On Wednesday, a throng of international visitors flooded New York City’s Times Square, donning quirky 2026 glasses and oversized Planet Fitness hats, to celebrate the arrival of the new year in grand style.

Social media was abuzz with videos capturing the scene, as enthusiasts bundled up in warm jackets, hats, and scarves huddled together or sat on the chilly pavement, eagerly awaiting the famous crystal ball’s descent at midnight.

This iconic ball will make another appearance in July to commemorate the United States’ 250th anniversary.

In another part of the nation, Washington D.C. celebrated America’s 250th birthday by turning the Washington Monument into a spectacular multimedia birthday candle.

Every hour, a 25-minute projection show illuminated the monument, highlighting key events from American history.

The festivities concluded with a dazzling fireworks display over the National Mall at the stroke of midnight.

Similar celebrations were held across the United States, in cities like Miami, Florida, New Orleans, Louisiana and Austin, Texas.

In Minnesota, revelers also geared up for a hockey puck to drop in the city of St. Paul, while the last US state to see 2026 is Alaska. 

Thousands of people from across the world packed into New York City’s Times Square on Wednesday to ring in the new year

Will Krag and Bella Courchesne kiss at midnight in Times Square as confetti flew through the night sky

The iconic crystal-encrusted ball fell at the stroke of midnight

Ahead of the festivities, President Donald Trump was asked about his hopes for the coming year, to which he said he would like to see ‘peace on Earth,’ following a year in which he claimed to end numerous wars across the globe.

Once inside one of the ballrooms at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump told the crowd that the United States is ‘doing great.’

‘We’re back. We’re strong,’ he insisted.

Others across the United States tuned in to watch Andy Cohen and Anderson Cooper ring in the new year on CNN as they played with puppets and spoke to stars including Stephen Colbert and BJ Novak.

On the program, Colbert addressed the cancelation of The Late Show, which will come to an end in the spring.

The announcement over the summer came just days after the host blasted the network’s $16 million settlement with President Trump as a ‘big fat bribe.’

Looking back on what had happened, Colbert told Cohen the lesson he is taking away from 2025 is: ‘Don’t trust billionaires.’ 

In the nation’s capital, the Washington Monument was transformed into a giant multimedia birthday candle to mark America’s 250th birthday

At the top of each hour, a 25-minute show was projected onto the monument, showcasing pivotal moments in American history. That all culminated with fireworks over the National Mall at midnight

Similar festivities were held in cities across the United States, including Miami, Florida (pictured)

But when he was then asked how he feels heading into the new year, Colbert said, ‘Everything’s just fantastic.’

‘We’re going to have a great time and we’re going to get these bastards, and later we’re going to find out who those bastards are,’ he said, cryptically.

At that point, Cohen asked Colbert how he would reply to those who say he should run for office – to which Colbert turned the question back on him.

‘Maybe I will run for mayor of New York,’ Cohen then jokingly mused. 

The new year marked the end of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ reign. 

In his final act as mayor, Adams pushed the button to begin the ball drop countdown in Times Square – ending his term in office in the same place it began four years ago, when he was sworn in.

‘This has been a remarkable four years,’ the outgoing mayor said. 

Times Square revelers bundled up in jackets, scarves and mittens as they wore novelty 2026 glasses 

Revelers held balloons reading ‘2026’ to mark the new year

The crowds gathered together to battle the bitter cold Wednesday night

People from all over the world arrived in Times Square to watch the ball drop

Once the ball dropped in Times Square, Andy Cohen drunkenly said his goodbyes to Adams. 

‘I just want to say, he got his pardons,’ the host said, as Cooper tried to cut him off.

‘Great, you got your pardons, now go off into the sunset. Go dance away, we’ll see you at the parties… all the clubs,’ Cohen advised Adams, who was known for his clubbing.

‘I just want to say goodbye Mayor Adams, you did it, didn’t you?,’ he continued.

‘But I will say this – he maybe dented the rat population.. But isn’t that a metaphor of sorts – I mean, let’s call it as it is.’

‘Well, guess what it’s 2026 and there are less rats,’ Cohen then concluded his drunken rant.

In his final act as New York City mayor, Eric Adams pushed the button to begin the ball drop countdown in Times Square

Zohran Mamdani took the oath of office to become New York City’s new mayor just after midnight on January 1

As he spoke, Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as the first Muslim mayor of America’s largest city, taking the oath of office at an historic decommissioned subway station in Manhattan.

‘This is truly the honor and the privilege of a lifetime,’ the Democratic Socialist said in a brief speech.

Mamdani will be sworn in again, in grander style, in a public ceremony at City Hall at 1pm by US Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of the mayor´s political heroes. 

That will be followed by what the new administration is billing as a public block party on a stretch of Broadway known as the ‘Canyon of Heroes,’ famous for its ticker-tape parades.