Night skies are lighting up with New Year’s fireworks as people across the world ring in 2026.

It takes 26 hours for the new year to be welcomed across 39 different time zones.

It all starts on Christmas Island in Kiribati, an island country in the central Pacific Ocean. Hawaii, American Samoa and many of the US outlying islands are among the last places to celebrate the new year.

Thousands of people packed into Times Square to celebrate and watch the ball drop, with over one ton of confetti being released at midnight in New York.
Thousands of people packed into Times Square to celebrate and watch the ball drop, with over one ton of confetti being released at midnight in New York.
Adam Gray/Getty Images
People hold numbers showing 2026 in Sanya, Hainan Province of China.
People hold numbers showing 2026 in Sanya, Hainan Province of China.
VCG/AP
Fireworks erupt behind the Washington Monument during the celebration in Washington DC.
Fireworks erupt behind the Washington Monument during the celebration in Washington DC.
Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
A man celebrates during the traditional New Year's fireworks at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
A man celebrates during the traditional New Year's fireworks at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.
Tercio Teixeira/AFP/Getty Images
People celebrate the New Year in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, January 1, 2026.
People celebrate the New Year in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, January 1, 2026.
Matias Delacroix/AP
People watch fireworks in the port of Valparaiso on the coast of Chile.
People watch fireworks in the port of Valparaiso on the coast of Chile.
Javier ToresS/AFP/Getty Images
Dallas Stars fans in New Year's dress during an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Dallas.
Dallas Stars fans in New Year's dress during an NHL hockey game against the Buffalo Sabres in Dallas.
Jessica Tobias/AP
Fireworks light up the sky over Elizabeth Tower and the London Eye in central London.
Fireworks light up the sky over Elizabeth Tower and the London Eye in central London.
Jamie Lashmar/PA/AP
A child lights fireworks on the beach during a festival in the village of Abene, Senegal.
A child lights fireworks on the beach during a festival in the village of Abene, Senegal.
Marie Ruweta/AFP/Getty Images
Fireworks explode over the Sava River in Belgrade, Serbia.
Fireworks explode over the Sava River in Belgrade, Serbia.
Djordje Kojadinovic/Reuters
German tourists Joshua Kormann and his wife Dafinka Metodieva share a kiss as fireworks spark outskirts of Cairo.
German tourists Joshua Kormann and his wife Dafinka Metodieva share a kiss as fireworks spark outskirts of Cairo.
Amr Nabil/AP
Fireworks explode above the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Fireworks explode above the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.
Britta Pedersen/picture-alliance/dpa/Getty Images
Fireworks explode during the celebrations in Barcelona, Spain.
Fireworks explode during the celebrations in Barcelona, Spain.
Bruna Casas/Reuters
People attend celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia.
People attend celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana/Reuters
Fireworks explode in Rome.
Fireworks explode in Rome.
Alessandra Tarantino/AP
Drummers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing.
Drummers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing.
Ng Han Guan/AP
Fireworks explode around Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Fireworks explode around Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Fatima Shbair/AP
Paisley, 7, and Ryder Capanna, 3, sing karaoke during a midday Noon Year’s Eve party in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
Paisley, 7, and Ryder Capanna, 3, sing karaoke during a midday Noon Year’s Eve party in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
Daniella Heminghaus/Bucks County Courier Times/USA Today Network/Imagn Images
People watch fireworks in Makati, a city just outside of Manila, Philippines.
People watch fireworks in Makati, a city just outside of Manila, Philippines.
Jamillah Sta. Rosa/AFP/Getty Images
A kid plays on a Santa decoration during celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
A kid plays on a Santa decoration during celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
Thilina Kaluthotage/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Boats line up on the Chao Phraya River to watch a fireworks show in Bangkok, Thailand.
Boats line up on the Chao Phraya River to watch a fireworks show in Bangkok, Thailand.
Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images
People take a selfie with sparklers while celebrating in Moscow.
People take a selfie with sparklers while celebrating in Moscow.
Vladimir Astapkovich/Sputnik/AP
People watch fireworks from the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
People watch fireworks from the Marina Bay Sands hotel in Singapore.
Edgar Su/Reuters
Balloons and confetti fall during a New Year's event at a shopping mall in Beijing.
Balloons and confetti fall during a New Year's event at a shopping mall in Beijing.
Andy Wong/AP
Old resolutions are burned at the Zojoji Temple in Tokyo minutes after midnight.
Old resolutions are burned at the Zojoji Temple in Tokyo minutes after midnight.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
People celebrate as the new year begins in Seoul, South Korea.
People celebrate as the new year begins in Seoul, South Korea.
Soo-hyeon Kim/Reuters
Fireworks light up the sky in Abu Dhabi.
Fireworks light up the sky in Abu Dhabi.
Sheikh Zaid Festival Abu Dhabi/Reuters
People pose for pictures near illuminated New Year's decorations in Mumbai, India.
People pose for pictures near illuminated New Year's decorations in Mumbai, India.
Rafiq Maqbool/AP
Fireworks illuminate the night sky in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Fireworks illuminate the night sky in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Annice Lyn/Getty Images
Tourists visit the Longta Plaza to welcome the new year in Harbin, China.
Tourists visit the Longta Plaza to welcome the new year in Harbin, China.
Tyne Chin/Getty Images
Fireworks light up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Fireworks light up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Saeed Khan/AFP/Getty Images