From Sydney to Mumbai, Paris to Rio de Janeiro, 2025 was welcomed around the world with spectacular light shows, embraces, and ice plunges.
In New York City, the New Year’s Eve ball was dropped in Times Square, where heavy rain was endured by thousands of revelers to celebrate the start of the year.
The New Year was first celebrated in the South Pacific, with midnight striking in New Zealand 18 hours before the ball drop in Times Square. In Auckland, fireworks displays were viewed by thousands who gathered downtown or climbed volcanic peaks for a better vantage point.
Acknowledgment of the New Year was muted in places like the Middle East, Sudan, and Ukraine due to ongoing conflicts.
Millions around the world celebrate New Year 2025 with fireworks,
New Zealand led the world in welcoming the New Year, with Auckland dazzling spectators through a spectacular fireworks display launched from the iconic Sky Tower. Crowds gathered in the city center and atop volcanic peaks to enjoy the breathtaking spectacle.
In Australia, Sydney’s harbor lit up with a dazzling pyrotechnic display, drawing hundreds of thousands of revelers to the waterfront. The show featured over 100,000 individual effects and was themed around hope and renewal.

India, too, celebrated in style, with Mumbai’s Marine Drive and Gateway of India illuminated by vibrant light displays. Across the country, people participated in cultural events and exchanged wishes for prosperity in the coming year.


In France, the Champs-Élysées in Paris became the center of celebrations, where crowds gathered under the glow of the Eiffel Tower to enjoy a mesmerizing fireworks and light show. Elsewhere, small towns held communal gatherings, blending modern celebrations with traditional French customs.

Despite rain, New York City saw thousands of determined revelers at Times Square, where the iconic New Year’s Eve ball dropped amid cheers, music, and fireworks. The event continued the city’s tradition of hope and resilience.

Meanwhile, in Brazil, Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro hosted millions as the city celebrated with music, dancing, and one of the world’s largest fireworks displays. The white-clad revelers honored the traditional offering of flowers to the sea for blessings in the new year.
While the Middle East, Sudan, and Ukraine experienced muted celebrations due to ongoing conflicts, moments of quiet reflection and hope marked the start of the year.
In American Samoa, one of the last places to ring in the New Year, preparations were underway to bid farewell to 2024, completing the circle of global celebrations.
From one time zone to another, 2025 was welcomed with a mix of tradition, resilience, and hope for brighter days ahead.
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