The world ushered in New Year 2026 with a mix of spectacular celebrations and solemn remembrance, as midnight rolled across the globe from the Pacific Islands to the Americas. The iconic Burj Khalifa in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, served as a dazzling centerpiece, while Sydney's famous harbour display paid a poignant tribute to recent tragedy.
Dubai's Dazzling Display and Asia-Pacific Welcomes 2026
The world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, was transformed into a canvas of light, water, and fireworks as the city counted down to 2026. Videos from the event captured the skyscraper glowing in magnificent shades of blue, captivating onlookers. The streets of Dubai also came alive with vibrant dance and aerobics performances, adding to the festive atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the first major celebrations began in the islands closest to the International Date Line. Nations like Kiritimati (Christmas Island), Tonga, and New Zealand were among the very first to ring in the new year. They were soon followed by Australia, where Sydney hosted its world-renowned fireworks extravaganza over the iconic harbour.
Sydney's Spectacle Shadowed by Tragedy
Sydney's New Year's Eve event was both a celebration and a moment of collective mourning. The display featured an impressive 40,000 pyrotechnic effects, including a stunning waterfall of light from the Sydney Harbour Bridge. However, this year's festivities were held under an enhanced police presence, a response to a tragic attack just weeks prior where two gunmen killed at least 15 people at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration.
In a moving tribute, organizers held a minute's silence at 11 pm local time for the victims. The Harbour Bridge was lit in white, and a menorah—the symbol of Judaism—was projected onto its pylons. Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore expressed the city's sentiment, hoping the event would allow people to "come together and look with hope for a peaceful and happy 2026."
Global Celebrations from Seoul to Rio
Celebrations continued across the world's time zones. In South Korea, thousands gathered at Seoul's Bosingak bell pavilion to hear the traditional bronze bell struck 33 times at midnight. In China, revellers at the Juyong Pass on the Great Wall outside Beijing celebrated with drum performances, wearing headgear and waving boards marked with "2026" and the symbol of a horse.
Over in Brazil, Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach hosted a massive music and fireworks event. The organizers ambitiously aimed to break their own Guinness World Record from 2024 for the biggest New Year's Eve celebration. In contrast, Hong Kong's celebrations were muted due to a massive fire in November that claimed at least 161 lives, casting a somber tone over the year's end in the city.
The global welcome to 2026 thus painted a picture of humanity's resilience—finding moments of unity, joy, and reflection as the calendar turned a new page.
