New Year’s 2026: Global Celebrations from Times Square to Tokyo

People around the world marked the end of 2025 and the start of 2026 with a mix of fireworks, processions and local customs, from confetti in Times Square to costumes at a road race in São Paulo, dancers in Bali and a cold‑water plunge in Croatia. The New York Times reported that New Year’s Eve offered a moment to reflect after a year of disruption: a trade war led by a new Trump administration that upended markets, federal raids targeting immigrants that set off protests and lawsuits, and presidential moves described as dismantling and reshaping parts of government.

Globally, the paper noted, old conflicts raged on in Ukraine and Sudan, new tensions flared across Asia, violence continued in Gaza despite a cease‑fire, and the United States bombed Iran and attacked boats in the Caribbean in actions legal experts said amounted to extrajudicial killings.

Photographs and videos published by the Times and partner agencies captured scenes from many cities: a ball drop and confetti in New York, fireworks over Copacabana Beach, the London Eye illuminated as Big Ben chimed, bursts above the Giza Pyramids, a Burj Khalifa display in Dubai, a drone horse over Busan, fireworks from Taipei 101 and Marina Bay, a balloon release in Ahmedabad and a moment of silence in Sydney for victims of the Dec.

14 Bondi Beach shooting. The gallery also showed more unusual moments, such as scientists and journalists playing games on a South Korean ship bound for Antarctica.

Key Topics

Culture, Times Square, Copacabana Beach, Burj Khalifa, Bondi Beach