At a glance
- When
- Thursday 31 December 2026. Glenelg runs from 6pm to 11:45pm; fireworks synchronised to music at 9:30pm at both Glenelg and Brighton, and a midnight display at Glenelg only (Adelaide time, UTC+10:30)
- Where
- Glenelg Beach, north of the jetty, and the Brighton foreshore
- Cost
- Free and family-friendly, with no alcohol allowed at the event
- Jetties
- The Glenelg Jetty is closed from 12pm on 31 December and reopens by 4am on 1 January; the Brighton Jetty is closed from 12pm and reopens by 1am
- Public transport
- Free travel on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams from 5pm on 31 December until 6am on 1 January, according to the council
- Who it’s for
- Families, people travelling to the beach by public transport, and anyone driving who needs to know which streets close
- What to do now
- Plan to arrive by public transport, book dinner early on Jetty Road, and arrange care for pets that are scared of fireworks
- Last checked
- Tuesday 10 November 2026, against the City of Holdfast Bay NYE at the Bay page
- Not yet confirmed
- The full entertainment program, bus and tram timetables for the night, and wet-weather arrangements
NYE at the Bay is free at Glenelg and Brighton on Thursday 31 December 2026, with family fireworks synchronised to music at 9:30pm at both beaches and a midnight display at Glenelg only. The City of Holdfast Bay says Adelaide Metro travel is free from 5pm on 31 December to 6am on 1 January, the jetties close from 12pm, and Jetty Road in Glenelg is closed from 6pm.
This guide follows the council’s NYE at the Bay page, read on 10 November 2026. The council’s page gives some weekday names that do not match the dates, so we use the dates. We say where the page does not yet answer a question.
What time are the NYE fireworks at Glenelg and Brighton?
| Glenelg Foreshore | Brighton Foreshore | |
|---|---|---|
| DJ set | 6pm to 1am | 6pm to 10pm |
| Family fireworks, synchronised to music | 9:30pm, 7 minutes | 9:30pm, 7 minutes (simulcast with Glenelg) |
| Midnight fireworks | Midnight, 10 minutes | None |
The council lists the event as Thursday 31 December 2026 from 6pm to 11:45pm at Glenelg Beach north of the jetty, with a listing for Friday 1 January 2027 as well. It says both events are free and family-friendly. A full entertainment program has not been published; the council says it will be released.
Will the jetties be closed?
Yes. The council says the Glenelg Jetty will be closed from 12pm on 31 December 2026 and reopen by 4am on 1 January 2027. The Brighton Jetty will be closed from 12pm on 31 December and reopen by 1am on 1 January. Because pyrotechnics are launched from the jetties, there will be a 200 metre exclusion zone around them, so you cannot bring a boat next to the jetty.
Which roads are closed in Glenelg?
The council says these closures run from 6pm on Thursday 31 December 2026 until 4am on 1 January 2027, unless a different start time is shown:
| Street | Between | Closed from |
|---|---|---|
| Jetty Road, Glenelg | Colley Terrace and Brighton Road | 6pm |
| Colley Terrace, Glenelg | Anzac Highway and Jetty Road | 6pm |
| Moseley Street, Glenelg | Jetty Road and Elizabeth Street | 6pm |
| Augusta Street, Glenelg | Colley Terrace and Torrens Square | 6pm |
| Durham Street, Glenelg | Dutton Lane and Jetty Road | 6pm |
| High Street, Glenelg | Moseley Street and Partridge Street | 5pm |
| Sussex Street, Glenelg | Augusta Street and Jetty Road | 2pm |
| Chittleborough Lane, Glenelg | Durham Street and Sussex Street | 2pm |
Which roads are closed in Brighton?
In Brighton the council lists closures from 6pm until 10:30pm on 31 December 2026:
| Street | Between |
|---|---|
| Beach Road, Brighton | The Esplanade and Elm Street |
| Bindarra Road, Brighton | The Esplanade and Twining Lane |
| Esplanade, Brighton | Dunluce Avenue and Cambridge Terrace |
| Jetty Road, Brighton | The Esplanade and Elm Street |
What about parking in Glenelg?
The council says the Beachouse Car Park will be closed from 6pm on 31 December, and Colley Terrace car parking will be restricted to the public. Durham and Augusta Streets will be open only to local traffic so that Colley Terrace and Durham Street residents can reach their homes. The page does not name another car park for event-goers. For general parking around Jetty Road, see our guide to Glenelg parking and getting there, and check that each car park you pick is open on the night.
Is public transport free on New Year’s Eve?
The council says travel on Adelaide Metro buses, trains and trams is free from 5pm on 31 December 2026 until 6am on 1 January 2027, and that you do not need to pay or validate a fare in that period. The council’s page names the wrong weekday for the start (Wednesday), but its event listing and the dates are 31 December 2026. It points to the Adelaide Metro website for the latest information. We have not checked the free-travel offer against Adelaide Metro, so confirm it there.
| Mode | What the council says |
|---|---|
| Bus | From 6pm on New Year’s Eve until about 4am New Year’s Day, a temporary terminus is at Wigley Reserve (north side of Anzac Highway, west of Adelphi Terrace) because of the Jetty Road and Colley Terrace closures. Temporary bus zones are on the northern and southern sides of High Street, east of Moseley Street |
| Tram | Tram services will stop at the Brighton station while the Glenelg road closures are in place, and reopen from 1 January 2027 |
| Journey planning | Search for “Glenelg” as the destination; select 31 December 2026 for services before midnight and 1 January 2027 for services after midnight |
Can I bring alcohol to NYE at the Bay?
No. The council says the event is not licensed or BYO, and there is to be no alcohol. Glenelg’s entertainment district is a declared Dry Area, with signage in place. It extends east to west from Brighton Road to the foreshore, including Holdfast Shores, Wigley Reserve, Colley Reserve, Brian Nadilo Reserve (Ngutinilla) and Jimmy Melrose Park. You must not consume or carry alcohol in open containers within those boundaries, except on licensed premises. The Brighton Esplanade is also a declared Dry Area. The council says additional police and security will enforce the dry areas. You can bring your own food and drinks, as long as there is no alcohol.
What facilities and help are there?
| Question | Council answer |
|---|---|
| Toilets, Glenelg | Glenelg Town Hall, Brian Nadilo Reserve and Jimmy Melrose Park |
| Toilets, Brighton | Bindarra Reserve |
| First aid | A dedicated first aid hub at the Glenelg Community Centre run by St John, and a roaming team in Brighton |
| Lost child or property | The Sussex Street Police Station at Glenelg runs extended hours on New Year’s Eve and is the best place to report it; Glenelg also has an information hub in front of the Town Hall |
| Food | Many local businesses are expected to be open; Jetty Road will have dine-in and takeaway options and ice cream and dessert places; the council encourages booking dinner and NYE packages early |
| Pets | The council warns that fireworks may distress pets and asks you to make arrangements for the 9:30pm and midnight times |
What has not been confirmed?
- The full entertainment program at Glenelg and Brighton. The council has only listed the DJ sets.
- Adelaide Metro’s bus and tram timetables for the night, and whether free travel applies as the council states.
- Wet-weather or cancellation arrangements. The council’s page does not mention them.
- Parking other than the Beachouse and Colley Terrace restrictions.
We will update this guide when the council adds details. The council’s NYE page is the best place to check; you can also email events@holdfast.sa.gov.au.
Sources
- City of Holdfast Bay — New Year’s Eve (NYE at the Bay) (times, jetty and road closures, dry areas, public transport, facilities)
Featured image: Brighton Jetty at sunset, December 2012 (photo: eosdude / CC BY-SA 2.0) (text added)
OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with the City of Holdfast Bay or Adelaide Metro. Event details can change; check the council website before you go.