For the first time in over ten years, Bondi Beach will be home to a large-scale New Year’s Eve music festival, set to welcome up to 15,000 people and create a new local tradition that blends celebration with community spirit.
A Fresh Start for Bondi Celebrations
After a decade-long break, Waverley Council has approved a new Bondi Beach New Year’s Eve festival. Local promoters Fuzzy, known for events like Listen Out and Field Day, will lead the celebration, the first major NYE event since Shore Thing ended in 2014.
The event is planned to run from early evening into the night on 31 December, 2025. Festivalgoers can expect music, food and a strong local presence, with organisers promising to make this a respectful and inclusive event for both residents and visitors.
Balancing Fun With Community Needs
To avoid disruption, Fuzzy’s plan includes controls for crowd flow, transport and noise. A nearby family zone will feature food trucks, local acts and a 9 p.m. fireworks show for residents and early-goers.
Local officials say the goal is to reintroduce NYE events in a way that respects the needs of the Bondi community. According to Waverley Councillor Michelle Stephenson, the festival is intended to be “inclusive and safe,” with added value for locals, not just tourists.
Learning From the Past
The new festival draws on lessons from the 2014 Shore Thing event, which ended over crowd and noise concerns. Fuzzy and the council plan to improve logistics and involve the local community.
Bondi Beach has a rich history of music events, including a performance from DJ Carl Cox during the 1999–2000 New Year. Organisers hope the new format will bring back the energy without the issues of the past.
A Cultural and Economic Boost
The return of a structured NYE event is expected to boost Bondi’s hospitality and retail sectors, encouraging locals to celebrate nearby instead of heading elsewhere.
Fuzzy plans to hire local performers and work with community groups to ensure Bondi’s identity is reflected in the event. Planning is still ongoing, but the council’s decision gives organisers the green light to start building what they hope will become an annual celebration.
Published 5-May-2025