When will the clocks strike midnight in different countries around the world?<\/p>\n
I am writing today\u2019s blog from London. Using UK time, here is a quick rundown of when (some very select) countries will ring in the new year:<\/p>\n
Kiribati -10:00 GMT<\/p>\n
New Zealand \u2013 11:00 GMT<\/p>\n
Most of Australia\u2019s east coast \u2013 13:00 GMT<\/p>\n
North Korea, South Korea and Japan- 15:00 GMT<\/p>\n
Taiwan, Hong Kong and China \u2013 16:00 GMT<\/p>\n
Thailand \u2013 17:00 GMT<\/p>\n
India and Sri Lanka \u2013 18:30 GMT<\/p>\n
Russia (Moscow) \u2013 21:00 GMT<\/p>\n
Ukraine \u2013 22:00 GMT<\/p>\n
Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy \u2013 23:00 GMT<\/p>\n
The UK , Ghana and Portugal\u2013 00:00 GMT \u2026<\/p>\n
Brazil and Argentina \u2013 03:00 GMT<\/p>\n
The east coast of the US \u2013 05:00 GMT<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.12 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Security in Sydney \u2013 and across Australia \u2013 has been massively stepped up in the wake of the terror attack at the Bondi beach Hanukkah event<\/a> on 14 December, in which 15 people were killed and dozens more were injured when gunmen opened fire on the celebration attended by more than 1,000 people.<\/p>\n New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has urged the people of Sydney to \u201csquare your shoulders, puff out your chest and walk out\u201d to celebrate tonight as a show of defiance after the attack, Australia\u2019s deadliest mass shooting since 1996.<\/p>\n Guardian Australia reporter Penry Buckley<\/a> has written about the extra security measures being put in place, with hundreds of thousands of revellers expected to cram into harbourside vantage spots for Sydney\u2019s magnificent fireworks display. Here is an extract from the story:<\/p>\n The New South Wales premier said police were putting \u201cextra measures\u201d in place for the city\u2019s public transport system, which many were expected to use before and after Wednesday\u2019s celebrations.<\/p>\n He said this was in addition to the presence of more than 2,500 police officers, including some with long-arm weapons<\/a>, on Sydney\u2019s streets.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to show strength and resilience during this period,\u201d Minns said on Wednesday. \u201cAnd if that is that you square your shoulders, puff out your chest and walk out even in the face of genuine community concern, I think that we\u2019ve got an obligation do that.\u201d<\/p>\n You can read more here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.15 EST<\/p>\n NYE parties paused in Sydney for a minute’s silence to commemorate victims of the Bondi terror attack<\/p>\n With one hour to go until Australia enters 2026, a minute\u2019s silence was observed and the Sydney Harbour Bridge lit up at 11pm (local time), with a menorah, a dove and the words \u201cunity\u201d and \u201cpeace\u201d projected on to the structure.<\/p>\n Announcements broadcast inside CBD train stations asked that passengers switch on their phones\u2019 torches at 11pm to \u201cshine a light in solidarity with the victims and anyone affected by the (Bondi terror) attack\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.17 EST<\/p>\n Fireworks, light shows and party zones: what\u2019s on for NYE in Australia\u2019s capital cities?<\/p>\n Use our NYE 2025 guide below to find out when and where major events are happening around Australia tonight:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Sydney is the self-appointed \u201cworld capital of new year\u2019s eve\u201d and arguably rightly so. As always, eyes will be on the Opera House at 13:00 GMT when fireworks will light up the sky in spectacular fashion. But there are also huge crowds out in Melbourne to see off the year in style.<\/p>\n Thousands of people are expected to descend on Melbourne this evening to celebrate NYE. There will be two 7 minute firework displays and light shows tonight, first a family one at 9.30pm for young children, and the main one at the stroke of midnight.<\/p>\n It is currently 22:36 in Melbourne and Sydney, and anticipation is building for the big moment.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.47 EST<\/p>\n Some community events have been cancelled across New Zealand\u2019s North Island due to forecasts of rain and possible thunderstorms.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Fireworks in Auckland as New Zealand among those to welcome in the new year<\/p>\n Auckland has welcomed in the new year with a colourful fireworks display over the Sky Tower.<\/p>\n The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from various floors of the 240m (787ft) tower, New Zealand\u2019s tallest structure.<\/p>\n The Pacific Island nations of Samoa, Tonga, along with Tokelau \u2013 a dependent territory of New Zealand about 3,500km north of Auckland \u2013 have also welcomed in 2026 with celebrations.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.10 EST<\/p>\n Family-friendly fireworks go off over Sydney Harbour Bridge<\/p>\n The family-friendly fireworks went off over Sydney Harbour Bridge before the main display at midnight (13:00 GMT). Here are some of the best pictures:<\/p>\n Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour Bridge (at 9pm local time) during New Year\u2019s Eve celebrations in Sydney. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersFireworks are seen over Sydney Harbour during the 9pm family fireworks display at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts\/AAPFireworks are seen over Sydney Harbour during the magnificent display at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts\/AAPShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.00 EST<\/p>\n The countdown is well and truly under way in Australia \u2013 at least in (most of) the country\u2019s eastern cities where the clock will strike twelve at 13:00 GMT.<\/p>\n As always, the main midnight moment in Sydney will be the annual fireworks display<\/a> surrounding the harbour bridge.<\/p>\n A family fireworks display is held three hours before midnight every year so that young children get a chance to join in the festivities before they have to go to bed.<\/p>\n Key viewing sites, including at Mrs Macquarie\u2019s Chair and other areas in the Royal Botanic Garden, were already at capacity<\/a> on Wednesday afternoon.<\/p>\n People sleep at Mrs Macquaries Point ahead of the New Year\u2019s Eve fireworks in Sydney. Photograph: Hollie Adams\/ReutersShare<\/a>New Zealand’s remote Chatham Island welcomes in new year<\/p>\n New Zealand\u2019s Chatham Island is now in 2026. The remote archipelago, in the Pacific Ocean, is home to about 600 people.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The clocks will chime across most of New Zealand in about half an hour, where midnight local time is 11:00 GMT.<\/p>\n In Auckland, the major city close to the international date line, the Sky Tower usually puts on an impressive fireworks display, and there will be a myriad of other celebrations across New Zealand, including fireworks over Wellington Harbour, which are expected to go ahead tonight, despite forecasted gloomy weather.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.31 EST<\/p>\n Kiribati becomes first country to welcome in the new year, as clocks strike twelve in island of Kiritimati<\/p>\n An atoll in the remote Pacific Island nation of Kiribati \u2013 Kiritimati \u2013 has become the first to usher in the new year (at 10:00 GMT). We will bring you pictures as soon as we get them in.<\/p>\n Other parts of Kiribati will be welcoming in the new year over the next few hours.<\/p>\n Kiribati \u2013 made up of 33 atolls (islands) \u2013 controls more than 3.5 million sq km (1.4m sq miles) of Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n In 1994, Kiribati \u2013 pronounced \u201cKiribass\u201d \u2013 changed the time zone across the international date line, so all 33 islands would have the same date (there were previously some islands on the eastern side of the international date line).<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a005.18 EST<\/p>\n When will the clocks strike midnight in different countries around the world?<\/p>\n I am writing today\u2019s blog from London. Using UK time, here is a quick rundown of when (some very select) countries will ring in the new year:<\/p>\n Kiribati -10:00 GMT<\/p>\n New Zealand \u2013 11:00 GMT<\/p>\n Most of Australia\u2019s east coast \u2013 13:00 GMT<\/p>\n North Korea, South Korea and Japan- 15:00 GMT<\/p>\n Taiwan, Hong Kong and China \u2013 16:00 GMT<\/p>\n Thailand \u2013 17:00 GMT<\/p>\n India and Sri Lanka \u2013 18:30 GMT<\/p>\n Russia (Moscow) \u2013 21:00 GMT<\/p>\n Ukraine \u2013 22:00 GMT<\/p>\n Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland and Italy \u2013 23:00 GMT<\/p>\n The UK , Ghana and Portugal\u2013 00:00 GMT \u2026<\/p>\n Brazil and Argentina \u2013 03:00 GMT<\/p>\n The east coast of the US \u2013 05:00 GMT<\/p>\n