On Wednesday night, as the global countdown of “10, 9, 8…” crossed over to Thursday, people around the world bid farewell to the challenging year of 2025 and embraced high hopes for the upcoming new year of 2026.
The celebration kicked off first from Pacific island nations near the International Date Line, including Kiribati (also known as Christmas Island), Tonga, and New Zealand.
According to reports from Reuters, here’s how countries around the world bid farewell to the old and welcomed the new in their own unique ways:
In Australia, Sydney ushered in 2026 with a spectacular fireworks display tradition. Around 40,000 fireworks lit up along the harbor structures and barges, extending over 7 kilometers (more than 4 miles), with the Sydney Harbour Bridge showcasing its iconic waterfall fireworks.
It’s worth noting that due to a recent tragic shooting at a Jewish event in Sydney that claimed the lives of 15 people, security was heightened for this year’s celebrations. At 11 p.m. local time, a minute of silence was observed for the victims, with the Harbor Bridge illuminated in white light and projecting a Menorah symbolizing the Jewish festival of lights on the bridge piers.
Sydney Mayor Clover Moore expressed before the event: “After a tragic end to the year in our city, we hope that New Year’s Eve can provide a unifying opportunity for us to look forward to a peaceful and happy 2026.”
In Seoul, South Korea, thousands of people gathered at Bosingak, where at midnight, the bell tolled 33 times. This tradition rooted in Buddhist cosmology symbolizes the 33 layers of heaven, aimed at warding off misfortune and welcoming peace and prosperity in the coming year.
Taipei 101 in Taiwan:
Michael Liu, the operations manager of Taipei 101, stated that the skyscraper’s fireworks show is a cultural symbol of “resilience and hope,” with the introduction of large-scale LED grid animation technology for 2026.
Infrastructure prowess:
Taipei Metro implemented a “continuous 42-hour operation” service, showcasing Taiwan’s exceptional organizational strength as a hub for information and communications technology, in collaboration with telecommunication companies.
Contrasting local culture:
Mayor Chen Chi-mai of Kaohsiung showcased the cultural transformation of the port city through the Love River Bay light show, while Taimali in Taitung welcomed the first light of dawn with indigenous music and dance in the “Land of the Rising Sun.”
Croatia:
The town of Fuzine has continued the tradition of “noon countdown” since 2000. People celebrate by drinking champagne at noon, with some brave participants donning Santa hats and jumping into the icy waters of Lake Bajer.
New York:
In sub-zero temperatures, staff are setting up safety barriers and stages in Times Square to prepare for the annual ball drop event.
Brazil:
Preparations are underway at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro for the music and fireworks extravaganza named “Reveillon,” with organizers aiming to break the Guinness World Record for “largest New Year’s Eve celebration” set in 2024.
In the snow-covered Kyiv, Ukrainians hold on to hopes for peace as the new year dawns. Despite the almost four-year conflict with Russia, many still feel that peace remains distant.
Reported by Reuters, a 47-year-old female soldier named Iryna expressed, “We need to be realistic. Of course, everyone wants to believe in peace, but I don’t know if that’s wise.” She joined the army after her husband was killed.
Nine-year-old Olesia, visiting the Saint Sophia Cathedral to see the Christmas tree, expressed a more optimistic view, saying, “I believe the new year will definitely bring peace.”