Sydney marked the start of 2026 with a minute of silence for the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach shooting before a nine-tonne fireworks display lit the harbour. Large crowds and heightened security accompanied New Year events across the globe, while Hong Kong cancelled its show following a deadly November fire. Looking ahead, 2026 will feature NASA’s planned Artemis II lunar flyby, the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics and a 48-nation FIFA World Cup, even as economic and geopolitical uncertainties persist.
Sydney Pauses for Bondi Victims Before Dazzling Fireworks Welcome 2026
A security guard walks past a New Year's greeting banner in Hanoi (Nhac NGUYEN)(Nhac NGUYEN/AFP/AFP)
New Year celebrations in Sydney on Wednesday night were marked by a sombre pause as crowds observed a minute of silence for the 15 victims of the Bondi Beach shooting, before nine tonnes of fireworks lit up the harbour to usher in 2026.
Thousands of heavily armed officers monitored the shoreline as hundreds of thousands gathered near the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge, which was bathed in white light as a symbol of peace. The minute of silence took place about an hour before midnight, dampening the usual festival atmosphere but underscoring a communal moment of grief and remembrance.
"Right now, the joy that we usually feel at the start of a new year is tempered by the sadness of the old," Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a video message.
At midnight, a nine-tonne fireworks display transformed the harbour skyline. Visitors celebrated amid a heavy security presence. "The fireworks have always been on my bucket list and I'm so happy to be here," said Susana Suisuikli, an English tourist watching the show.
Global New Year Observances
Pacific nations including Kiribati and New Zealand were among the first to welcome 2026, followed by celebrations in Seoul, Tokyo and Sydney, with festivities continuing later in New York and across Europe at events such as Scotland’s Hogmanay. Rio de Janeiro expected more than two million people at Copacabana Beach for what officials describe as the world’s largest New Year party.
In Hong Kong, authorities cancelled a major fireworks display over Victoria Harbour to honour the 161 people who died in a November blaze that destroyed several apartment blocks.
Looking Back at 2025
People around the world raised glasses to mark the end of 2025, a year shaped by extreme heat, major geopolitical developments and headline-grabbing events. Key stories included a wide tariff programme enacted by the US administration that roiled global markets, a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas brokered under international pressure, and the continuing war in Ukraine that has entered its fourth year.
The year also saw cultural and scientific moments — a renewed wave of interest in collectibles and pop culture trends, a high-profile robbery at the Louvre, and the passing of pioneering primatologist Jane Goodall. The Vatican elected a new pope, and public debate intensified over economic strain and political polarization in many countries.
"The economic situation is also very dire, and I'm afraid I'll be left without income," said Ines Rodriguez, a 50-year-old merchant in Mexico City, reflecting widespread anxieties about employment and inflation heading into 2026.
What to Watch in 2026
The year ahead promises major sporting and scientific highlights and continuing debate over emerging technologies. NASA plans the Artemis II crewed lunar flyby — a planned 10-day mission that would mark a return of humans to deep-space crewed flight more than five decades after Apollo. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence faces increased regulatory scrutiny as investors and policymakers reassess rapid growth in the sector.
Athletes will gather in Italy for the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics in February, and in June and July a 48-nation FIFA World Cup staged across the United States, Mexico and Canada will be the largest in history — possibly a final global showcase for long-standing stars.
As the world moves into 2026, many governments and communities are balancing celebration with caution: commemorating loss, reinforcing security, and watching closely for economic and geopolitical shifts that could shape the year ahead.
bur-pbt/tw/st
