At New Year’s Event, Sydney Holds Memorial for Bondi Chanukah Victims

Sydney entered the new year with a public memorial for the victims of the deadly Chanukah attack at Bondi Beach, pausing its globally known new year’s eve celebrations to honor the 15 people killed in the December 14 shooting.

At 11 p.m. local time, organizers called for a minute of silence across the city. As crowds gathered along the harbor, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was illuminated in white, and a menorah was projected onto its pylons, creating a visual centerpiece for the tribute. Many in attendance turned on their mobile phone flashlights as the city fell quiet ahead of the midnight fireworks.

This event is typically defined by spectacle, drawing international attention for fireworks that stretch across the harbor. This year, however, the tone was markedly different, with the memorial placed at the heart of the evening’s program.

In a video message released in connection with the New Year’s Eve commemorations, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the night reflected the country’s mixed emotions following the Bondi Beach attack. “Right now, the joy that we usually feel at the start of a new year is tempered by the sadness of the old,” Albanese said. He added that “our hearts ache for every life lost, and every life changed forever.”

Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the tribute was intended to allow the city to come together after the violence. “After a tragic end to the year for our city, we hope that New Year’s Eve will provide an opportunity to come together and look with hope for a peaceful and happy 2026,” Moore said ahead of the ceremony.

Security was visibly heightened during the evening, with around 3,000 police deployed across Sydney, some carrying long arms, as authorities sought to reassure the public during one of the city’s largest annual gatherings.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the city would not allow the attack to define its future. “We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we’re not going to be cowed by this kind of terrorism, and we’re not going to change the way we live our life in our beautiful city,” Minns said.