Drums, bells and fireworks: How the world is ushering in 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.
By Rod McGuirk and Sheikh Saaliq
January 1, 2026 — 5.48am
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
People strike a giant bell to celebrate the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple in Tokyo.Credit: AP
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.
