Hundreds of thousands of people in Sydney and across regional NSW came together for Australia Day events and activities on 26 January 2025.

Inspirational Australians including former NRL player Corey Payne, TV presenter Catriona Rowntree, inventor Professor Veena Sahajwalla, flautist Jane Rutter and Paralympian Taylor Corry took part in events across NSW as Australia Day Ambassadors on 26 January 2025.

They travelled to all corners of the state, from Bega Valley to Blacktown and Griffith to Glen Innes, participating in citizenship ceremonies welcoming new Australians, community festivals, cultural performances and charity events.

Destination NSW delivered the Australia Day in Sydney program, which invited families, friends and communities to reflect, respect and celebrate.

From dawn and into the night, the program invited everyone to mark the day in their own way.

Events such as the Dawn Reflection and WugulOra Morning Ceremony encouraged the community to reflect and respect our shared history and First Nations cultures.

Throughout the day, Sydney’s harbour hosted activities that celebrated the Australian spirit as well as the strength, diversity and generosity of its community.

The Ferrython, a crowd favourite, saw thousands of spectators line the shores of Sydney Harbour to cheer on four of the city’s iconic Emerald Class ferries as they competed for honours in a race across the waves.

The program concluded with Australia Day Live 2025, a concert staged on land and water, filled with music, lights and fireworks.

Set against the backdrop of Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge, the line-up of Australian artists included Dragon, Paulini and Sheppard.