Sydney welcomes 2026 with spectacular fireworks display as world rings in new year
An hour before midnight, the victims of the Bondi Beach attack – during which 15 were killed and 40 injured – were commemorated with a minute of silence
Australia welcomed 2026 with a spectacular fireworks display over Sydney Opera House, as well as a minute’s silence to remember the victims of the Bondi Beach attack.
The 40,000 fireworks stretched more than four miles across buildings and barges along the harbour.
An hour before midnight, the victims of the country’s deadliest terrorist attack – during which 15 were killed and 40 injured – were commemorated with a moment of reflection while images of a menorah were projected onto Sydney Harbour Bridge. The crowd were invited to show their solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community by shining their phone torches across the harbour.
New South Wales premier Chris Minns urged Sydney residents not to stay away through fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds at New Year’s Eve festivities as a victory.
“We can’t be in a situation where this horrible, criminal, terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city,” Mr Minns told reporters on Wednesday.
“We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we're not going to be cowered by this kind of terrorism," he added.
Two hours earlier, more than 3,000 fireworks were launched over the top of New Zealand’s tallest building – the Sky Tower – as Auckland became the first major city to welcome in the new year.
New Zealand’s capital celebrated midnight 18 hours before New York. The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240m (787ft) Sky Tower.
The island of Kiritimati was the first place in the world to celebrate 2026. Part of the Pacific Ocean nation, Kiribati, located south of Hawaii and northeast of Australia. It is made up of several atolls – ring-shaped coral reefs – and spans almost 2,500 miles from east to west.
Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979 and has a population of about 116,000.
Japan and South Korea
Japan and South Korea celebrated the new year around 1500 GMT with a traditional bell-ringing ceremony. Tens of thousands gathered at Bosingak Pavilion in central Seoul for the countdown.
At midnight local time, a bronze bell was struck 33 times, a tradition rooted in Buddhist cosmology, symbolising the 33 heavens.
The sounds are believed to dispel misfortune and bring in peace and prosperity for the coming year, while lanterns are lit to celebrate the occasion.
Fireworks also lit up the sky over the Lotte World Tower in Seoul, South Korea's tallest building.
Those in Japan and South Korea were joined by Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines and Taiwan shortly after. In Singapore, fireworks were set off over the Marina Bay to bring in 2026.
However, Hong Kong did not mark the occasion with a fireworks display after a devastating fire killed 161 people in an apartment complex in November, the deadliest blaze the city had seen in decades.
The city is usually home to the world’s largest and most extravagant demonstrations with light shows, fireworks, music and performances.
Instead, the government organised a light show and pared-back musical performances for members of the public.
China
People gathered at the Juyongguan section of the Great Wall, also known as Juyong Pass, in Beijing, China to ring in the New Year, which will mark the Year of the Horse.
Chinese president Xi Jinping, in a New Year’s Eve address broadcast by state media, hailed his country’s technological progress in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors while renewing threats against Taiwan, which it claims as part of its sovereign territory.
“We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship,” he said. “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable.” China this week launched large-scale military drills around the island.
Europe
Europe joined the celebrations later with Germany, France and Italy bringing in the new year at 2300 GMT, before the UK and Portugal follow, as well as some African nations, including Mali and Ghana,
Residents of Berlin already enjoyed snowfall on Wednesday afternoon, taking selfies and making snowmen in front of the German capital’s cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The famous Berlin TV Tower was nearly invisible thanks to the falling flakes and fog.
Thousands of people braved the cold to see in the new year at London’s firework display as the UK ushered in 2026 with a bang.
Despite the temperature hovering around zero degrees, huge crowds gathered on the banks of the River Thames for the sold-out firework spectacular, which was set off near the London Eye at midnight and is being watched by millions across the country.
The attendees, some of whom had waited along the river for hours, cheered along with the countdown before Big Ben’s bongs sounded and fireworks lit up the sky above the capital, with the display to last around 15 minutes and more than 12,000 pyrotechnics to be set off.
However, people are not able to use the vantage point of Primrose Hill this year. It offers panoramic views of the capital and in 2024 an estimated 30,000 revellers marked the beginning of year at the park, but it will be shut to the public this year, with gates not to reopen again until 6am on New Year’s Day.
Royal Parks – the charity that manages the site – says this is in part due to the Met’s decision to disband the Royal Parks police earlier this year.
New York will join in the celebrations at 0500 GMT on New Year’s Day, with performances by Diana Ross and Ciara, while Los Angeles will celebrate at 0800 GMT.
New York City
Crowds bundled up against the chilly temperatures cheered and embraced as the New Year's Eve ball covered in more than 5,000 crystals descended down a pole in Times Square.
Revellers wearing tall celebratory hats and light-up necklaces had waited for hours to see the 12,350-pound (5,602kg) ball drop.
The festivities also included Tones and I performing John Lennon's "Imagine”. The television hosts interviewed visitors who were attending from such places as Florida, Mexico and South Korea, and read people's wishes for the new year.
After the ball dropped, it was scheduled to rise again, sparkling in red, white and blue, to mark the country's upcoming 250th birthday.
Police in the city had planned additional anti-terrorism measures at the ball drop, with "mobile screening teams". It was not in response to a specific threat, according to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch.
Shadows of war and disasters
Indonesia scaled back festivities in solidarity with communities devastated by floods and landslides in parts of Sumatra a month ago that killed over 1,100.
Fireworks on the tourist island of Bali were replaced with traditional dances.
Hong Kong rang in 2026 without fireworks over Victoria Harbor after the massive fire in November.
Facades of landmarks were turned into countdown clocks and a light show at midnight.
And in Gaza, Palestinians said they hope the new year brings an end to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
"The war humiliated us," said Mirvat Abed Al-Aal, displaced from the southern city of Rafah.
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