Philenews

Kiribati: The First Country to Welcome 2026

Published December 31, 2025, 10:18
Kiribati: The First Country to Welcome 2026

Kiritimati Atoll, known internationally as Christmas Island, in the island nation of Kiribati, became the first inhabited area in the world to officially welcome 2026. Other parts of the Pacific nation of Kiribati will welcome the new year in the coming hours. Kiribati, consisting of 33 islands, is traditionally the first country to celebrate the arrival of the new year due to its geographical location.