Sydney: People across the world welcomed the new year with celebrations filled with hope while saying goodbye to a year marked by challenges and change. From fireworks and concerts to quiet prayers and family gatherings, the transition from 2025 to 2026 reflected both joy and reflection.
The first major celebrations began in the Asia Pacific region. Cities like Sydney and Auckland lit up their skylines with fireworks as crowds gathered along waterfronts and public squares. In many places, moments of silence were also observed to remember victims of conflicts and tragedies that occurred during the year.
Across Asia, people marked the new year in different ways. In Tokyo, many visited temples for traditional prayers, while in Bangkok crowds welcomed 2026 with music shows and riverfront celebrations. Several countries maintained increased security as a precaution during large gatherings.
Europe followed with grand but measured celebrations. In Paris, fireworks and light displays filled the sky near the Eiffel Tower, while cities like Rome and Berlin mixed concerts with calls for peace and unity. Church bells rang across many towns as people gathered to pray for a better year ahead.
In the Americas, millions watched the famous countdown in New York as the Times Square ball dropped at midnight. Celebrations also took place in cities across Latin America, with fireworks, street dances and family feasts marking the arrival of 2026.
Leaders around the world used the occasion to send messages of hope, urging people to work for peace, solidarity and care for the vulnerable. Many reflected on the lessons of 2025, a year shaped by global conflicts, economic pressures and climate related disasters.
As 2026 begins, the shared mood across continents is one of cautious optimism. While challenges remain, the world stepped into the new year united by a common wish for peace, stability and renewed hope.