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The World Welcomes 2026 – First Countries to Celebrate the New Year

Published December 31, 2025, 15:19
The World Welcomes 2026 – First Countries to Celebrate the New Year

The world welcomed 2026 with celebrations that began in Pacific countries like Kiribati and New Zealand, where midnight arrived first. The festivities were overshadowed by the events of 2025, which included the war in Gaza, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, the development of Artificial Intelligence, and the return of Donald Trump to the White House. 2025 was also marked by extreme weather events, such as wildfires, drought, and floods, confirming the severity of climate change. In Sydney, the celebrations were accompanied by a minute of silence for the antisemitic attack at Bondi Beach, while around 2.5 million people are expected in Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana.