New Year's 2026: Global Celebrations Greet the New Year

Countries across the globe welcomed 2026 with vibrant celebrations marking the end of 2025. Kiribati in the Pacific was the first nation to ring in the new year, while Alaska and Hawaii were among the last to say goodbye to 2025. New Zealand kicked off festivities at 6 a.m. ET with fireworks. In Australia, Sydney lit up the iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House with fireworks, though security was heightened following a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach earlier in December 2025. Japan celebrated at 10 a.m. ET in Tokyo, while Seoul, South Korea, featured fireworks over the Lotte World Tower. Beijing, China, hosted a countdown at the Great Wall, and Hong Kong rang in the new year at 11 a.m. ET. Bangkok, Thailand, lit up the Chao Phraya River with fireworks, and Dubai's Burj Khalifa hosted a spectacular display. In Europe, Paris lit up the Arc de Triomphe, and London's Big Ben chimed midnight as fireworks exploded over the Thames. Rio de Janeiro packed Copacabana Beach for a display that illuminated the Christ the Redeemer statue. Finally, New York City's Times Square hosted thousands as the ball dropped at midnight, marking the start of 2026 in the United States.