SYDNEY, Australia: As 2025 came to a close, people across the globe welcomed 2026 with fireworks, traditions, and renewed hopes for the year ahead. Celebrations began earliest in the Pacific islands near the International Date Line, including Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Tonga, and New Zealand, where the New Year arrived hours before most of the world.
In Sydney, Australia, the city lit up the night sky with an extraordinary fireworks display spanning over seven kilometers across the harbour. The event featured a dramatic waterfall effect cascading from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, captivating thousands of spectators. This year, celebrations took place under heightened security following a mass shooting at a local Jewish event in November that left 15 people dead. Organizers held a minute’s silence at 11 p.m., and the Harbour Bridge was illuminated in white, with a menorah projected onto its pylons as a tribute to the victims. Sydney’s Lord Mayor Clover Moore expressed hope that the evening would provide a moment for the city to come together and look forward to a peaceful 2026.
In Seoul, South Koreans gathered at the Bosingak bell pavilion, where a giant bronze bell was struck 33 times at midnight. Rooted in Buddhist cosmology, the ritual is believed to dispel misfortune and invite prosperity for the year ahead. Across the border in China, crowds celebrated at Juyong Pass near the Great Wall of China with drumming performances, waving signs marked “2026” and images of a horse in anticipation of the upcoming Year of the Horse in the lunar calendar.
Hong Kong marked the New Year more somberly. Following a tragic apartment complex fire in November that killed 161 people, organizers canceled the traditional fireworks display. Instead, a light show with the theme “New Hopes, New Beginnings” illuminated buildings in the Central district.
In Europe, Croatia’s town of Fuzine kicked off celebrations at noon, continuing a tradition started in 2000. Residents and tourists toasted with champagne, danced to music, and some even braved the icy waters of Lake Bajer for a chilly New Year’s plunge. In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, crowds gathered on Copacabana Beach for the annual Réveillon festival of music, dancing, and fireworks, hoping to surpass the previous year’s record for the largest New Year’s Eve celebration.
Preparations were also underway for traditional midnight celebrations in other parts of the world. In New York City, crews erected stages and security barriers in Times Square for the iconic ball drop, while temperatures hovered below freezing. Athens, Greece, opted for a quieter celebration with silent, eco-friendly fireworks to avoid distressing animals and residents.
Even in cities scarred by conflict, people sought hope. In snowy Moscow, visitors from across Russia wished for peace and stability, while in Kyiv, Ukrainians wrapped in winter coats visited the Christmas tree outside Saint Sophia Cathedral. A nine-year-old girl, Olesia, expressed optimism, saying she believed peace would come in the New Year.
Across continents and cultures, the start of 2026 was a reminder of resilience and hope. From icy dips in Croatia to massive fireworks in Sydney and Rio, people everywhere marked the transition with reflection, celebration, and the timeless wish for a better year ahead.
-Rosalba Nickel
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