The year 2026 has arrived across the world, including in India. In Delhi, people gathered at India Gate at midnight and celebrated the new year with a countdown. In Jammu and Kashmir, people welcomed 2026 amid snowfall.
New Zealand was among the few countries to celebrate the new year first because of the time zone. In Auckland, about 3,500 fireworks were launched from the 240-metre-high Sky Tower at midnight. The Sky Tower is the tallest building in New Zealand.
Japan, China, and Singapore celebrated the new year with fireworks. In South Korea, a large bell was rung to mark the start of the new year. Thousands of people gathered at Sydney Harbour in Australia to watch the traditional fireworks. Meanwhile, a seven-minute-long fireworks display lit up the sky over Melbourne.
Due to different time zones across the globe, there are 29 countries that welcome the new year before India. These include Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga, Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Myanmar, Japan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Nepal, and others.
