New Year's Eve

Family Fireworks, Free Concert

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in spectacular style as Cairns counts down to 2026 and marks 150 years since the city’s founding. Enjoy a Free Family Concert, Family Fireworks, and a dazzling Midnight Fireworks Display, a night of fun, music and celebration for all ages.

To help everyone get home safely after the midnight fireworks, TransLink will operate 21 additional public bus services across all suburbs of Cairns and Gordonvale, running from 12:40am through to 2:45am on New Year’s morning.

Wednesday 31 December 2025

Translink bus timetable

21 additional public bus services across all suburbs of Cairns and Gordonvale, running from 12:40am through to 2:45am on New Year’s morning. Buses depart Spence St (Cairns Central), stopping at The Jack (Spence St/Grafton) and then Lake St bus terminal. After Lake St, buses are drop-off only.

Road Closures

To support New Year’s Eve celebrations, parts of the Cairns Esplanade and Palm Cove Esplanade will be closed to traffic during the following times:

Cairns Esplanade road closure

• Road closure 1: Esplanade Dining Prescient - Shields Street to Aplin Street
  Date & Time: 11:00am Wednesday 31 December 2025 to 5:00am Friday 2 January2026
  (*Road open 5:00am until 11:00am Thursday 1 January to allow garbage collection and deliveries)
• Road closure 2: Spence Street to Shields Street
  Date & Time: 4:30pm Wednesday 31 December to 1:00am Thursday 1 January 2026
• Road closure 3: Aplin Street to Minnie Street
  Date & Time: 7:30pm Wednesday 31 December to 1:00am Thursday 1 January 2026

Palm Cove road closure

• Road closure Williams Esplanade, from Harpa Street to Cedar Road
  Date & Time: 5:30pm to 9:00pm Wednesday 31 December 2025
  The Palm Cove jetty public carpark will be accessible and an additional 350 car parks will be available on Coral Coast Dr (traffic management will be in place).  All Palm Cove road closure inquiries, direct to Tourism Palm Cove info@tourismpalmcove.com.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.