New Zealand rang in the New Year with vibrant celebrations it welcomed midnight shortly after Kiribati became the first country to do so. While Auckland marked the occasion with a dazzling fireworks display
that lit up the city skyline, the capital, Wellington, also welcomed the New Year with enthusiastic celebrations.
Fireworks Dazzle Auckland
Visuals have emerged from Auckland, capturing the festive atmosphere and grand scale of New Year revellry as crowds gathered to welcome 2026. Visuals surfacing on X also captured illuminated landmarks as residents and visitors greeted the arrival of 2026.
#WATCH | New Zealand’s Auckland welcomes the #NewYear2026 with fireworks.
(Source: TVNZ via Reuters) pic.twitter.com/vybFTrAjeR
— ANI (@ANI) December 31, 2025
The New Year celebrations were led by Kiribati as it became the first country to enter 2026, with midnight striking on the island of Kiritimati at 10:00 GMT. Other parts of the island nation would join the celebrations over the following hours.
Kiribati Ushers In New Year Ahead Of Rest Of The World
Kiribati, which consists of 33 atolls spread across more than 3.5 million square kilometres of the Pacific Ocean, holds this distinction due to a major time-zone change made in 1994. The shift ensured that all its islands share the same calendar date, despite the country spanning the International Date Line.
Shortly after Kiribati’s celebrations began, New Zealand rang in 2026 with grand festivities. As the clock continues to strike midnight across different time zones, celebrations are set to unfold around the globe, following the Pacific nations that traditionally lead the world into the New Year.
