The year 2026 arrived with a bang around the world, whether that took the form of giant displays of fireworks or an intimate few minutes of taken-for-granted respite. From tiny islands in the Pacific to metropolises in Europe and America, millions poured together to bid farewell to 2025. While many of them turned on music and lights to celebrate, some cities took a quieter approach this year in solidarity with those who have suffered.
The Pacific and Asia Lead the Way
The festivities kicked off in the Pacific Ocean on Kiribati’s islands. These islands were the absolute first to see 2026, with New Zealand following shortly after. In Auckland, thousands of people gathered to watch as 3,500 fireworks were fired off from the Sky Tower, the country’s tallest building. In the pouring rain, the crowd shouted to welcome in the bright sky and the new year.
Older traditions held sway in Japan and South Korea. Groups gathered in Tokyo to listen as a giant bronze bell rang 108 times at temples — the number represents a way of washing away the troubles of the past year. In Seoul, thousands converged on the Bosingak Pavilion to listen to a bell ring at midnight. In Hong Kong meanwhile, the usual fireworks over the water were cancelled and replaced by a light show on both sides of the harbour, a tribute to victims of a recent fire.
Australia: The blend of Grief and Hope
The celebrated fireworks at Sydney’s Harbour Bridge and Opera House went forward, but the atmosphere was different this year. The city is still recovering from a tragic shooting at Bondi Beach in mid-December. Out of respect, all New Year’s events at Bondi Beach were cancelled.
Instead, there was a special memorial at the city’s central event. An hour before midnight, the entire country fell silent for a minute of silence. A menorah (a religious lamp) was projected onto the bridge in solidarity with the Jewish community. There, thousands of people waved their illuminated mobile phones together to form a “sea of stars” across the water. Then a sudden burst of stars appeared in the sky, occasionally illuminated by thunderbolts, dazzling them with fireworks celebrating that love led to peace which included one special display shaped like a dove and composed of white fireworks.
Europe and the Americas Geared Up for Midnight
As night rolled across the west, cities in Europe including Paris, Berlin and London geared up for giant street parties. In a light show about art and love, Paris’s equivalent of the Independence Day fireworks on the Mall in Washington was projected onto the Arc de Triomphe. The “Big Ben” bell in London was waiting to ring in the year after the United Kingdom stock market closed its best year in more than a decade.
In New York City, more than a million people are anticipated to crowd into Times Square for the iconic “ball drop.” This year is especially epic because it’s the beginning of America’s 250th birthday. The city is preparing a gargantuan show, complete with red, white and blue confetti. As the year nears a close, many are looking ahead to 2026 as a year of big anniversaries and fresh hopes.
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