The World Welcomes the New Year with Fireworks, Festivities, and Celebrations

Fireworks flashes, the ringing of bells, festival beats of drums—and in some places, plunges into icy water. As Wednesday night rolled into Thursday, the outgoing year 2025 began to bid farewell. On the eve of the New Year 2026, people across different parts of the world became vocal with hopes for peace, safety, and better days. British news agency Reuters reported this.

The first to welcome the New Year were islands near the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean. In Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Tonga, and New Zealand, celebrations began the moment midnight struck.

In Australia’s Sydney, 2026 was welcomed with the usual grand fireworks display. More than 40,000 fireworks lit up the sky across a 7-kilometer stretch covering Sydney Harbour and the Harbour Bridge. However, this year’s celebration carried a tone of sorrow. Following a deadly shooting at a Jewish event in Sydney a few weeks earlier that killed 15 people, security was extremely tight. A one-minute silence was observed at 11 p.m. in memory of the victims, and a projection of the Jewish symbol “Menorah” was displayed on the Harbour Bridge. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore said that after such a tragic incident, the celebration should help restore peace and unity among people.

In South Korea’s capital Seoul, thousands gathered at the Bosingak Bell Pavilion. According to Buddhist tradition, the bronze bell was rung 33 times at midnight, symbolizing peace and prosperity for the coming year.

Meanwhile, in China, celebrations were held with drum performances at the Juyong Pass section of the Great Wall near Beijing. Participants danced and sang while wearing hats and decorations marked “2026” and carrying horse symbols.

In Croatia’s Fudine, a unique tradition of counting down the New Year at noon has been observed since 2000. This year was no exception. People celebrated in daylight with champagne and dancing. Despite bone-chilling cold, many wearing Santa hats even jumped into the icy waters of Lake Bajer to express their joy.

In Brazil, authorities at Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach are preparing to set a new record. With the goal of surpassing the 2024 Guinness World Record and hosting the world’s largest New Year celebration, massive stages and fireworks arrangements have been completed. Meanwhile, in New York’s Times Square, crowds gathered in sub-zero temperatures, waiting to witness the traditional “ball drop.”

In snow-covered Kyiv, Ukrainians welcomed the New Year with a deep hope for peace. Exhausted by four years of war with Russia, the people of the country now desire nothing but peace. Irina, a 47-year-old female soldier who lost her husband, said people must be realistic—everyone wants peace, but it remains elusive. However, standing beneath a Christmas tree set up in front of Saint Sophia Cathedral, 9-year-old Olesia was full of hope. Her voice carried a simple belief that peace would surely come in the New Year.

In Bangladesh as well, people welcomed the New Year by lighting fireworks and releasing sky lanterns (fanush), joining the global celebrations with joy and festivity.