As the new year of 2025 arrives, the annual New Year’s Eve fireworks display is a major highlight at the end of each year. With the countdown to the stroke of midnight, many cities around the world host grand fireworks shows to welcome the arrival of the new year.
New Zealand, known for being among the first to usher in the new year, kicked off the celebrations in its largest city, Auckland. Following closely was the iconic Sydney in Australia, while countries and regions like Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, the UAE, the Netherlands, and Belgium showcased their dazzling fireworks displays to mark the new year.
New Zealand is the first country in the world to greet the first light of the new year. Auckland’s Sky Tower, standing at 328 meters high, welcomed the new year with a spectacular 360-degree fireworks display, the highest in the Southern Hemisphere. Over 500 kilograms of fireworks were launched from three points at heights ranging from 200 to 240 meters above the ground, accompanied by nearly 8 minutes of laser light and animated performances, creating a joyous atmosphere on site.
The world-renowned Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks featured two displays this year, at 9 pm and midnight local time, with 8 minutes and 12 minutes of fireworks respectively. The sky lit up with colorful displays, captivating the audience with a dazzling show of lights and colors, illuminating Sydney Harbor in the process.
According to organizers, Sydney hosted the largest and most technologically advanced New Year’s Eve fireworks display ever seen, with a budget of $6.3 million Australian dollars (approximately $3.9 million USD). Over 9 tons of fireworks were launched, featuring 53,500 fireworks, setting off from both sides of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge and the roof of the Sydney Opera House. Drones were used to create spectacular visual effects in the Sydney skyline, attracting an estimated one million attendees and over 425 million viewers worldwide via live broadcasts.
To welcome the arrival of 2025, Taipei 101 in Taiwan showcased a stunning fireworks display themed “Team Taiwan Champion” at midnight on January 1st. The colorful fireworks lit up the night sky for 6 minutes, accompanied by a laser light show also themed around “Team Taiwan Champion.”
According to the Taipei City Tourism and Travel Bureau, based on telecommunications estimates, by 12:10 am, there were over 220,000 people gathered at the New Year’s Eve event at the Taipei Dome and its surrounding areas.
In Hong Kong, amidst various countdown celebrations across the city, the grandest spectacle was the New Year’s Eve fireworks show at Victoria Harbour. As midnight approached, with synchronized countdowns, the harbor was filled with the sounds of cheers and boat horns, as vibrant fireworks illuminated the night sky from Central to North Point. The exterior of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre displayed the numbers “2025” and messages of blessings, setting the stage for the new year with cheers and excitement.
The 12-minute fireworks display in Hong Kong kicked off with “Flames of Glory,” featuring predominantly red fireworks symbolizing the pursuit of life and dreams. The visual effects of flowers bursting open in various heights created a striking display of blossoming colors.
In Paris, France, the New Year’s Eve fireworks display took place on the Champs-Élysées outside the Arc de Triomphe, as crowds gathered on the beautiful street to bid farewell to the old year and welcome the new one together.
London, with its majestic backdrop, always provides an extraordinary setting for New Year’s Eve fireworks displays. As London entered 2025, the Big Ben chimed midnight, followed by fireworks lighting up the sky near the iconic London Eye. Despite adverse weather affecting multiple regions across the country and leading to the cancellation of various activities, London continued its tradition of hosting a spectacular New Year’s Eve fireworks display, bringing people together to celebrate the start of the new year.