Global New Year Celebrations Mark the Arrival of 2026
Kiritimati atoll in Kiribati was the first place to enter 2026. Around the world, various cities and communities marked the New Year with unique celebrations.
In Auckland, New Zealand, the festivities included vibrant fireworks displays. Sydney, Australia, celebrated with fireworks over iconic landmarks including the Opera House and Harbour Bridge. The city also observed a minute of silence for the victims of the Bondi Beach attack and projected a menorah on the Harbour Bridge pylons.
In Europe, Cap d'Agde in France hosted a traditional nudist sea dip, while Copenhagen's Islands Brygge Harbour Bath held a cold-water swim known as Nytaarsbad. The Dutch town of Ommen upheld its carbide shooting tradition, where milk cans are turned into cannons for New Year's Eve.
Asia featured cultural ceremonies such as a Shinto ritual procession at Sumiyoshi Taisha in Osaka, Japan, with participants dressed in traditional kimonos. In Krakow, Poland, the Old Town hosted the Krakow New Year's Run.
In Indonesia, Denpasar in Bali showcased a dance to symbolically release the sun of 2025 and welcome the sun of 2026.
These diverse celebrations highlight how different cultures observe the transition into the New Year as midnight strikes across various time zones.
