Name: New Years babies mark arrival of Generation Beta in Australia
Uploaded: 2026-01-01T06:48:13.394Z
Duration: 1 min 46 s
Description: For some families across the nation, a bundle of joy arrived just in time to celebrate the new year. The babies are part of Generation Beta, with parents full of high hopes for their future in a high-tech world.

For some families across the nation, a bundle of joy arrived just in time to celebrate the new year. The babies are part of Generation Beta, with parents full of high hopes for their future in a high-tech world.

New South Wales

As Australians celebrated the New Year, families in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane welcomed some of the first babies of 2026. These newborns, including Eli, Tom, Callie Louise, and an as-yet-unnamed boy in Brisbane, represent the beginning of Generation Beta, which is expected to make up 18% of the population by 2050.

Experts note that technology will play a significant role in the lives of these children, influencing education and health. With Australia's birth rate continuing to decline, governments face increasing pressure to invest in areas such as housing, economic security, climate change, and gender equality to support the future of this new generation.

New Year's babies mark arrival of Generation Beta in Australia

As crowds watched the fireworks, Melbourne mum Dana was welcoming baby Eli into the world, officially arriving just five minutes after midnight. It feels surreal because he was due 10 days ago, so I can't believe he's a 2026 baby. Closely followed by baby Tom in Sydney, just four minutes behind, born at 12.09am. There was a lot going on. So they were wishing us happy new year and stuff at one stage, but it was a very late stage, so we were kind of not really paying attention. Callie Louise waited a little longer, welcomed at 12.59am. We went in early, so he actually wasn't born on my birthday, he was the second. Sonam Kumari's baby boy stole the show in Brisbane at 2.06am, weighing three kilos. He's yet to be named. That decision will be based on star signs as part of Hindu tradition. I think he was waiting for the new year. I'm excited, yeah. Babies are blessings. All these bundles of joy are part of Generation Beta, one that is projected to make up 18% of the population by 2050. Technology will be front and centre for babies born in 2026, whether that be education, whether that be a health revolution. And as Australia's birth rate continues to decline, it presents a challenge to governments to help the babies of today deal with the pressures of tomorrow. Restoring hope, even by way of the political rhetoric we have, but most certainly investing in those really big ticket items of housing affordability, economic security, climate change and gender equality. Marla Summer, 10 News.

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