PLAN AHEAD AND CELEBRATE SAFELY THIS NEW YEAR‘S EVE
Monday, 29 December 2025
As hundreds of thousands of people take to Melbourne’s CBD to ring in the new year, the Victorian Government is working with Victoria Police, emergency services and local councils to keep those celebrating safe.
Acting Minister for Police Enver Erdogan today joined City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece and emergency services organisations to announce the safety measures being put in place to ensure everyone enjoying the festivities gets home safe.
New Year’s Eve celebrations regularly bring about 500,000 people to Melbourne’s CBD – more people than at any other time – and this year the city will ring in 2026 with a fireworks and laser display across 27 rooftops.
Additional security will be monitoring the city, with seven kilometres of fencing in place to manage crowds in key areas of the CBD.
There will be major changes to regular traffic and pedestrian access on the night to ensure crowds can move around safely, including closures on Swanston Street/St Kilda Road and Flinders Street between Market Street and Exhibition Street.
Police will be present throughout the night, with uniformed and plain-clothed officers conducting extra patrols focusing on antisocial behaviour and violence.
Police and protective service officers (PSOs) will be patrolling the city’s transport hubs and entertainment precincts to ensure community safety and conduct weapon searches.
St Kilda’s foreshore and Geelong’s CBD have also been declared designated areas for weapon searches for the evening.
Police will have a strong presence on Victorian roads, targeting motorists who are drug and alcohol affected, speeding and driving dangerously through Operation Roadwise.
Families are encouraged to make use of the four free family-friendly Celebration Zones at Flagstaff Gardens, Treasury Gardens, Kings Domain and Docklands – which will feature DJs, dance workshops, live entertainment and fireworks displays from 9.30pm.
Plan ahead by checking road closures and detours at nye.melbourne.vic.gov.au.
Quotes attributable to Acting Minister for Police Enver Erdogan
“New Year’s Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year and we’re making sure Victorians can safely ring in the new year no matter where they are celebrating from.”
“Victoria Police and PSOs will be present during festivities to protect the community — however it’s important to remember to plan ahead and look out for each other so we can all celebrate safely.”
Quotes attributable to City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Nicholas Reece
“No one puts on a show like Melbourne and the best of our city will be on display. New Year’s Eve is our biggest night of the year, it’s when our city truly sparkles with mesmerising fireworks, laser shows and family-friendly celebrations.”
“We want everyone to ring in the new year in style, we also want people to play it safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead, get in early and follow advice from transport and emergency services.”
