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MANILA, Philippines – Fireworks lit up the skies all over the world as 2025 ended and 2026 began on Thursday, January 1.
People from around the world bid goodbye to the old year and hoped for a better year ahead.
Midnight arrived first on the islands closest to the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean, including Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Tonga, and New Zealand.
Here are some photos of how the world marked New Year’s Eve.
Sydney, Australia
Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the New Year in Sydney, Australia, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY HOLIE ADAMS/REUTERS
Tokyo, Japan
Dancers perform during a countdown event in front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building on New Year’s Eve, in Tokyo, Japan, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY ISSEI KATO/REUTERS
Seoul, South Korea
Traditional dancers perform Samulnori, Korean traditional performance, during a ceremony to celebrate the new year in Seoul, South Korea, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY SOO-HYEON KIM/REUTERS
Jakarta, Indonesia
People attend the New Year’s Eve celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY AJENG ULFIANA/REUTERS
Manila, Philippines
Celebrities and music artists entertain the large crowd at the Quezon Memorial Circle for a concert countdown to 2026 on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY ANGIE DE SILVA/RAPPLER
People watch the New Year’s Day celebration fireworks at the Quezon City Circle on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY NOEL CELIS/REUTERS
Two New Year babies were born at the Dr. Jose Fabella Memorial Hospital in Manila on January 1, 2026. Sally Alburo, a 25-year-old mother from Cavite, delivers her second child, a baby boy named Yuri, at exactly 12 am. Just 10 seconds later, Jennilyn Dalen, a 21-year-old first-time mother, gives birth to a baby girl named Zamara, marking the hospital’s first births of the year. PHOTO BY RAPPLER
Taipei, Taiwan
People gather to see fireworks at Taipei 101 to mark the New Year in Taipei, Taiwan, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY ANN WANG/REUTERS
Hongkong, China
People celebrate the New Year at the Bank of China building in Central in Hong Kong, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY LAM YIK/REUTERS
Beijing, China
People gather at a New Year countdown ceremony at Juyongguan Great Wall section, also known as Juyong Pass, in Beijing, China, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY MAXIM SHEMETOV/REUTERS
Singapore
Fireworks explode over the Marina Bay during the New Year celebrations in Singapore, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY HUIYING ORE/REUTERS
Bangkok, Thailand
Fireworks explode during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY ATHIT PERAWONGMETHA/REUTERS
Dubai, UAE
A woman wearing a Santa Claus hat watches the New Year’s celebrations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY AMR ALFIKY/REUTERS
Qatar
People wear ‘2026’ glasses during New Year’s celebrations in Lusail, Qatar, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY MOHAMMED SALEM/REUTERS
Nairobi, Kenya
Revelers watch in traffic as fireworks explode over the Global Trade Center Office Tower during the New Year’s celebrations in Nairobi, Kenya, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY THOMAS MUKOYA/REUTERS
Moscow, Russia
People take part in New Year celebrations near St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow, Russia, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY ANASTASIA BARASHKOVA/REUTERS
Kyiv, Ukraine
A couple kisses next to a Christmas tree during a New Year’s eve celebration before a curfew, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS
Belgrade, Serbia
Fireworks explode over the Belgrade Waterfront project and Sava river during the New Year celebrations in Belgrade, Serbia, December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY DJORDJE KOJADINOVIC/REUTERS
Berlin, Germany
Fireworks explode over the Bradenburg Gate during the New Year celebrations in Berlin, Germany, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY AXEL SCHMIDT/REUTERS
Thessaloniki, Greece
A drone view shows fireworks exploding behind the White Tower during New Year’s celebrations, in Thessaloniki, Greece, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY ALEXANDROS AVRAMIDIS/REUTERS
Valletta, Malta
Fireworks explode during New Year’s celebrations in Valletta, Malta, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY DARRIN ZAMMIT/REUTERS
Paris, France
An image is projected onto the Arc de Triomphe, during the New Year’s celebrations on the Champs Elysees avenue, in Paris, France, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LECOCQ/REUTERS
Barcelona, Spain
Fireworks explode during the New Year celebrations in Barcelona, Spain, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY BRUNA CASAS/REUTERS
London, Britain
Fireworks explode near the London Eye Ferris wheel to mark the New Year’s celebrations, in London, Britain, on January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY MAJA SMIEJKOSKA/REUTERS
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Fireworks explode during New Year’s celebrations at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, January 1, 2026. PHOTO BY TITA BARROS/REUTERS
New York City, USA
Revelers in Times Square await the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop in the Manhattan borough of New York City, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY RYAN MURPHY/REUTERS
Diana Ross performs at Times Square during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, in New York City, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER/REUTERS
New York City Mayor Eric Adams pushes the crystal button that signals the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball in Times Square, New York City, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER/REUTERS
Fireworks explode and confetti drop after the crystal button is pushed that signals the descent of the New Year’s Eve Ball at Times Square in New York City, on December 31, 2025. PHOTO BY KYLIE COOPER/REUTERS
– With reports from Reuters/Rappler.com
