As the world transitioned into 2026, nations across the globe welcomed the new year with breathtaking pyrotechnic displays and diverse cultural traditions, while some celebrations carried poignant moments of remembrance.
The Pacific atoll of Kiritimati in Kiribati became the first inhabited place to enter the new year, with one tourist describing a uniquely isolated celebration on a beach devoid of artificial light, surrounded only by natural darkness and countless crabs.
Major global cities orchestrated spectacular visual festivities. Sydney’s iconic harbour illuminated with its famous fireworks display over the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, though celebrations were tempered by a solemn tribute to the victims of December’s Bondi Beach attack. At 11 PM local time, the harbour fell silent for a minute of reflection, with crowds holding up lights and projections of “Peace, Unity” and a Jewish menorah appearing on the bridge pylons.
Rio de Janeiro mounted an especially ambitious pyrotechnic show attempting to surpass its own 2024 Guinness World Record, while New York’s Times Square witnessed its traditional ball drop ceremony presided over by Mayor Eric Adams before an estimated million-strong crowd.
European capitals showcased their distinctive celebrations: London’s skies dazzled with fireworks above the London Eye and Big Ben, Edinburgh maintained its Hogmanay traditions despite weather warnings, Berlin illuminated the Brandenburg Gate, and Paris presented a light show on the Arc de Triomphe.
Asian metropolises contributed vibrant displays, with Singapore’s Marina Bay, Manila’s skyscraper-matched pyrotechnics, Bangkok’s riverfront gatherings, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa spectacle, Hong Kong’s live performances, Beijing’s Great Wall illumination, and Seoul’s laser shows over the Lotte World Tower.
Beyond urban fireworks, unique cultural traditions marked the transition. Southern France witnessed a traditional sea dip at a nudist beach, Copenhagen swimmers braved icy waters for the Nytaarsbad tradition, Dutch residents practiced carbide shooting with milk cans, Japanese women in kimonos performed Shinto rituals, Polish runners participated in a New Year’s race through Krakow’s Old Town, and Balinese performers conducted traditional dances to welcome the new sun.