at 9:00 PM AEDT on New Year's Eve, three hours before the main midnight display. This earlier show is designed for families with young children who may not stay up until midnight.
Sources
- Preparing for the biggest night of the year (media release, 1 September 2026) — City of Sydney
- Sydney New Year's Eve: schedule (9pm and midnight fireworks) — City of Sydney
- Vantage points (48 locations, hours and capacity) — City of Sydney
- Ticketed vantage points (paid and free tickets) — City of Sydney
- Fireworks viewing guide — City of Sydney
- Media centre (TV broadcast partner) — City of Sydney
- Public transport — City of Sydney
- Road closures — City of Sydney
- A huge crowd unites for a memorable start to 2026 (media release) — City of Sydney
- Sydney unites to farewell 2025 (media release, 29 December 2025) — City of Sydney
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