Rod McGuirk and Sheikh Saaliq
Drummers pounded in the New Year and a stampede of computer-generated horses was shown over a section of the Great Wall as China and the rest of East Asia marked the start of 2026.
South Pacific countries were the first to bid farewell to 2025. New Zealand’s capital, Auckland, held a fireworks display 18 hours before the ball drop in New York’s Times Square.
Auckland
Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration dampened by rain.
The five-minute display involved 3500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240-metre Sky Tower. Smaller community events were cancelled across New Zealand’s North Island on Wednesday due to forecasts of rain and possible thunderstorms.
All eyes were on Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve where, weeks on from the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, hundreds of thousands of people observed a minute’s silence for the victims.
The crowd held their phone torchlights aloft while a menorah was projected onto the Harbour Bridge’s pylons and a dove with the words “peace” and “unity” were displayed.
The silent reflection contrasted with the brilliant firework display that rang out across the world-famous harbour at midnight.
There was a heavy security presence throughout the festivities, with thousands of armed police in attendance to ensure the crowds were safe.
In Melbourne, hundreds of thousands braved a cold evening to watch fireworks displays across the city to ring in the new year.
The seven-minute fireworks shows lit up the sky across Melbourne, first at 9.30pm then the main show at midnight – a spectacular display along the Yarra River.
Tokyo
In Japan, where fireworks aren’t a traditional part of festivities, temple bells rang across the country. Others ate noodles in a traditional wish for long life because of the noodle’s shape.
Seoul
Thousands gathered at the Bosingak bell pavilion, where a bronze bell was struck 33 times at midnight – a tradition rooted in Buddhist cosmology, symbolising the 33 heavens.
The chimes are believed to dispel misfortune and welcome peace and prosperity for the year ahead.
Hong Kong
In Hong Kong, the annual New Year’s fireworks display was called off after the apartment complex blaze in November that killed 161 people.
Instead, a light show with the theme of ‘New hopes, new beginnings’ transformed facades in the Central district.
Beijing
There were celebrations at the Juyong Pass, at the Great Wall of China just outside Beijing, with drummers and a display of computer-generated horses shown over part of the Wall
Revellers wore headgear and waved boards emblazoned with “2026” and the symbol of a horse.
February will mark the arrival of the Year of the Horse on the Chinese lunar calendar.
Jakarta and Bali
Cities around Indonesia scaled back festivities in solidarity with communities devastated by floods and landslides in parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1100 lives.
Concerts and fireworks on the tourist island of Bali were replaced with a cultural event featuring traditional dances.
Still to come
Elsewhere, preparations are under way for the more traditional midnight toast.
In subzero temperatures in New York, organisers began putting up security barriers and stages ahead of the crowds that will flock to Times Square for the annual ball drop.
Similarly, on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro – albeit with warmer weather – staging was being set up for a massive music and fireworks party known as Reveillon. Organisers were hoping to beat their 2024 Guinness World Record for the biggest New Year’s Eve celebration.
In snowy Kyiv, Ukrainians prepared to see in the new year clinging to hopes of peace, although many lamented that after nearly four years of conflict with Russia, it still seemed elusive.
AP, Reuters
