Nations Kick Off New Year with Fireworks and Festivities

While Americans and others in the Western Hemisphere are still waiting for midnight to usher in 2025, many spectators in earlier time zones around the world have already started celebrating the New Year with grand festivities, dazzling light shows, and invigorating ice plunges.

One of the first major cities to welcome the New Year was Auckland, New Zealand, where midnight arrives 18 hours before the famous ball drop in New York City. Thousands of people climbed the city’s volcanic peaks or gathered downtown to witness a breathtaking fireworks display paying tribute to the country’s indigenous population.

As countries across the South Pacific have either already celebrated or kicked off their New Year festivities, other nations worldwide are gearing up to welcome 2025 with their unique holiday traditions.

South Pacific Fireworks, Year of the Snake

In Sydney, Australia, spectators marveled at fireworks launched from the Sydney Harbour Bridge over the bay. More than a million people gathered in the Sydney Harbour area to ring in 2025, with British pop star Robbie Williams leading a singalong with the crowd.

The celebrations in Sydney also featured indigenous ceremonies and performances honoring Australia’s indigenous communities.

Across Asia, many countries are preparing for the Year of the Snake in 2025, symbolizing rebirth as the reptile sheds its skin. In Japan, where the zodiac cycle begins on Jan. 1, preparations included cleaning temples and homes ahead of the New Year holiday, with many stores selling snake-themed products for the nation’s largest annual celebration.

Some Asian countries, however, mark the start of the Year of the Snake at the beginning of the Lunar New Year on Jan. 29, 2025.

However, South Korea’s celebrations have been subdued or canceled due to national mourning following a Jeju Air flight crash that claimed 179 lives.

In Bangkok, Thailand, many shopping malls entertained crowds with live music and dazzling fireworks displays. Thai rap star Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink performed just before midnight. Jakarta, Indonesia, welcomed the new year with an impressive fireworks showcase featuring 800 drones.

American Samoa will be among the last countries to ring in the New Year, with its timezone lagging 24 hours behind New Zealand’s.

Middle East, European Celebrations

In Israel, New Year’s celebrations were toned down this year due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas and the hostages still held captive following the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attacks.

Parts of Lebanon remain scarred from the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which recently concluded with a ceasefire. In Syria, there is a mix of hope and uncertainty following Bashar Assad’s ousting.

In Dubai, thousands gathered to witness a fireworks display at the iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest skyscraper.

In Rome, the start of 2025 coincides with a once-every-25-years celebration, Pope Francis’s Holy Year. The festivities are expected to draw around 32 million visitors to the city in 2025. Pope Francis will lead an evening prayer at St. Peter’s Basilica on Tuesday, calling for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine. The new year’s first day, also the Solemnity of Mary, is a holy day of obligation for Catholics.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz used the occasion to urge unity in the face of economic challenges and a recent deadly Christmas market attack.

In Paris, France, which hosted the 2024 Olympics, the year ended with a traditional countdown and fireworks on the Champs-Elysées.

In the UK, winter storms have disrupted some New Year’s celebrations, leading to the cancellation of events like the Hogmanay Street party and castle pyrotechnics show in Edinburgh. London, however, plans to host a fireworks display on the River Thames and a parade featuring 10,000 performers on Jan. 1.

In Switzerland, residents embraced the cold by partaking in icy plunges to mark the arrival of the New Year.

The Americas Embrace 2025

In Brazil, Rio de Janeiro is hosting New Year’s celebrations on Copacabana Beach, where offshore ferries will launch fireworks for 12 minutes, delighting thousands of cruise ship tourists.

Alongside performances by Brazilian artists Anitta and Caetano Veloso, the festivities in Copacabana are expected to draw over 2 million spectators.

In the US, New York City will uphold its iconic Times Square ball drop tradition that dates back to 1907. The festivities feature musical performances by TLC, the Jonas Brothers, Rita Ora, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.

Las Vegas is set to host around 340,000 people for a dazzling pyrotechnic display along the famous Strip, with fireworks launched from casino rooftops. The city’s Sphere venue will also showcase a midnight countdown across different time zones.

In Pasadena, California, spectators are camping out to secure prime spots for the Rose Parade celebrations. In Nashville, Tennessee, an estimated 200,000 people will attend a party with country music stars.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.