Ring in 2026 - NEW YEAR'S EVE on the Waterfront

December 23, 2025

Cape Breton Regional Municipality rings in 2026 with milestone New Year’s Eve celebration of 30 years of CBRM

SYDNEY, NS — The Cape Breton Regional Municipality will welcome 2026 in spectacular fashion with a free, family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration in downtown Sydney, marking the municipality’s 30th anniversary with a full evening of music, entertainment, food, and unforgettable moments at the Sydney harbour waterfront.

Festivities will take place across multiple indoor and outdoor venues, including City Hall and the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC), offering something for all ages as the community comes together to celebrate the past, present, and future of CBRM.

“This New Year’s Eve is about more than counting down to midnight, it’s about celebrating who we are as a community,” said CBRM Mayor Cecil Clarke. “For 30 years, CBRM has been built by people who show up for one another, and this celebration reflects that spirit. We invite everyone to come downtown, enjoy the music and activities, and help us ring in the next chapter together.”

A highlight of the evening will be a drone show over Sydney harbour at 8:45 p.m., followed by a midnight fireworks display to ring in the New Year.

Live Music & Entertainment

The City Hall mainstage will feature an all-star lineup of artists throughout the evening, including:

• 6:00 p.m.  Jimmy Rankin
• 7:00 p.m.  Heritage African Drummers
• 7:30 p.m.  WAM-PUM
• 8:00 p.m.  Nicole Ariana
• 9:00 p.m.  Emma Stevens
• 9:40 p.m.  Adam Baldwin
• 10:30 p.m. The Town Heroes
• 11:15 p.m. Matt Minglewood

At the NSCC: Outdoors families can enjoy a free carnival featuring an expo wheel (Ferris Wheel), carousel, food trucks, and live performances on the Carnival Stage, including Duncan Wells, Carmen Giorno’s Magic Show, and Maritime Marionettes.Inside the NSCC, guests can warm up with a retro roller arcade, music by DJ Breezy, and live broadcasts watch parties of the World Junior Hockey Championship, including:

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Nominations Now Open for the Tom Miller Human Rights Award

December 4, 2025

The Tom Miller Human Rights Award is now open for nominations. 

The Cape Breton Regional Municipality welcomes your nomination for the Tom Miller Human Rights Award. The award will be presented to an individual of CBRM who has made a significant contribution to the Community with respect to the encouragement, promotion, initiation, or development of human rights.

Tom Miller was born in Halifax in 1917 - three months before the Halifax explosion. He and his family moved to Whitney Pier shortly after the disaster. Miller grew up to work in the Sydney Steel Plant and served in the Second World War. He became Atlantic Canada's first Black alderman when he was elected in Sydney in 1955 -- a seat he held for 17 years. Miller later became the first African-Nova Scotian to run for the provincial Liberals.

The closing date for nominations is December 31, 2025, and the winner will be announced at the African Heritage Month Gala.

Nomination Form