Follow New Year’s Eve 2025 celebrations around the world

(LONDON) — Happy 2025!

In some parts of the world, anyway.

The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first country to ring in 2025, with its 133,500 citizens celebrating the new year at 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The Micronesian nation was soon followed into 2025 by the Chatham Islands in New Zealand at 5:15 a.m. ET.

Auckland, New Zealand

New Zealand’s capital Wellington and its largest city of Auckland — both located on the country’s North Island — welcomed 2025 at 6 a.m. ET. Fireworks lit up the Auckland skyline as massed crowds watched.

Sydney

Residents of the western Australian city of Sydney enjoyed a fireworks display three hours ahead of midnight local time, which is 8 a.m. ET.

The famed Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House provided a familiar backdrop for New Year’s revelers in the country’s largest city.

Tokyo

The words “Happy New Year” lit up a building in Tokyo as Japan ushered in 2025.

Seoul

In South Korea, people gathered at midnight to honor the victims of this weekend’s plane crash at South Korea’s Muan International Airport that killed 179 of the 181 people on board.

Hong Kong

Hong Kong said goodbye to 2024 with an epic fireworks display at 11 a.m. ET.

Beijing

Partyers posed with light-up sticks in Beijing at 11 a.m. ET.

The Philippines

The buildings were as bright as the fireworks in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.

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