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By MELISSA KOENIG, US REPORTER and JAMIE BULLEN, LIVE COVERAGE EDITOR and SAM CHISHOLM and NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER and SHANNON MCGUIGAN, NEWS REPORTER and TOM LAWRENCE, NEWS REPORTER
Updated:
Celebrations took place in cities across the world as fireworks marked the beginning of 2026.
Impressive displays delighted revellers in Australia, Europe and the US to mark the end of 2025.
In London, 100,000 people turned out to witness the spectacle – making the event Europe’s biggest fireworks display.
Mayor Sadiq Khan kickstarted the festivities with a political message in praise of multiculturalism as the London eye was illuminated in the flags of other countries, with a booming voiceover describing England as a ‘cup of tea’.
In the US, thousands of revelers cheered as the ball dropped as the iconic Times Square ball dropped.
Others gathered in huge numbers in Las Vegas and San Francisco to welcome in the new year in style.
Japan and South Korea became the first Asian nations to see in the new year with traditional bell-ringing celebrations taking place across Tokyo and Seoul.
Parties soon followed in Beijing, Singapore, Taiwan and Manila where the clock struck midnight an hour later.
Meanwhile, Australia and New Zealand were the first major countries to enter 2026 with celebrations in Sydney particularly poignant as people honoured the victims killed in the Bondi Beach terror attack in December.
Across Britain, revellers were told to wear extra layers when heading out to watch fireworks displays with the Met Office issuing a snow warning for London later this week.
This live page has closed but for a full New Year’s Eve recap see below:
This live blog has now closed.
Thanks for following our New Year’s Eve live coverage and we hope you have a wonderful New Year’s Day and beyond.
Performers prepare for New Year’s Day Parade
Earlier today performers were seen preparing for the annual New Year’s Day Parade through central London.
More than 1,000 people have joined the grand street party through central London.
Taking off from Piccadilly at 1pm, the performers will march through Piccadilly Circus, past Trafalgar Square and towards the finish at Westminster.
Swimmers take a New Year’s Day plunge
Brave swimmers have taken a cold dip across the country today.
It is a festive tradition in many seaside towns across the UK for large groups to brave an icy plunge on New Year’s Day
Whitley Bay, North Tyneside
Southend-on-sea, Essex
Barry, South Wales
It is 2026 everywhere!
The clock has struck midnight on Baker Island, one of the last places on earth to welcome in the new year.
The uninhabited island is a US wildlife refuge sitting nearly 2,000 miles southwest of Honululu, Hawaii.
The last inhabited islands of American Samoa and Niue celebrated 2026 one hour ago, leaving just a few remote spots in the Pacific in 2025.
Brits welcome in the New Year in style
Partying Brits celebrated the New Year in style last night before tottering home in the early hours – only after the excitement had all gotten a bit much for some.
Millions stayed up to welcome in 2026 at midnight, with many opting to hit the UK’s high streets, pubs and clubs and staying out well into this morning.
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Pope Leo hosts New Year’s Day mass for the first time
Pope Leo XIV presided over the New Year’s Day mass in St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City today for the first time.
Fireworks in San Francisco as the west coast of US celebrates the new year
Despite rainy conditions, crowds gathered across San Francisco to witness a fireworks display over the Bay Bridge.
Pictures show fireworks across the world
Fireworks were set off for celebrations across the word as cities celebrated the new year.
La Libertad, El Salvador
Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Singapore
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Berlin, Germany
Lisbon, Portugal
Revellers take an icy plunge to celebrate the New Year
It was a cold start to the new year for people in Scotland.
Swimmers took an ice-cold dip into the Firth of Forth in South Queensferry for the annual Loony Dook.
The dook, a Scottish word meaning a dip, began on New Year’s Day in 1987 when a group of friends decided to swim in the water as a hangover cure.
The island where it is already January 2
In the Pacific island of Kiritimati, New Year’s Day has already been and gone.
The island, which is part of Kiribati, became the first place on earth to enter the new year yesterday and because of its geographical location it is a whole day ahead of nearby Baker Island.
The coral atoll, also known as Christmas Island, is the world’s farthest forward time zone.
Hawaii finally welcomes in the new year
Fireworks surrounded the city of Honululu in Hawaii as it became one of the last places on earth to begin the new year just moments ago.
The US state, which is located in the Pacific Ocean is 10 hours behind the UK and five hours behind New York City.
Only a few other Pacific islands now remain in 2025.
London fireworks criticised as organisers include ‘advert’ for Wicked
Last night’s fireworks display in London has been criticised for featuring an ‘advert’ for the new Wicked movie.
The display from London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan featured prominent visuals and songs from Wicked: For Good in an ‘event partnership’ between his office and Universal Pictures.
Viewers were critical after the show made references to the film but made no reference to rock legend Ozzy Osbourne following his death in 2025.
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