Melbourne to celebrate the New Year with Australia’s largest ever drone show

​To celebrate the New Year, Melbourne will host an impressive display of 350 individual drones - Australia’s largest ever drone show - while also aiming to reignite the Docklands precinct.

The Docklands drone swarm will take place across Victoria Harbour, with a seven-minute show running twice on New Year's Eve, before the 9:30pm and midnight fireworks. The swarm will also run twice a night from 3rd – 30th January 2022.

The unique aerial display has been developed by internationally renowned drone art company, Celestial, which delivered Edinburgh's 2020 New Year drone display, as well as a drone art creation for Amnesty International's 60th anniversary.

Celestial Chief Executive and co-founder, Tony Martin advised "the team at Celestial is thrilled to be designing a show-stopping event for Melbourne New Year. Working with celebrated local talent, our aim is to tell a story that takes the audience on a journey from the troubles of a difficult year and into a greener, healthier, happier future."

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp notes "with 350 drones lighting up the sky – this will be one of the first drone shows of this scale to ever take place in the southern hemisphere.

"The Docklands drone swarm will celebrate our love for Melbourne and help reignite the city from New Year's Eve, through to the end of January. For the best view, make your way to Victoria Harbour and support our wonderful venues and local workers."

"Fireworks, street feasts and live music will add to the buzz, and we're thrilled to entice people in to celebrate with us in a safe way."  

Four ticketed celebration zones will be set up throughout the CBD to help manage crowds and adhere to health and safety requirements.

The zones will be at Docklands, Flagstaff Gardens, Alexandra Gardens and Treasury Gardens with family-friendly entertainment from 6pm and localised fireworks shows at 9:30pm and midnight.

Revellers will be entertained by performances throughout the night, including comedy and circus acts, dance workshops, big bands and local DJs, as well as food trucks and a disco light installation.

Following its success last year, the City of Melbourne will again partner with Melbourne Food and Wine Festival to deliver New Year Street Feasts – with eight precincts set to come alive with live music and delicious menus from Melbourne's favourite restaurants. 

Melbourne Food and Wine Festival and Food + Drink Chief Executive, Anthea Loucas Bosha adds "we can't wait to see people lining Melbourne's streets eating and drinking, and being cared for, by our world-class operators as we ring in the New Year."    

The celebration zones will be ticketed and patrons will require to be fully vaccinated to ensure a COVIDSafe event is delivered in line with State Government requirements. Attendance at New Year's Eve Street Feasts will also require patrons to be vaccinated and to have made a booking.

The full New Year's Eve program will launch on 25th November. Tickets to the celebration zones will be awarded through a Ticketek ballot, while tickets to New Year Street Feasts will be on sale via the Melbourne Food and Wine website.

New Year's Eve in the city is being delivered through the $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund – a joint partnership between the City of Melbourne and the Victorian Government.    

New Year Street Feasts will be showcased across eight precincts, including:

• Little Bourke St East: Between Spring and Exhibition, including Liverpool and Crosley St

• Flinders Lane East: Between Exhibition and Russell St

• Flinders Lane West: Between Russell and Swanston St

• Little Collins St: Between Spring St and Exhibition St, including Meyers Place.

• Russell Place

• Cohen Place

• Docklands: New Quay Promenade

• Federation Square