New Year welcomed around the world

Matthew Tuckerand

Lucy Talavera

Fireworks lit up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Day celebrations in Australia

AFP via Getty Images Fireworks light up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during New Year's Day celebrations in Australia. Boats are parked in the harbour facing the fireworks display. — Fireworks lit up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Day celebrations in Australia

Nations around the world are welcoming the New Year as midnight strikes across different time zones.

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

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

A firework display from the top of Auckland’s Sky Tower welcomed in the New Year

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

Shutterstock A firework display from the top of Auckland's Sky Tower welcomes in the New Year

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

AFP via Getty Images Fireworks lit up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during New Year's Day celebrations in Australia

Getty Images People enjoy the New Year's Eve firework displays at 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 14 December in which 15 people were killed.

At 23:00 local time, Sydney Harbour fell silent for a minute, with crowds holding lights to remember the victims of Bondi. A Jewish menorah was projected on to the pylons of the Harbour Bridge.

A message reading “Peace, Unity” was projected on the pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as the city waited for the midnight countdown

AFP via Getty Images A message reading "Peace, Unity" is projected on the pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge — A message reading “Peace, Unity” was projected on the pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge, as the city waited for the midnight countdown

In Sydney, New Year’s Eve spectators shone the lights from their mobile phones during a tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack

EPA A group of spectators shining lights from their mobile phones during a tribute to the victims of the Bondi terror attack during the New Year's Eve Celebrations at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney, Australia — In Sydney, New Year’s Eve spectators shone the lights from their mobile phones during 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 Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, 2025, in Sydney, Australia.

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

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

Fireworks matched the brilliance of skyscraper lights in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines.

Getty Images Fireworks explode over skyscrapers during New Year celebrations in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines

Thousands lined the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok as Thailand welcomed the New Year.

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

In Hong Kong, spectators enjoyed live performances with fetching headwear.

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

The Juyongguan Great Wall was lit up in Beijing.

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

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

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

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

EPA South Korean artists perform on stage during a New Year's Eve countdown event at the Bosingak pavilion in Seoul, South Korea, 31 December 2025. According to the Chinese zodiac, 2026 is the Year of the Red Horse.

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

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

In other parts of the world, nations marked the coming New Year with their own traditions.

On a nudist beach in Le Cap d’Agde, southern France, clothed and unclothed revellers took part in a traditional sea dip to mark the New Year’s celebrations.

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

Swimmers at Islands Brygge Harbour Bath in Copenhagen, Denmark, also braved the cold waters for a traditional splash, known as Nytaarsbad.

Getty Images A group of people jumping in a cold water pool making a splash

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

Shutterstock In Ommen, the Netherlands, milk cans fire footballs out the end of with lots of fire.

Shutterstock In Ommen, the Netherlands, milk cans fire footballs out the end of with lots of fire as families look on

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