Australia Welcomes Over 20,000 New Citizens, as Australia Day Protests Brings Traffic to a Halt

Australia Day celebrations and protests have begun, following a dawn reflection that lit up the Sydney Harbour bridge with Indigenous artwork.

The sails of the Sydney Opera House are illuminated by a projection of artwork by Wiradjuri man and renowned artist James P Simon “River Life” on Australia Day in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 26, 2025. Izhar Khan/Getty Images

Australia Day celebrations kicked off with flag-raising ceremonies, followed by citizenship ceremonies, in which around 20,600 people from 150 countries are taking the oath of citizenship.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese received a general salute from the Australian Federation Guard at a Sunday morning ceremony at Lake Burley Griffith in Canberra.