Sydney New Year’s Eve 2026

If you’re planning to ring in 2026 with the fireworks over Sydney Harbour — but don’t want to splurge on expensive tickets — you’re in luck. Several vantage points around the harbour are free and open to the public (on a first-come, first-served basis).

Some of the key free / unticketed vantage points:

• Observatory Hill Park — panoramic views across the harbour.
• Pirrama Park, Giba Park, Embarkation Park — managed by the City of Sydney, free entry.
• Broader harbour-foreshore areas: including select parks and open-air vantage points.
• Even some popular areas such as Barangaroo Reserve, West Circular Quay (including First Fleet Park), Campbells Cove, Hickson Road Reserve, and certain sections of the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney and The Domain — are scheduled to be free again this year.

The free access is a return to earlier years’ arrangements — following the recent removal of paid-entry requirements at many government-owned vantage sites.