Schoolies 2025: What Byron Shire Can Expect This Year

Schoolies 2025 is set to bring thousands of graduates to Byron Bay across a three-week period, with the busiest stretch expected between 28 November and 8 December. This is when interstate arrivals overlap, major events peak and the CBD becomes its most active.

The Schoolies dates for 2025 run from 22–29 November, 29 November–7 December, and 6–13 December, with crowd levels steadily building across all three weeks. Late November into early December will see the highest concentration of school leavers, nightlife and foot traffic.

Several large Schoolies events are scheduled again this year, including appearances from Peking Duk and Tame Impala, plus rotating DJs and themed nights. Many venues will move to ticketed, wristband-only entry, meaning tighter security, ID checks and more contained crowds inside events rather than roaming freely between venues. Expect longer queues, busy footpaths and a lively CBD through most nights.

Most Schoolies travellers are 17–18 years old, many visiting without parents for the first time. Byron typically attracts graduates from NSW, QLD, VIC and interstate, along with some international gap-year travellers who time their trips with the Schoolies period.

Red Frogs Australia will again be on the ground offering walk-homes, hydration, pancake cook-ups and safe points of contact throughout the celebrations.

Overall, Schoolies 2025 will bring a high-energy start to summer in Byron, with the peak crowds and heaviest nightlife activity falling between 28 November and 8 December as thousands of school leavers arrive to celebrate the end of Year 12.