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Australia welcomes 2026 with spectacle fireworks End of display Sydney Opera House, and a minute’s silence to remember 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.
NSW Premier Chris Mings urges Sydney residents not to stay away out of fear, saying extremists will think crowds are smaller new year’Christmas Eve celebrations are considered a victory.
“We cannot allow this horrific criminal horror to change the way we live in our beautiful city,” Mings told reporters Wednesday.
He added: “In the face of this horrific crime, we must show defiance and say we will not be intimidated by this kind of terrorism.”
New Zealand
Two hours in advance, more than 3,000 people fireworks is in New ZealandWith its tallest building – the Sky Tower – Auckland becomes the first major city to usher in the new century new year.
New Zealand’s capital celebrates midnight 18 hours earlier than New York. The five-minute show featured 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240 m (787 ft) Sky Tower.
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.
Kiribati gained independence from Britain in 1979 and has a population of approximately 116,000.
Japan, South Korea
Japan and South Korea celebrate the New Year with a traditional bell-ringing ceremony around 1500 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.
Japan and South Korea also joined HongkongThis is followed by Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan. In Singapore, fireworks are set off over Marina Bay to welcome 2026.
However, Hongkong The city held no fireworks display to mark the occasion after a devastating fire at an apartment complex last November killed 161 people in the city’s worst fire in decades.
The city is often home to some of the world’s largest and most extravagant demonstrations, including light shows, fireworks, music and performances.
Instead, the government organized a light show and stripped-down musical performance for the public.
People gather at the Juyongguan Great Wall (also known as Juyongguan) in Beijing, China, to welcome the New Year, which will mark the Year of the Horse.
In a New Year’s Eve speech broadcast on state media, Chinese President Xi Jinping praised China’s technological advances in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors while renewing threats against Taiwan, which China claims as part of its sovereign territory.
“We Chinese people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are connected by blood and blood,” he said. “The reunification of the motherland is the trend of the times and is unstoppable.” China has conducted large-scale military exercises around the island this week.
Europe
Europe later joined the celebrations, with Germany, France and Italy ushering in the New Year at 2300 GMT, followed by the UK and Portugal and a number of African countries including Mali and Ghana.
Berlin residents were already enjoying the snowfall on Wednesday afternoon, taking selfies and building snowmen in front of the German capital’s cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. Berlin’s famous TV Tower is almost invisible due to falling snow and fog.
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, large crowds gathered on the river banks thames Tickets for the fireworks show are sold out and will be set off nearby London Midnight Eye, watched by millions across the country.
Some of those in attendance had been waiting by the river for hours, cheering as the countdown began before Big Ben chimed and fireworks lit up the sky over the capital, with more than 12,000 fireworks set to last about 15 minutes.
This year, however, people were unable to take advantage of Primrose Hill’s vantage point. Offering panoramic views of the capital, 30,000 revelers are expected to celebrate the New Year in the park by 2024, but this year the park will be closed to the public and gates will not reopen until 6am on New Year’s Day.
Royal Parks, the charity that manages the site, said it was partly due to the Met’s decision earlier this year to disband Royal Parks Police.
New York will take part in New Year’s Day celebrations at 0500 GMT, with performances from Diana Ross and Ciara, while Los Angeles will celebrate at 0800 GMT.