The New Year is welcomed around the world

Matthew TuckerAnd

Lucy Talavera

Fireworks lit up the midnight sky above the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House during Australia’s New Year’s Eve celebrations

AFP via Getty Images Fireworks light up the midnight sky above the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House during Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations. The boats are parked in the port facing the fireworks. — Fireworks lit up the midnight sky above the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House during Australia’s New Year’s Eve celebrations

Nations around the world welcome the new year as midnight strikes in different time zones.

The island of Kiritimati – an atoll of the remote Pacific nation of Kiribati – has become the first place to enter 2026. One tourist told us he marked it “on a beach with no satellites, no signs of human life, complete darkness and countless crabs.”

New Zealand quickly followed by welcoming the New Year with fireworks in Auckland.

Fireworks from the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower welcomed in the New Year

Shutterstock A city skyline with fireworks from the top of Auckland's Sky Tower — Fireworks from the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower welcomed in the New Year

Shutterstock Fireworks from the top of Auckland's Sky Tower welcome the New Year

Then Australia lit up the sky over the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge.

AFP via Getty Images Fireworks lit up the midnight sky above the Harbor Bridge and Sydney Opera House during Australia's New Year's Eve celebrations

Getty Images People enjoy the New Year's Eve fireworks at the Opera House on December 31, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

In Sydney, celebrations were tempered by sadness as the nation reflected on the Bondi Beach attack on December 14, in which 15 people were killed.

At 11:00 p.m. local time, Sydney Harbor was silent for a minute, with crowds holding up lights in remembrance of the Bondi victims. A Jewish menorah was projected onto the pylons of the Harbor Bridge.

A message reading “Peace, Unity” was projected onto the pylon of Sydney’s Harbor Bridge, as the city awaited the midnight countdown.

AFP via Getty Images A message reading "Peace, unity" is projected onto the pylon of the Sydney Harbor Bridge — A message reading “Peace, Unity” was projected onto the pylon of Sydney’s Harbor Bridge, as the city awaited the midnight countdown.

In Sydney, New Year’s Eve spectators turned on the lights from their mobile phones in a tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack.

EPA A group of onlookers light up their mobile phones during a tribute to victims of the Bondi terrorist attack during the New Year celebrations at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney, Australia — In Sydney, New Year’s Eve spectators turned on the lights from their mobile phones in a tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack.

Getty Images An image of a menorah is projected onto the pylons of the Sydney Harbor Bridge during New Year's Eve celebrations on December 31, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.

Elsewhere, there were more fireworks displays at Marina Bay Waterfront in Singapore.

Getty Images Fireworks light up the sky at the Marina Bay Waterfront in Singapore to celebrate midnight on New Year's Eve 2026.

The fireworks matched the lights of the skyscrapers in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Getty Images Fireworks explode above skyscrapers during New Year's Eve celebrations in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

Thousands of people lined up along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok as Thailand celebrated the new year.

Getty Images Fireworks over the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand, lighting up the skyline and boats

In Hong Kong, spectators attended live performances with tempting headwear.

AFP via Getty Images People watch performances and a light show during New Year's celebrations in Hong Kong, January 1, 2026.

The Juyongguan Great Wall was illuminated in Beijing.

Getty Images Beijing New Year 2026 countdown celebration at the Juyongguan Great Wall on December 31, 2025 in Beijing, China.

Laser lights dominated the night sky at Lotte World Tower, South Korea’s tallest building in Seoul.

AFP via Getty Images Laser lights illuminate the midnight sky above the Lotte World Tower, South Korea's tallest building in Seoul

At Bosingak Pavilion in Seoul, artists performed during the New Year countdown.

South Korean EPA artists perform on stage during a New Year countdown at Bosingak Pavilion in Seoul, South Korea, December 31, 2025. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the year of the red horse.

A street performer showed off her spirited skills as part of the Procession of Light in Dublin before heading to the Matinee Countdown Concert at Dublin Castle.

PA Media A street artist takes part in the Procession of Light in Dublin. She is holding a device with fire on the end

In other parts of the world, nations have marked the new year with their own traditions.

At a nudist beach in Cap d’Agde, southern France, clothed and unclothed revelers took part in a traditional sea swim to mark New Year’s celebrations.

AFP via Getty Images A group of people in the sea wearing Santa hats and swimsuits with their thumbs up taking a selfie

Swimmers at Islands Brygge Harbor Baths in Copenhagen, Denmark, also braved the cold waters for a traditional swim, known as Nytaarsbad.

Getty Images A group of people jump into a cold water pool and cause a stir

In Ommen, Netherlands, residents watched the annual carbide shooting – a New Year’s Eve tradition of turning milk churns into cannons.

Shutterstock In Ommen, the Netherlands, milk cans fire soccer balls.

Shutterstock In Ommen, the Netherlands, milk cans fire soccer balls as families watch

In Osaka, Japan, young women dressed in traditional kimonos took part in a Shinto ritual procession to mark the end of the year at Sumiyoshi Taisha, one of Japan’s oldest Shinto shrines.