New Year: Kiribati becomes first to enter 2026; celebrations set to follow across world

While most of the world was still finishing the last day of the new year, a small island in the Pacific had already stepped into the new year.Kiritimati, also known as Christmas Island, officially welcomed 2026, around 3.30 pm Indian Standard Time,becoming the first place in the world to do so. The country celebrates the New Year almost a full day ahead of many others because of its position near the International Date Line.Kiritimati is part of Kiribati, a Pacific Ocean nation located south of Hawaii and north-east of Australia. Kiribati is made up of several low-lying atolls, spread across nearly 4,000 kilometres from east to west. Kiribati became independent from the United Kingdom in 1979 and has a population of about 1.16 lakh people. Many of its islands sit just above sea level and are considered vulnerable to rising seas linked to global warming. The country is also home to the South Pacific’s largest marine reserve.Soon after, Auckland in New Zealand became one of the first major cities to welcome the new year. Large crowds gathered in the city’s central areas as fireworks lit up the sky around the Sky Tower. Australia is next in line, with Sydney preparing its annual fireworks at the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Meanwhile, the Pacific islands of Niue and Samoa, not far from Kiribati but on the other side of the date line, will be among the last inhabited places to welcome 2026.As midnight travels westward, celebrations will continue, marking the start of another year across different time zones and cultures.