Fireworks, prayers and moments of silence marked the arrival of 2026 as billions across the globe bid farewell to a year defined by war, political shocks and fragile hopes for peace, making 2025 one of the most turbulent and hottest years on record.
Celebrations unfolded against a tense geopolitical backdrop. Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year address to praise troops fighting in Ukraine, calling them national “heroes”, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his country was “10 percent” away from an agreement to end the conflict, now Europe’s deadliest war since World War II.
Australia’s largest New Year celebration carried a sombre tone. Crowds in Sydney observed a minute of silence for victims of the Bondi Beach shooting before nine tonnes of fireworks lit up the harbour. Heavy police patrols lined the waterfront, as authorities reinforced security following the deadliest mass shooting in the country in nearly three decades.
Across Eastern Europe, ordinary citizens voiced exhaustion and resilience. A Russian pensioner in Ulyanovsk said she hoped 2026 would bring an end to the fighting and the return of soldiers, while in Ukraine, beauty salon manager Daria Lushchyk said the war had made daily life “hell”, yet customers continued to seek moments of normalcy.
Elsewhere, celebrations reflected sharply different realities. Baghdad’s skies flashed with fireworks, while Hong Kong cancelled its Victoria Harbour display in tribute to 161 people killed in a deadly apartment fire last November. Pacific nations including Kiribati and New Zealand were the first to welcome 2026, followed by festivities stretching through Asia, Europe and the Americas.
In the Middle East, grief and cautious optimism coexisted. Gaza residents marked the new year under the shadow of destruction despite an October ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, while Syrians in Damascus celebrated one year since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, expressing hope for unity after years of upheaval.
Dubai closed the global countdown in spectacle. Thousands queued for up to nine hours to witness a 10-minute fireworks and laser show at the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building. The display capped a year shaped by Donald Trump’s return to the White House, market-shaking tariffs, cultural milestones and mounting questions over artificial intelligence as the world steps into an uncertain 2026.
