People take photos of digit 2026 installed in a Christmas fair opened prior to Christmas and New Year festivities in St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
AP

The Pacific island nation of Kiribati became the first country in the world to welcome 2026 as the clock struck midnight in its Line Islands, marking the official start of New Year’s celebrations globally.

A wave of countries and regions will ring in the New Year over the next several hours, beginning with parts of Oceania, followed by East Asia, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa and the Americas.

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Countries including New Zealand and Australia are next in line to usher in 2026, with large public gatherings and fireworks displays planned in major cities. Several Asian nations, including Japan, South Korea, China, and India will follow shortly thereafter. 

Across regions, authorities have put security arrangements and crowd-control measures in place, particularly in city centres and popular public venues, to manage New Year’s Eve celebrations.