Australia is gearing up to celebrate its first unrestricted New Year’s Eve after two years of COVID disruptions, with more than a million revelers expected to flock to Sydney Harbor and watch an elaborate fireworks display.
Sydney is one of the first major cities in the world to ring in the New Year and attracts huge television audiences from around the world, with a public countdown and fireworks display over its iconic Opera House.
Lockdowns in late 2020 and a spike in Omicron cases in late 2021 led to crowd restrictions and reduced festivities. However, the restrictions on the celebrations were lifted this year after Australia, like many countries around the world, reopened its borders and lifted social distancing restrictions.
“This New Year’s Eve we are saying Sydney is back as we kick off festivities around the world and bring in the New Year with a bang,” said Clover Moore, Mayor of Sydney.
“2022 has been another year of significant challenges as we continue to work to recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, but tonight we put the year behind us and look forward to 2023 with hope.”
A rainbow of colors will light up Sydney Harbour, with 2,000 fireworks launching from the four sails of the Sydney Opera House and 7,000 fireworks from more positions on the Sydney Harbor Bridge than ever before.
For the first time in 12 years, fireworks will be launched from the roofs of four buildings to frame the spectacular spectacle, organizers said.
Before the pandemic, more than a million people joined the festivities in Sydney while a billion viewers tuned in from other parts of the world.
