(In some parts of the world) Happy New Year!
While the clock is still ticking until 2026 is celebrated in the United States, here are some highlights from around the world, including Australia, parts of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe.
You can also watch live coverage of the New Year’s Eve celebrations by watching the USA TODAY livestream at the top of this article or by reading below.
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Watch: New Year celebrations in Europe and the Middle East
Check out New Year’s celebrations across the Middle East and Europe.
From Qatar to Paris, people around the world are celebrating the start of 2026 in style.
The British Isles welcomes the new year
Great Britain and Ireland danced their way into the new year, welcoming 2026 at 7pm ET.
While Irish festivities took place from Galway to Cork, Big Ben kept watch over London’s festivities.
This set of countries ushering in the New Year also included Scotland, the home of Robert Burns, author of the unforgettable New Year’s song, Auld Lang Syne.
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Reaching Europe in 2026
The new year has arrived in Europe as the continent enters 2026 at 6pm ET.
Fireworks went off at Germany’s Brandenburg Gate and Rome’s Colosseum, and the lights of Paris’ Eiffel Tower shone as people welcomed the calendar change.
dubai
The 2026 Dubai Run began at 4pm ET with a spectacular fireworks display from around the Burj Khalifa, a skyscraper that stands over 2,700 feet tall.
Dubai celebrates New Year with spectacular fireworks display
A massive fireworks display at the iconic Burj Khalifa lit up Dubai’s skies to celebrate the new year.
Asia
All of Asia has officially welcomed the new year. Video from Taipei, Taiwan. Beijing, China. Fantastic fireworks, projections, dance performances, and more will be on display in Hong Kong and Seoul, South Korea.
In Seoul, the ringing of the bell on New Year’s Eve is a major event. According to the Korea Foundation, the event will be held under Bosingak with the bronze bell being struck 33 times. Seoul celebrated 2026 at 10 a.m. ET.
Celebrate the New Year 2026 from Sydney to Seoul
New Year’s celebrations were held in cities in the East and the Pacific.
Australia
Australians celebrated the New Year at 8am ET, just as many New Yorkers were heading to work. Fireworks lit up the night sky over Sydney Harbour, dazzling crowds made up of people who had camped out the night before to secure a spot to watch the spectacular show.
NYE celebrations around the world: Sydney welcomes 2026
The world is ringing in the new year. Sydney, Australia, welcomed 2026 with a massive fireworks display over its iconic harbour.
Contributor: Julia Gomez, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is USA TODAY’s national trends reporter. Story ideas? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
