If you’ve just searched “Perth fireworks tonight” or “Elizabeth Quay fireworks”, you’re not alone — and the good news is that the city’s main New Year’s Eve celebrations are set around the Swan River with two fireworks moments to close out 2025 and welcome 2026.
Quick guide (tonight):
• Fireworks times: 8:30pm and midnight
• Main area: Elizabeth Quay and the CBD riverfront
• Best “arrive early” advice: If you want a prime spot near the water, aim to be in place well before the evening show.
The City of Perth has promoted a bigger-than-usual program around Elizabeth Quay and nearby gardens, mixing family-friendly activities, food options and entertainment with the fireworks bookending the night. The easiest way to enjoy it (and get home) is to plan around the two peak surges: the rush before 8:30pm and the crush after midnight.
What time are the Perth New Year’s Eve fireworks?
Per official event listings for the City of Perth celebrations, the fireworks are scheduled for 8:30pm and midnight tonight. The City of Perth has framed the show as a double-display spectacular over Elizabeth Quay. For the cleanest, source-backed timings, check the City’s announcement here: City of Perth: “Double firework spectacular to ring in 2026”.
Transport operators have also published event guidance tied to those exact times, including crowd-management rules after the 8:30pm display and after midnight. You can read the Transperth event page here: Transperth: Perth CBD New Year’s Eve services 2025–26.
Best places to watch: Elizabeth Quay and nearby riverfront spots
If you want the classic “city lights + river + fireworks” view, Elizabeth Quay is the headline location — but it’s not the only place to get a strong sightline without elbow-to-elbow stress.
- Elizabeth Quay promenade: Great atmosphere, close to food and facilities. The trade-off is density — it fills quickly.
- Near the footbridge / inlet edges: Often a favourite for photos because the skyline frames neatly behind the bursts.
- Barrack Square / river edge near the ferry area: A useful alternative if the Quay itself is packed.
- Supreme Court Gardens: Typically more family-friendly, with space to settle if you arrive early.
- Across the water (South Perth foreshore-style viewpoints): If you prefer a wider skyline view, watching from across the river can feel less hectic — but expect parking limits and walking.
The simplest rule: if you care about a “front row” river position, treat the 8:30pm fireworks as the first big deadline. Many families lock in a spot well ahead of time and stay through to midnight.
Transport tips that matter tonight (read this before you leave)
On nights like this, the “best” viewing spot is the one you can actually exit without getting stuck. Public transport is usually your friend — but it comes with specific station rules designed to separate passenger flows after the earlier show.
Key Transperth instruction after the 8:30pm fireworks:
• Yanchep Line passengers must board trains from Perth Underground Station.
• Only Mandurah Line passengers can board from Elizabeth Quay Station.
(Source: Transperth’s Perth CBD New Year’s Eve event guidance.)
That detail sounds small, but it can save you a lot of time: if you head to the wrong station entrance after the 8:30pm crowd surge, you may be redirected or face longer waits. For midnight, plan as if you’ll be walking a little — even if you came in by train — because pedestrian routes can bottleneck around key crossings.
Other practical tips that help tonight:
- Choose your “exit direction” early: If you’re on the Quay foreshore, decide whether you’ll leave via Elizabeth Quay Station or walk back toward the CBD before the final countdown.
- Keep your group together: Mobile networks can slow down in dense crowds; pick a simple meeting point before the fireworks.
- Go light: Big bags slow you down and make moving through crowds harder.
- Expect road closures / limited pick-up zones: Rideshare pick-ups can be messy near the river; walking a few blocks inland often makes it faster.
If you’re going with kids: the “early show” strategy
Many parents treat the 8:30pm fireworks as the main event. It’s late enough to feel like a celebration, early enough to avoid the roughest post-midnight crush, and easier for little ones who won’t make it to 12.
If you do stay for midnight with kids, pick a spot with a calmer escape route — Supreme Court Gardens-style open areas can be less intense than the tightest river-edge pinch points, especially when the crowd starts moving all at once.
You may also like: More Australia and New Year updates on Swikblog.
Written by Swikblog Desk | About Us
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