Kiritimati, Jan 01 (V7N) — The Pacific island nation of Kiribati has welcomed the New Year 2026 ahead of the rest of the world, with Kiritimati Island becoming the first region globally to usher in the new year.

Located in the Pacific Ocean, south of Hawaii and northeast of Australia, Kiribati is a small island country made up of numerous coral atolls. Stretching nearly 4,000 kilometers from east to west, it spans a vast maritime area despite its relatively small landmass. Locally, the country is known as Kiribas. Kiribati gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979 and is home to the largest marine reserve in the South Pacific.

Much of the country’s coral atolls remain uninhabited, and many of its low-lying islands are considered highly vulnerable to rising sea levels, raising long-term concerns over climate change and flooding. Kiribati has a population of approximately 116,000 people. Although geographically close to Hawaii, the country celebrates the New Year a full day earlier due to its position along the International Date Line.

Following Kiribati, New Zealand and various parts of Australia welcomed the New Year. As in previous years, Sydney marked the occasion with a spectacular fireworks display in front of the iconic Opera House, drawing global attention.

According to the BBC, the New Year later arrived in South Korea and Japan. In Japan, New Year’s Day is a national holiday and one of the country’s most significant annual celebrations. People across the country prepared in advance to observe the occasion with traditional customs and family gatherings.

After Japan and South Korea, China also stepped into the New Year, followed by several Southeast Asian nations including the Philippines, Malaysia, and Indonesia, as celebrations continued to move westward around the globe.

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