New Zealand and Australia light the way as the world rings in 2026 with dazzling fireworks

Auckland lit up first, with a spectacular five-minute fireworks display launched from multiple levels of the city’s iconic Sky Tower.

Around 3,500 fireworks burst into the night sky from the 240-metre (787-foot) structure, New Zealand’s tallest landmark, drawing thousands of locals and visitors to witness one of the world’s earliest major countdowns.

Within New Zealand, the Chatham Islands marked the start of the New Year ahead of the mainland.

Before New Zealand and Australia, the first place on Earth to welcome 2026 was Kiritimati Island in the Republic of Kiribati.

Located in the Pacific Ocean and sitting in the UTC+14 time zone, the island—also known as Christmas Island—ushered in the New Year nearly a full day before the last places to celebrate.

In Australia, Sydney lived up to its billing as the self-proclaimed “world capital of New Year’s Eve,” hosting a spectacular harbour-side fireworks display. Ahead of the celebrations, a minute’s silence was observed to honour the victims of the Bondi Beach attack.

At 11 pm local time, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was illuminated with powerful symbols—a menorah, a dove, and the words “unity” and “peace”—setting a solemn yet hopeful tone before the midnight countdown.

As midnight moved steadily west across the globe, countries that welcome the New Year in sequence: Japan and the Korean Peninsula followed Australia, with China, Southeast Asia and South Asia next.

India and Sri Lanka will mark the arrival of 2026 at midnight IST, while Europe will usher in the New Year in the early hours of January 1.

The US will follow later in the day, with the US East Coast celebrating at 10:30 am IST.

The final places to ring in 2026 will be American Samoa and the remote Baker and Howland Islands in the UTC-12 time zone, where midnight will arrive almost 24 hours after the first fireworks lit up the skies over Kiribati—bringing the world’s long New Year’s journey to a close.