In a jubilant start to the New Year, Auckland, New Zealand, led the world in welcoming 2026 with a spectacular fireworks display. The vibrant celebration erupted over the cityscape from the iconic Sky Tower, New Zealand’s tallest structure, as Auckland became the first major city to greet the new year.

As the South Pacific nations ushered in 2026, Auckland’s 1.7 million residents celebrated 18 hours ahead of the ball drop in New York’s Times Square. The dazzling five-minute display featured 3,500 fireworks launched from various levels of the 240-meter (787-foot) tall Sky Tower. However, smaller community gatherings across New Zealand’s North Island were canceled earlier in the week due to anticipated rain and thunderstorms.

Meanwhile, Australia welcomed the New Year two hours later, under a different atmosphere. In Sydney, the shadow of a recent tragedy loomed over the city’s festivities. This was the backdrop in the wake of Australia’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades, which occurred when two gunmen attacked a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on December 14, leaving 15 dead and 40 injured.

Defiant celebration in Australia after worst mass shooting

Despite the somber mood, thousands gathered along Sydney’s downtown waterfront to witness the city’s renowned fireworks display, centered around the Sydney Harbor Bridge. The event unfolded under heavy police surveillance, with officers visibly armed with rapid-fire rifles for the first time during the annual celebrations.

As the clock neared midnight, the city paused to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach tragedy. A minute of silence was observed, during which spectators lit candles and turned on their phone flashlights. A poignant image of a menorah was projected onto the bridge pylons, inviting the crowd to stand in solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community, reflecting a spirit of unity and resilience amidst the celebration.

An hour before midnight, the massacre victims were commemorated with one minute of silence as people held lit-up candles and switched on their phone flashlights while images of a menorah were projected on the bridge pylons. The crowd was invited to show their solidarity with Australia’s Jewish community.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns urged Sydney residents not to stay away through fear, saying extremists would interpret smaller crowds at New Year’s Eve festivities as a victory.

“We can’t be in a situation where this horrible, criminal, terrorist event changes the way we live in our beautiful city,” Minns told reporters on Wednesday.

“We have to show defiance in the face of this terrible crime and say that we’re not going to be cowered by this kind of terrorism,” he added.

Indonesia and Hong Kong hold subdued events

In Indonesia, one of Australia’s nearest neighbors, cities scaled back New Year’s Eve festivities as a gesture of solidarity with communities devastated by catastrophic floods and landslides that struck parts of Sumatra island a month ago, claiming more than 1,100 lives.

The capital, Jakarta, will not ring in 2026 with its usual fanfare, choosing instead subdued celebrations with a calm and reflective program centered on prayers for victims, city Gov. Pramono Anung said last week.

Makassar Mayor Munafri Arifuddin urged residents of one of Indonesia’s largest cities to forgo parties altogether, calling for prayer and reflection instead. “Empathy and restraint are more meaningful than fireworks and crowds,” he said.

Concerts and fireworks on Indonesia’s tourist island of Bali have been canceled and replaced with a cultural arts event featuring 65 groups performing traditional dances.

Hong Kong, too, will ring in 2026 without the usual spectacular and colorful explosions in the sky over its iconic Victoria Harbor, after a massive fire in November killed at least 161 people.

The city’s tourism board will instead host a music show featuring soft rock duo Air Supply and other singers in Central, a business district. The facades of eight landmarks will turn into giant countdown clocks presenting a three-minute light show at midnight.

Many parts of Asia welcome the new year by observing age-old traditions.

In Japan, crowds will gather at a Buddhist temple in Tokyo for a bell striking at midnight. In the South Korean capital Seoul, a bell tolling and countdown ceremony will be held at the Bosingak Pavilion.

China’s Xi renews threats against Taiwan

Chinese President Xi Jinping in a New Year’s Eve address broadcast by state media hailed his country’s technological progress in areas such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors while renewing threats against Taiwan, which it claims as part of its sovereign territory.

“We Chinese on both sides of the Taiwan Strait share a bond of blood and kinship,” he said. “The reunification of our motherland, a trend of the times, is unstoppable.” China this week launched large-scale military drills around the island.

Berliners celebrate in snow

Tourists and Berliners alike marked the end of 2025 by enjoying snowfall, taking selfies and making snowmen in front of the German capital’s cathedral and the iconic Brandenburg Gate. The famous Berlin TV Tower was nearly invisible thanks to the falling flakes and fog.

Quieter celebrations planned in Greece and Cyprus
Greece and Cyprus will ring in 2026 by turning down the volume, replacing traditional fireworks with low-noise pyrotechnics, light shows and drone displays in their capital cities. Low-noise fireworks avoid the explosive bursts that generate the loud cracks typical of traditional displays.

Officials in the two countries say the change is intended to make celebrations more welcoming for children and pets, particularly animals sensitive to loud noise.

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Saaliq reported from New Delhi, India. Associated Press writers around the world contributed to this report.