New Year’s Eve celebrations have kicked off around the world, with Auckland’s Sky Tower in New Zealand among the first landmarks to light up as 2026 begins. The event marks the start of the millennium’s 26th year, as billions of people say goodbye to 2024.
The past year saw the global population reach approximately 8.2 billion, the Olympic Games in Paris watched by 5 billion people, and the continuation of conflicts in Europe and the Middle East. Additionally, billions of people voted in elections across 73 countries, from Madagascar to India, the United Kingdom to the United States.
For many, tonight is a night of celebration, with champagne corks popping to welcome the new year. It also brings the opportunity—or pressure—to finally start those long-delayed resolutions.
Images from New Year’s Eve festivities around the globe are emerging as the celebrations unfold.
