The New Year’s Eve display on Sydney Harbour Bridge will begin with a tribute to the 15 innocent lives lost in the Bondi Beach massacre on December 14.
At 9pm on New Year’s Eve, the Harbour Bridge will be lit up in white and the image of a dove with the word ‘peace’ will be projected onto it.
Large crowds gathered to watch the famous midnight fireworks will be asked to pause for a moment of silence to honour the Bondi Beach victims and condemn antisemitism.
On Sunday, December 14, Sydney was rocked by a terror attack on a Jewish festival near Bondi Pavilion celebrating the first night of Hanukkah.
Naveed Akram is accused of opening fire on the crowd at the family event alongside his father, Sajid Akram.
They allegedly killed 15 people and injured dozens more – several of whom remain in hospital.
Sajid was fatally shot by police. Naveed woke from a coma in the days after and has been charged with 59 offences – including terrorism charges.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the dove display would allow the city a moment to reflect on the hundreds of lives that were changed that day.
This year’s 9pm firework display on the Sydney Harbour Bridge will feature a tribute to the 15 innocent lives lost in the Bondi Shooting (pictured, the Bondi Beach memorial on Sunday)
The Sydney Harbour Bridge will be turned bright white and feature the image of a dove with the word peace (pictured, last year’s New Year’s Eve fireworks display)
‘While we are still reeling from the recent tragic events in Bondi, New Year’s Eve provides an opportunity to gather as a community, to pause and reflect, and to look with hope for a safer and more peaceful 2026,’ she said.
The crowd at the New Year’s Eve event, expected to be more than one million people, has been encouraged to light a torch to honour the attack victims.
‘I invite everyone to pause and shine a torch light to show the Jewish community that we stand with them and that we reject violence, fear and antisemitism,’ Moore said.
‘These moments will provide an opportunity for people to show respect, to reflect on the atrocity and to say we will not let this hateful act of terror divide us.’
The tribute will not cancel the planned 9pm firework display, Calling Country.
Indigenous organisation We Are Warriors have organised the display, set to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.
Sydney Harbour Bridge will turn blue from 10pm in recognition of the event’s charity partner, Beyond Blue.
‘Staying connected is an important step towards healing after a traumatic event and social support is one of the most meaningful things we can offer and receive right now,’ Beyond Blue CEO Georgie Harman said.
In light of the recent terror attack, security and police presence at the New Year’s Eve fireworks event and Sydney CBD will be dramatically increased.
