Plan your Melbourne NYE 2026
Fireworks times, the run sheet for the night, free public transport, road and bridge closures, accessibility and what to bring.
Fireworks times & the night's schedule
Times and closures are based on the 2025 event. The City of Melbourne publishes the final 2026 program at nye.melbourne.vic.gov.au closer to the night.
Road closures begin around the CBD from about 4pm, and access to the Docklands Victoria Harbour Promenade is restricted (2025).
Free public transport starts statewide. The Celebration Zones open with DJs, silent discos, dance workshops and food trucks.
Northbank and Southbank pedestrian bridges and Sandridge Bridge close for the night (2025).
Family fireworks, made for kids and early nights.
Swanston Street from Hamer Hall to Collins Street, including Princes Bridge, and parts of Flinders Street close to pedestrians (2025).
The midnight fireworks and lasers launch from rooftops across the city skyline to welcome 2027.
Celebration Zones close. Allow time for the crowds to clear.
Free public transport keeps running. Flinders Street and Southern Cross stay open all night (2025).
Getting there: free public transport
Public transport is the best way in and out of the city on New Year's Eve. In 2025, all Victorian public transport was free from 6pm on 31 December until 6am on 1 January, so you didn't need to touch on with a myki. Hundreds of extra trains, trams and buses ran through the night, with trains every 10–20 minutes in the evening and after midnight.
- Plan your trip on ptv.vic.gov.au and check the special NYE timetable.
- In 2025, Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations stayed open all night, and Parliament, Flagstaff and Melbourne Central were open until 3am. The new Metro Tunnel stations closed from 7pm.
- Many CBD tram stops close from mid-afternoon. Allow extra time and have a back-up station in mind.
- After midnight, expect queues. Wait for the first wave to clear before heading for the station.
Road and bridge closures
In 2025, CBD road closures began around 4pm, with restricted access to the Docklands Victoria Harbour Promenade. From 7pm the Northbank and Southbank pedestrian bridges and Sandridge Bridge closed, and from 10:30pm Swanston Street between Hamer Hall and Collins Street (including Princes Bridge) and Flinders Street between Elizabeth and Russell Streets closed to pedestrians. Taxis and rideshare are hard to find near the city, so if you have to drive, park well outside the CBD and finish by public transport.
Alcohol rules
The City of Melbourne's New Year's Eve is an alcohol-free event and fines apply, including in every Celebration Zone. Other councils set their own rules: Footscray Park's event is alcohol-free, Hobsons Bay has alcohol-free zones in Williamstown, and glass is banned on the St Kilda foreshore. For a drink with a view, book a licensed venue, party or NYE cruise.
Accessibility
In 2025 all Celebration Zones were accessible and had accessible toilets, though the grassy, sloping ground at Flagstaff Gardens, Treasury Gardens and Kings Domain can be harder to get around. Registered service animals are allowed (fireworks noise can affect them), and staff are trained to help people wearing the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower. Many venues in our directory have step-free access. Contact the venue to confirm.
Safety & wellbeing
- Drink plenty of water. It can be a hot day and a long night.
- Agree on a meeting point with your group.
- Expect a large police presence. In 2025 the CBD and St Kilda foreshore were designated search areas.
- Follow police and staff directions, and look after your mates.
Planning FAQ
What time are the Melbourne New Year's Eve fireworks in 2026?
Based on recent years, there are two displays on Thursday 31 December 2026: family-friendly fireworks at 9:30pm and the main fireworks at midnight to welcome 2027. In 2025 the midnight show used fireworks and lasers on 27 rooftops across the city skyline, designed to be seen from all over Melbourne. The City of Melbourne confirms the 2026 program closer to the night.
Is public transport free on New Year's Eve in Melbourne?
In 2025, all Victorian public transport was free from 6pm on New Year's Eve until 6am on New Year's Day, with extra trains, trams and buses running all night. Flinders Street and Southern Cross stations stayed open all night, while Parliament, Flagstaff and Melbourne Central were open until 3am. Check ptv.vic.gov.au for the confirmed 2026 arrangements closer to the date.
Can I bring alcohol to the Melbourne fireworks?
No, not to the official event. The City of Melbourne's New Year's Eve is an alcohol-free event and fines apply, so the Celebration Zones are alcohol-free. Other councils set their own rules: Footscray Park's event is alcohol-free, and St Kilda's foreshore has a glass ban. Licensed venues, cruises and parties are the way to have a drink.
What are the best family-friendly NYE options in Melbourne?
The 9:30pm fireworks are made for kids. The free Celebration Zones have family entertainment, food trucks and accessible toilets, Footscray Park runs its own 9:30pm fireworks with lost-kids wristbands, and there are family twilight cruises and early dinner sittings with kids' prices at Ludlow, BearBrass, Byblós and Ruby Riviera.
Selling NYE tickets in Melbourne?
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