Auckland was among the first major cities to welcome 2026 on Wednesday, as thousands gathered to watch a dazzling fireworks display from the iconic Sky Tower.
The annual show lit up the night sky as large crowds converged on the Central Business District to join the celebrations. “Happy New Year, New Zealand!” Prime Minister Christopher Luxon posted on X.
Millions more are expected to celebrate as the clock moves across time zones. After Auckland, Sydney will stage its signature fireworks at the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, followed by festivities across Asia, the Middle East and Europe — from Bali’s beach parties and Singapore’s Marina Bay to New Delhi’s public events, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa display, London’s river Thames fireworks and the Times Square ball drop in New York.
Some of the world’s last inhabited places to mark the new year are the South Pacific islands of Niue and Samoa. Niue — a large raised coral atoll located northeast of the International Date Line — observes a time zone 11 hours behind Greenwich Mean Time.
In Japan, many will mark the occasion by watching the year’s first sunrise, following a long-standing tradition.
— IANS
