Sydney‘s biggest New Year’s Day party is in full swing, with grey skies and drizzle failing to dampen the spirits of thousands of festival-goers flooding The Domain.
By mid-afternoon, the grounds were alive with bold colours, dazzling outfits and barely-there outfits as revellers shrugged off the wet weather to welcome 2026 in true Sydney style.
Gates swung open at midday, and crowds quickly transformed the city’s iconic park into a shimmering sea of sequins, glitter and festival chic.
Now entrenched as a staple on Sydney’s New Year calendar, Field Day promises a marathon session of music and revelry right through until 11pm.
British dance icon Carl Cox tops the bill tonight, joined by Italian techno powerhouse Deborah De Luca, Danish maestro Kölsch and much-loved house DJ Patrick Topping.
Local favourites The Presets and Bag Raiders lead the homegrown lineup, with a strong supporting cast of both international and Australian talent set to keep the crowd moving.
This year, though, it’s not just the music taking centre stage, with Field Day making headlines for its focus on safety.
In a first for the event, the NSW Government has rolled out voluntary drug testing as part of a new harm minimisation initiative.
Festival-goers have descended on The Domain for the Field Day music festival
Up to 20,000 people are expected to attend the festival in Sydney
Police officers are seen at the entrance to the festival
Many braced the wet and windy conditions for a day of music and fun
Gates opened at midday on New Year’s Day
The music festival will be held from midday until 11pm at The Domain
Spirits were high as thousands of revellers arrived at the festival on Thursday
One man opted to wear a furry pink animal hat to the festivities
The park quickly became a sea of sequins and bright colours as revellers arrived
Field Day promises a marathon session of music and revelry right through until 11pm
British dance icon Carl Cox tops the bill tonight
Local favourites The Presets and Bag Raiders will lead the homegrown lineup
Many will spend New Year’s Day listening to local and international acts at The Domain
These revellers decided to wear matching outfits for the occasion
Attendees still dressed in proper festival attire, despite the chilly and damp weather
Gates swung open at midday with crowds dressed in boots to manage the damp ground
The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of thousands of revellers descending on Field Day 2026
Field Day 2026 is first event to offer pill testing in NSW
Revellers can anonymously submit substances for analysis, while on-site health professionals offer confidential advice on risks and where to get help.
The program, recommended by the 2024 NSW Drug Summit, follows a string of overdoses at major music events, including October’s Knockout Festival at Sydney Olympic Park, where at least 14 suspected overdoses were reported.
A Field Day spokesperson said safety remains their top priority.
‘To be among the first nine festivals in NSW to offer this to our festival-goers is a great step toward statewide harm minimisation practices with proven results across the globe,’ they said.
‘We’re grateful to the volunteers and NSW Health for making this a reality at Field Day.’
