The city of Dubai ushered in the year 2026 with a breathtaking pyrotechnic spectacle centred on the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa.
A Multisensory Celebration in the Desert
The iconic skyscraper served as the dazzling focal point for the New Year's Eve festivities. The display was far more than just fireworks, incorporating a full performance of synchronised light projections, music, and powerful water jets. This multisensory event lit up the night sky over the United Arab Emirates as the clock struck midnight.
Global Thresholds Crossed
The celebrations in Dubai coincided with several other nations entering 2026. Alongside the UAE, the countries of Azerbaijan, Armenia, much of Georgia, Mauritius, and the Seychelles also crossed the temporal threshold into the new year.
Reflective Moments in Sydney
Earlier, on the other side of the globe, Australia's Sydney Harbour hosted a more sombre moment before its own celebrations began. The city honoured the victims of the Bondi Beach attack with a quiet moment of reflection. In a poignant tribute, images of a menorah were projected onto the pylons of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
This reflective pause was followed by the city's own renowned fireworks extravaganza. A spectacular show erupted over the Sydney Opera House, featuring an astonishing 40,000 individual fireworks. The display stretched for more than four miles across the harbour, launched from buildings and barges to create a canopy of light and colour, officially welcoming 2026 to Australia.
