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Thousands of people bravely cold see in new year exist LondonFireworks displays usher in 2026 in the UK with a bang.
although temperature With temperatures hovering around freezing, about 100,000 people gathered on the river banks thames The celebration is available while supplies last and is held nearby London Millions more were watching on television around the country at midnight.
The spectacular show celebrates some of the highlights of 2025, set to a soundtrack by the likes of Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran and Coldplay, and featuring the voices of stars including Celia Imrie, Andrew Cotter and Alison Hammond.
Feats celebrated in the film include England’s Women’s Rugby World Cup victory, the Lionesses’ European Cup defense and European Ryder Cup victory, while also giving a nod to the film evil: doing good.
More than 12,000 fireworks and more than 400 lights illuminate the night sky around the London Eye, with holographic animations complementing what the BBC reports is Europe’s largest annual fireworks show.
London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan told the Press Association: “We spend a lot of time and effort planning our New Year’s Eve celebrations – the theme of tonight’s celebrations is unity.
“I think diversity is a strength not a disadvantage – it makes us richer not poorer, stronger not weaker. I think you can be a proud Londoner but also someone whose country of origin is somewhere around the world.
“I’m delighted we’ve proven once again why London’s New Year’s Eve celebrations are the biggest in the world.”
As well as celebrating the national achievements of the past 12 months, the exhibition also references last summer as the UK’s hottest summer on record and pays homage to the social media ‘tea time alarm clock’ meme, which suggests a daily alarm clock to remind Britons to have a cup of tea.
A number of other cities across the UK are also hosting New Year’s fireworks displays and events, with Edinburgh’s New Year’s Eve returning with more than 40,000 attendees after being canceled last year due to weather.
Thousands of people began to gather in Edinburgh city center just before 10pm for the city’s famous New Year celebrations on Princes Street, with the evening’s entertainment including pipe bands, drummers, a DJ set by Belgian duo 2manydjs and a silent disco.
Among those in attendance was a primary school teacher from New Zealand who said she came to Edinburgh because “it’s where New Year’s is”.
Ann Bracefield, 55, said: “I have a teacher friend who tried to come in from New Zealand last year but missed it because the flight was cancelled.
“So, it was like, ‘OK, I’m going to give it a try.’ So, for Scott in Bangkok, I really made it work.”
Asked to describe the atmosphere on Princes Street when the street party started, she said: “It’s good, it’s a bit quiet at the moment but I think it’s going to get really busy.”
In the run-up to the main event, there will also be hourly “pre-announcement” fireworks displays above Edinburgh Castle, with the initial display taking place at 9pm.
Meanwhile, a garden concert is taking place in Princes Street Garden West, featuring the band Wet Leg.
Organizers say more than 40,000 tickets have been sold for the event, which is now resuming after being canceled due to weather last year.
Manchester’s official exhibition will be held in St Peter’s Square in the city centre, while Newcastle upon Tyne’s Docklands will host a ‘Howaymanay’ event to ring in the New Year.
Geordie’s take on Scottish tradition will be a festival in its own right, complete with massive fireworks of course.
New Year’s Eve fireworks displays are held around the world Celebrations have taken place 2026 starts in a different time zone.
Kiritimati is the first place in the world to celebrate the year 2026. It is part of the Pacific nation of Kiribati, located south of Hawaii and northeastern Australia. It is made up of multiple atolls (ring-shaped coral reefs) and spans nearly 2,500 miles from east to west.
Australia welcomed 2026 with a spectacular fireworks display over the Sydney Opera House and a minute’s silence for the victims of the Bondi Beach attack.
40,000 fireworks stretched for more than four miles over buildings and barges along the port’s shores.
An hour before midnight, an image of a menorah was projected on Sydney Harbor Bridge to commemorate and reflect on the victims of the country’s worst terror attack, in which 15 people were killed and 40 injured. Crowds were invited to hold up mobile phone flashlights on the harbour, expressing solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.
Japan and South Korea celebrate the New Year with a traditional bell-ringing ceremony at around 3pm GMT. Tens of thousands of people gathered at Bosingak in central Seoul for the countdown.
At midnight local time, the bronze bell rings 33 times. This tradition is rooted in Buddhist cosmology and symbolizes the 33 levels of heaven.
These sounds are believed to ward off bad luck and bring peace and prosperity for the coming year, and lanterns are also lit to celebrate the occasion.
Fireworks also lit up the sky above Seoul’s Lotte World Tower, South Korea’s tallest building, and were followed by eye-catching displays over Singapore’s Marina Bay.
The UK’s fireworks show will precede New York, which will take part in New Year’s Day celebrations at 5am GMT, with performances from Diana Ross and Ciara. People lined up around Sixth Avenue hours in advance.