Earlier this year, it was announced that Bondi would host a ticketed, over-18s New Year’s Eve festival with capacity for up to 15,000 people, alongside a free, family-friendly community event in the area. The celebrations were set to be produced by Fuzzy, the Sydney-based promoters behind major festivals including Field Day and Harbourlife, and would have marked Bondi’s biggest NYE event since 2013.
The event has now been cancelled following the devastating terror attack that has shaken Bondi and the local Jewish community, claiming 15 lives and leaving more than a dozen people injured.
Confirming the decision, a Waverley Council spokesperson said, “Due to the current situation on the ground, Waverley Council has made the decision to cancel New Year’s Eve events at Bondi Beach.”
In a statement shared on their website, event promoters Fuzzy said, “We know thousands from our community, Australia and abroad were looking forward to seeing New Year’s Eve return to Bondi Beach for the first time in over a decade, but in Bondi we look out for each other, especially in moments of heartbreak. When the time is right, we will come back together with the same spirit of care, connection and joy that defines us.”
Information for ticket holders
The cancellation applies to both the ticketed festival and the free community events that had been planned for the area. All ticketholders have been contacted directly, with full refunds being automatically processed back to the original payment method.
The cancellation comes as authorities and organisers reassess festive programming across Sydney following the attack, with several events adjusted or called off in the lead-up to the holiday period, including fireworks at Darling Harbour this Saturday. Christmas lights across the city have also been replaced with white lights as a gesture of solidarity during Chanukah.
Read more about the cancellation here.