The many thousands of people who gathered in and around Sydney on New Year's Eve experienced a celebration marked by a large deployment of heavily armed police.
A total of over 2,500 police officers, both in uniform and plainclothes, patrolled the city, according to ABC News.
At the Sydney Harbour Bridge, which hosts a lavish fireworks display at midnight every year, the huge crowd gathered for a minute's silence shortly before the celebration to honor the 15 people who were killed at the iconic Bondi Beach on December 14.
When the minute of silence was over, a white dove and the words “peace” and “unity” were projected over the bridge.
Bondi also showed us the best side of the Australian spirit, with all its courage and all its compassion, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in his New Year's address.
Pacific nations such as Kiribati and New Zealand were among the first to ring in 2026, followed later by Sydney, Seoul and Tokyo, with celebrations stretching as far as Edinburgh's traditional Hogmanay street party and on to a glittering New York.
