We Are Warriors + 3% To Kick Off Sydney's NYE Fireworks With First Nations Showcase

City of Sydney and We Are Warriors have announced that this year's Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks will kick off with a mammoth celebration of First Nations culture, including a performance from Blak Collective %3.

The action-packed event will kick off with a unique smoking ceremony on three boats, followed by the stunning "Calling Country" 9 pm fireworks display.

We Are Warriors co-founder and 3% member Nooky said the event aimed to tell the stories of “great warriors like Pemulwuy and Warriors of the past, present, and today.”

“At the end of the year we’ve had, we want to let our people know they’re loved, they’re seen, and they’re heard. That they are Warriors. It’s time to reflect on and awaken the stories of this country that have been buried by the history we didn’t write,” Nooky said.

“We’re going to share stories of great warriors like Pemulwuy and Warriors of the past, present, and today. We are going all out projecting images onto the Harbour Bridge, putting Blak excellence on full display for the world to see. From the visuals to the music we pursued, to reflect what a calling to country is. We are calling to our old people for strength in this moment and to also celebrate their achievements and the knowledge they have passed down.”

He continued, “I hope to create a memorable event for everyone to take part in. This platform allows us to share our truth, our stories, our voice with the world.”

Ben Miles, co-founder of We Are Warriors added, “There’s never been an activation of this magnitude designed for the Indigenous population. We pitched fiercely, and we went brave with staunch and powerful messaging.”

“After the Referendum, its significance has heightened. We want First Nations people to hear empowering words from Pelmowoy that affirm their greatness. We’ve been intentional, we want these words to uplift, energise, and resonate across the nation, fostering unity, love, and empowerment."

The 9pm soundtrack, an original production by Nooky and ARIA Award winner Vincent Goodyear, will blend anthemic hip-hop with traditional First Nations audio alongside a pyrotechnics display.

The live performance on the ABC stage will feature members of the First Nations hip-hop collective 3%, which includes Nooky, Dallas Woods and Angus Field.

The City of Sydney event will showcase projections of First Nations imagery by Indigenous artists Re-Right Collective, the architects of the 2022 9pm show. The evening will commence with a traditional smoking ceremony on the harbour by Tribal Warrior, joined by Wirawi and the Mari Nawi.

The ceremony, featuring three vessels for the first time, will cleanse the harbour of negative spirits and pay respect to the Traditional Custodians of the land. The Calling Country 9pm fireworks display will illuminate the sky with vivid colours and images, reflecting the connection to land, sky, and sea.

The event will also include a message stick presentation, with an elder from the Metropolitan Aboriginal Land Council presenting Lord Mayor Clover Moore with a specially created message stick.

The festivities will continue into the night, culminating in an unforgettable midnight fireworks show.

Visit sydneynewyearseve.com to find out more about what is planned for the epic evening.