A celebratory moment turned more somber as Australia welcomed 2026.
Ahead of Sydney's festivities to ring in the New Year, attendees held a moment of silence to remember the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting, in which two gunmen fatally shot 15 people and wounded 40 others at the Sydney Jewish festival at the popular beach on Dec. 14.
At 11 p.m. local time on Dec. 31, the Sydney crowd was watching a fireworks display over the Harbor Bridge when a menorah was projected onto the structure’s pylons along with the words "peace" and "unity." In response, those in attendance held up their phone flashlights in solidarity.
An hour later, the city rang in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display. The show, titled "Calling Country," was dedicated to the country’s Indigenous history.
Thousands of armed police officers were present at the event to ensure its safety following the attack.
