As 2025 comes to a close, the excitement of welcoming a new year is spreading across the globe, but not everyone experiences midnight at the same moment.
Due to the world’s different time zones, some countries are already ringing in 2026, hours before other countries joins the countdown.
In these different countries, people are already celebrating the new year with fireworks, while others are still counting down.
ALSO READ: 7 Countries That Don’t Celebrate New Year on January 1st
Countries That Welcomed 2026 First
- Kiribati (Kiritimati Atoll / Christmas Island) – 10:00 GMT
This is the very first country to celebrate the New Year. - New Zealand – 11:00 GMT
Cities marked the New Year with public events, countdowns, and spectacular fireworks displays. - Australia (East Coast) – 13:00 GMT
Sydney, Melbourne, and other cities will host major fireworks displays and lively street parties. - Fiji & Solomon Islands – 15:00 GMT
Pacific island nations celebrate the new year with beach festivals, traditional dances, and community events. - Europe: Greece, Finland, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and the Baltic states– 10:00 PM GMT
Capitals and city centers mark the New Year with concerts, fireworks, and public countdown celebrations.
About The Author
