Summary

  1. East coast of the US enters 2026 - including the Big Applepublished at 05:00 GMT 1 January
    Breaking

    Fireworks explode and confetti drop after the crystal button is pushed that signals the descent of the New Year's Eve Ball at Times SquareImage source, Reuters

    The ball has dropped in New York City, heralding the beginning of 2026 to a Times Square jam-packed with revellers.

    Of course, it's not just about New York City - cities up and down the east coast are also celebrating the new year, including Boston, Washington DC and Miami.

    It’s also midnight in Ottawa, Canada – happy new year!

  2. Places still counting down to 2026published at 04:51 GMT 1 January

    The next to cheer is the east coast of the US, which will welcome the new year shortly. Here is the shrinking list of places still counting down:

    • 05:00 GMT - New York City, Washington DC, Havana
    • 06:00 GMT - Mexico City, Chicago
    • 08:00 GMT - Los Angeles
    • 10:00 GMT - Honolulu, Hawaii

    A woman walks out of focus at the front of an image with a couple shopping behind in a market, with a woman in a green jacket on the right looking at goods.Image source, EPA
    Image caption,

    People shop before the year's end at the Sonora Market in Mexico City

  3. New year inching closer for New Yorkpublished at 04:43 GMT 1 January

    Thousands of people wearing purple hats are crammed into Times Square on New Year's Eve.Image source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    People are packed in to watch the ball drop at midnight.

    With less than 20 minutes until midnight in New York, crowds are waiting in anticipation to watch the ball drop in Times Square.

    As we mentioned earlier, an estimated one million could turn out in the streets, CBS News reports. Earlier in the day, NYPD shared on X, external the different road closures and entry points with a reminder to attendees that safety comes first.

    On 1 January, Zohran Mamdani will also be officially sworn in as the new mayor of New York City. He is expected to take his oath at an abandoned subway stop in a midnight private ceremony before a public ceremony later on New Year's Day.

    An enormous blue crystal ball in Times Square with "2026" underneath in red and blue crystals.Image source, Getty
    A woman cheers as confetti surrounds her head during the Times Square New Year's Eve confetti testImage source, Getty
  4. US set to celebrate 250 years of its foundingpublished at 04:34 GMT 1 January

    Kwasi Gyamfi Asiedu
    Reporting from Washington, DC

    The US Capitol past a video display showing the number 250 projected on the Washington Monument during an America250 kickoff celebration in Washington, DCImage source, Bloomberg via Getty Images

    When the clocks strike midnight here, the US will officially kick off activities to celebrate 250 years of independence. Officials here plan to commemorate the occasion in a big way.

    Fireworks are planned and the Washington Monument - a 555ft (169m) obelisk that towers over the US capital - will be lit up in national colours and projections highlighting major achievements in the country's history.

    America 250, as it is dubbed, is not the only major event in 2026 to look forward to. The US will also play co-host to the Fifa World Cup and there are highly consequential elections in November that could reshape the country's politics.

    For now, I am eagerly awaiting the firework display here.

  5. What is the Times Square ball drop?published at 04:24 GMT 1 January

    Media caption,

    Crystals and LEDs: A look at the Times Square New Year's Eve ball

    New year celebrations can be found across the US, but many would argue that festivities in New York City are the most famous.

    Thousands of people have gathered in Times Square to ring in new year. The most important part of the party is the ball drop, which happens as the clock strikes midnight on New Year's Eve.

    The enormous crystal ball features 5,280 circular Waterford crystal LED lights and will drop down a 139ft (42m) pole, marking the beginning of 2026.

    The moment has been immortalised in pop culture and become so synonymous with the new year that other cities in the US have also started a "drop" on New Year's Eve.

    In Boise in Idaho, for example, residents have spent 13 years heralding the new year by dropping a giant polystyrene potato.

  6. More of South America has joined the partypublished at 04:00 GMT 1 January
    Breaking

    The clock has officially struck midnight in Venezuela, Bolivia, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.

    A very happy new year to all!

  7. Copacabana Beach lights up in Riopublished at 03:53 GMT 1 January

    Massive crowds can be seen watching the epic fireworks show at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

    We are still waiting to hear whether the Brazilian city has beaten its 2024 Guinness World Record for the biggest New Year's Eve celebration - when reportedly 2.5 million people gathered to celebrate.

    Orange fireworks explode on Copacabana Beach during celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with massive crowds gathered on the beachImage source, Getty Images
    Yellow fireworks explode on Copacabana Beach during celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with massive crowds gathered on the beachImage source, Getty
  8. Crowds gather in Times Squarepublished at 03:23 GMT 1 January

    Masses of people are gathering in New York City's Times Square with just under two hours to go until the clock strikes midnight.

    Crowds are expected to reach an estimated one million people in the square, CBS News reports.

    Most people are gathering to watch the famous ball drop, but prior to the magical moment crowds are enjoying live performances from the likes of singer Robyn, Ciara, Tones and I, and many more.

    A large crowd of people wearing purple hats with the words "Planet Fitness" line up against a metal barricade in Times SquareImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    People gather at Times Square ahead of the ball drop at midnight

    Ciara stands in the middle of a stage dressed in white with her hand pointed to the sky, surrounded by dancers also in white crouching in positionsImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    US R&B singer Ciara performs in Times Square

  9. Bells ring in Antarctica, as crew aboard RRS Sir David Attenborough welcome 2026published at 03:00 GMT 1 January

    A picture of the RRS Sir David Attenborough in the Antarctic.Image source, Joe Jackson

    On the RRS Sir David Attenborough, stationed in the Antarctic, the crew and science teams rang in the new year with the ship’s bell.

    The UK’s polar research ship is currently sailing around the tip of the Antarctic Peninsula.

    Third Officer, Joe Jackson, tells the BBC: "Marking the new year is a proper tradition on British Antarctic Survey ships!

    "The oldest person onboard rings out the old year just before midnight, then the youngest person on the ship rings the bell 10 times as we enter the new year. This time we had Neil MacDonald, our Chief Engineer, mark the end of 2025, and then IT Engineer, Joshua Holder, celebrate the start of 2026.”

    Quote Message

    Marking the new year is a proper tradition on British Antarctic Survey ships!"

    Joe Jackson, Third Officer, aboard the RRS Sir David Attenborough

  10. Rio de Janeiro welcomes in 2026published at 03:00 GMT 1 January
    Breaking

    Happy new year to some of South America!

    Parts of Brazil, including the capital Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo, have ushered in 2026 with fireworks galore.

    Argentina and Bermuda are also celebrating the arrival of new year.

  11. Rio ready to welcome in the new year - and hoping to beat a recordpublished at 02:49 GMT 1 January

    The city of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil is one of the latest preparing to welcome in 2026.

    On Copacabana Beach, a massive music and fireworks party is under way.

    Organisers are hoping to beat their 2024 Guinness World Record for the biggest New Year's Eve celebration.

    People enjoy the beach ahead of New Year's celebrations, at the Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, BraziImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    People seen earlier on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, ahead of the main event

  12. What colour will you wear this New Year's Eve?published at 02:29 GMT 1 January

    Malu Cursino
    Live reporter

    In just over 30 minutes Brazil will enter 2026. And there, New Year's Eve is big deal - as I've seen myself many times over the years.

    There are several traditions some Brazilians follow to welcome the new year, from wearing white clothes to jumping seven waves (if you are near a beach).

    Sported by religious and non-religious people, the tradition of wearing white clothes is widely adopted by worshipers who celebrate Iemanjá, a Yoruba deity known as the "Queen of the Sea".

    As well as wearing white, those who worship Iemanjá take flowers to the sea at the end of the year as offerings to give thanks for the year that's passed.

    For others, including many Catholics or those with no religious beliefs, wearing white and going into the sea is about manifesting peace and harmony for the year ahead, rather than being linked to the deity.

    There's also a tradition of wearing specific colours to "attract" different things for the new year. Although this is subjective, here's what each colour symbolises:

    • White - peace, harmony and tranquillity
    • Gold - light and richness
    • Silver - youthfulness
    • Yellow - enthusiasm and joy
    • Blue - confidence and stability
    • Green - growth, renewal and hope
    • Brown - solidity and safety
    • Black - elegance and power
    • Red - energy, strength and passion
  13. Greenland enters 2026published at 02:01 GMT 1 January
    Breaking

    Greenland - the world's largest island - has just welcomed in the new year.

    It's an autonomous Danish dependent territory with its own parliament.

    As we mentioned in our previous post, thanks to this connection, many in Greenland welcome in the new year twice. Once when the new year began in Denmark (four hours earlier), and again at midnight local time.

  14. Who is still waiting for 2026?published at 01:44 GMT 1 January

    The UK, and the rest of Europe, have crossed into 2026, but many parts of the world are still awaiting the new year.

    Greenland, 02:00 GMT

    Thanks to their connection to Denmark, many in territory will end up celebrating the arrival of 2026 twice.

    Once when the new year began in Denmark, and again at 00:00 local time.

    Brazil, 03:00 GMT

    The city of Rio de Janeiro was awarded the title of the largest New Year’s Eve celebration in the world by Guinness World Records on 30 December, following the festivities that accompanied the arrival of 2025.

    So we are expecting big things this year!

    New York City, 05:00 GMT

    The east coast of the US will welcome the new year in under four hours - which of course, will include New York City and the famous Times Square ball drop.

    By midday GMT, it will officially be 2026 worldwide.

  15. Europe is officially in 2026published at 01:18 GMT 1 January

    With Europe officially in 2026, photos of celebrations across the continent are flooding in.

    Revelers look at a light and fireworks show displayed on the Arc de Triomphe to celebrate the New Year 2026Image source, Christophe Petit-Tesson/EPA
    Image caption,

    Paris, France

    ireworks illuminate the sky over the Quadriga statue of the Brandenburg Gate during New Year's Eve celebrations in Berlin.Image source, Hannibal Hanschke/EPA
    Image caption,

    Berlin, Germany

    Drones form the word "Barcelona" in the night sky as fireworks light up the city during New Year celebrations.Image source, Bruna Casas/Reuters
    Image caption,

    Barcelona, Spain

  16. Hogmanay lights up Edinburgh Castlepublished at 00:52 GMT 1 January

    Fireworks light up the sky above Edinburgh Castle.Image source, PA Media

    Tens of thousands of revellers gathered for the spectacular midnight firework display over Edinburgh Castle, the traditional image of Hogmanay in Scotland's capital. It marks a return of the event after it was cancelled last year because of bad weather.

    The city has come alive in a street party to ring in the new year, with live music, DJs and street theatre for the tens of thousands of people celebrating the beginning of 2026.

    Revellers gather at Edinburgh Castle for a fireworks display.Image source, PA Media
  17. Watch: London rings in 2026 with spectacular fireworkspublished at 00:25 GMT 1 January

    Here's a look back at the display that welcomed in the new year in London.

    Media caption,

    Watch: London rings in 2026 with spectacular fireworks

  18. Incredible display to kick off the new yearpublished at 00:21 GMT 1 January

    Spectators have just seen 12,000 fireworks light up London skies to celebrate the new year, in a display that took months to choreograph.

    We say it every year, but this might have been the best one yet!

    Red and yellow fireworks explode above the London Eye.
    Big Ben with fireworks behind
    Red and yellow fireworks explode above the London Eye.
    Purple fireworks light up the sky, with Big Ben a silhouette.Image source, Tolga Akmen/EPA
  19. London Eye at the centre of spectacular displaypublished at 00:11 GMT 1 January

    A red and purple sky can be seen behind Big Ben and the London Eye, as fireworks explode around them.Image source, Tolga Akmen/EPA
    Red fireworks explode around the London EyeImage source, Jonathan Brady/PA

    As the iconic bongs on Big Ben rang in the new year, fireworks erupted from barges set up in front of the London's famous ferris wheel.

    As the bells stopped ringing, a playlist kicked off, mashing together some of the UK's biggest moments of the year with the biggest songs from 2025.

  20. Happy new year! UK rings in 2026published at 00:00 GMT 1 January
    Breaking

    Nathan Williams
    Live page editor

    Big Ben

    Big Ben's iconic bongs have just sounded marking the start of 2026 in the UK. See the full fireworks display over the Thames by pressing watch live above.

    In Edinburgh, tens of thousands of revellers are at the Princes Street party enjoying the display above Edinburgh Castle for the first time in a couple of years - after last year's event which was cancelled because of bad weather.

    And there are celebrations across the country from Cardiff to Newcastle.

    Wherever you are, from all of us in the BBC newsroom, happy new year!