New Year Celebrations Around the Globe: 2026 Welcomes the World
Kiribati First to Welcome 2026
Kiribati has become the first country to usher in the New Year 2026, followed shortly by celebrations in nearby nations including New Zealand and Tonga. The world is poised to bid farewell to 2025 and welcome 2026 with festivities marked by fireworks, dancing, and the traditional midnight kiss.
At 12:00 PM Israel time, Kiribati officially celebrated the New Year. By 1:00 PM, Tonga, Samoa, and New Zealand followed suit, with Auckland becoming the first major city in the world to hold its New Year festivities. The celebration featured an impressive display of 3,500 fireworks launched from the Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest building.
Australia’s Celebrations Under Heightened Security
With Australia marking its entry into 2026 at 3:00 PM Israel time, Sydney, often regarded as the “New Year’s celebration capital” of the country, has planned a more subdued approach this year. This shift comes in the wake of a tragic antisemitic attack in Bondi Beach two and a half weeks ago, which claimed the lives of 15 people during a Hanukkah celebration.
As part of the commemorative events, Sydney’s parties will come to a halt at 11:00 PM for a moment of silence in memory of the victims. Additionally, the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge will be lit in white as a symbol for peace. Local resident Stefan Grant expressed a collective hope for a better world in 2026, saying, “This has been a hard year for so many people.”
Despite the tragedy, hundreds of thousands are expected to gather along Sydney’s coastline to watch the breathtaking fireworks display, which will include an impressive nine tons of explosives lighting up the night sky. Security measures have been tightened, with armed offstartrs patrolling the crowds.
Chris Minns, Premier of New South Wales, encouraged residents to participate in the celebrations, emphasizing the importance of not allowing the recent terror attack to alter their way of life.
New Year Celebrations across the Globe
As the day progresses, countries around the globe will successively welcome the New Year. Authorities in Brazil anticipate that more than two million people will join the New Year’s Eve party at Copacabana Beach, touted as the largest New Year’s Eve celebration in the world.
The last major city to ring in 2026 will be New York, where thousands are expected to gather at Times Square to witness the traditional dropping of the giant crystal ball. In light of ongoing security concerns, the FBI has indicated an increased risk of potential attacks from “lstart wolves” or small ideologically motivated groups. Just weeks earlier, four pro-Palestinian activists were arrested, having planned a bombing in Los Angeles around midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Conclusion
As cities around the world mark the transition into 2026, celebrations will blend joy with remembrance and reflect a collective wish for peace and unity in the year ahead. Despite facing challenges, the spirit of togetherness and hope prevails as nations celebrate the dawn of a new year.