New Year Around the World - Time Zone by Time Zone

I've stayed up for the full 26-hour New Year marathon exactly once. Started watching fireworks in Auckland at 6 AM my time, ended with Hawaii 20 hours later. Worth it? Debatable. But watching midnight sweep across the planet time zone by time zone turns a single celebration into a daylong global event.

From Pacific islands greeting the new year first to American territories closing it out last, here's how New Year's Eve unfolds across the world — and how to follow along.

First and Last to Celebrate: The Extremes of New Year

The international date line creates weird situations. Neighboring island nations celebrate more than 24 hours apart. Geography matters here.

First Countries to Celebrate (UTC+14 to UTC+12)

Kiribati's Line Islands win the race at UTC+14. Specifically, Caroline Island (renamed Millennium Island for Y2K). It's uninhabited. Nobody's there celebrating except maybe some confused seabirds.

First populated celebrations:

• Kiribati (Line Islands) — UTC+14, technically first
• Samoa and Tokelau — UTC+13, one hour behind
• Tonga and parts of Fiji — UTC+13, early Pacific party
• New Zealand — UTC+13 in summer (NZDT), first major nation

Auckland's Sky Tower fireworks usually provide the first major broadcast worldwide. According to timeanddate.com, over 1 million people watch Auckland's celebration annually.

Last Countries to Celebrate (UTC-11 to UTC-12)

American Samoa (UTC-11) and uninhabited Baker Island (UTC-12) close out the year. The weird part? American Samoa and independent Samoa sit about 100 kilometers apart but celebrate New Year more than 24 hours apart. They're on opposite sides of the date line. Samoa jumped from UTC-11 to UTC+13 in 2011 to align with trading partners, as documented in Samoa's timezone history.

The Journey: UTC+14 to UTC-12

Let's travel through every major time zone and explore how the new year celebration unfolds globally.

UTC+14 to UTC+12: Pacific Dawn

When it's midnight here, it's 10:00 AM (Dec 31) in London.

The celebration begins in the remote Pacific. Kiribati's Line Islands see the first sunrise of the new year, followed quickly by Fiji, Tonga, and New Zealand. Auckland's celebration at the Sky Tower is the first major fireworks display, featuring pyrotechnics that light up the harbor.

Famous celebrations:

• Auckland, New Zealand: Sky Tower fireworks over Waitemata Harbour
• Suva, Fiji: Waterfront celebrations with traditional Pacific performances
• Nuku'alofa, Tonga: Church bells and community gatherings

UTC+11 to UTC+10: Australia Takes Center Stage

When it's midnight here, it's 1:00-2:00 PM (Dec 31) in London.

Sydney's New Year celebration is arguably the world's most watched. Over 1 million people gather around Sydney Harbour, with an estimated 1 billion watching on television. The fireworks display uses the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House as its backdrop, creating an iconic image that defines New Year for much of the world.

Famous celebrations:

• Sydney, Australia: Harbour Bridge fireworks visible from 16 kilometers away
• Melbourne, Australia: Federation Square countdown and Yarra River fireworks
• Brisbane, Australia: South Bank celebrations
• Vladivostok, Russia: Russia's first major city to celebrate

UTC+9 to UTC+8: East Asia Rings In

When it's midnight here, it's 3:00-4:00 PM (Dec 31) in London.

Japan, Korea, and much of Southeast Asia celebrate during this window. Japanese traditions include visiting temples at midnight for *joya no kane*, where temple bells are rung 108 times to cleanse the 108 worldly desires of Buddhist belief.

Famous celebrations:

• Tokyo, Japan: Shibuya Crossing, temples, and shrine visits
• Seoul, South Korea: Bosingak Belfry bell-ringing ceremony
• Hong Kong: Victoria Harbour fireworks display
• Singapore: Marina Bay countdown with fireworks
• Beijing, China: While Chinese New Year is more significant, Western New Year brings crowds to Tian'anmen Square
• Perth, Australia: The last Australian city to celebrate

UTC+7 to UTC+5:30: Southeast Asia and South Asia

When it's midnight here, it's 5:00-6:30 PM (Dec 31) in London.

Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, and India celebrate during this stretch. Bangkok's celebrations along the Chao Phraya River draw enormous crowds, while India's diverse celebration styles reflect its multicultural character.

Famous celebrations:

• Bangkok, Thailand: CentralWorld countdown and Chao Phraya River cruises
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: Nguyen Hue Walking Street festivities
• Jakarta, Indonesia: Hotel Indonesia roundabout celebrations
• Mumbai, India: Gateway of India and Marine Drive gatherings
• Delhi, India: India Gate celebrations

UTC+5 to UTC+3: Middle East and East Africa

When it's midnight here, it's 7:00-9:00 PM (Dec 31) in London.

Dubai has transformed itself into a New Year destination with its spectacular Burj Khalifa display, which holds multiple Guinness World Records for the largest fireworks display.

Famous celebrations:

• Dubai, UAE: Burj Khalifa LED show and fireworks
• Moscow, Russia: Red Square celebrations and Kremlin chimes
• Istanbul, Turkey: Bosphorus Bridge illuminations
• Nairobi, Kenya: Kenyatta International Convention Centre area
• Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Recently begun celebrating with public events

UTC+2 to UTC+1: Europe's Golden Hour

When it's midnight here, it's 10:00-11:00 PM (Dec 31) in London.

Eastern and Central Europe celebrate in this window. Athens, with the Acropolis as backdrop, and Berlin's massive Brandenburg Gate party are highlights.

Famous celebrations:

• Athens, Greece: Acropolis and Syntagma Square
• Berlin, Germany: Brandenburg Gate hosts up to 1 million revelers
• Paris, France (CET): Champs-Elysees and Eiffel Tower (one of the earliest major Western European celebrations)
• Rome, Italy: Concerts at Circus Maximus
• Amsterdam, Netherlands: Dam Square and canal-side parties

UTC+0: The Greenwich Meridian Moment

Midnight in London, the historic reference point.

London's Big Ben striking midnight is an iconic moment, though the clock tower was under renovation for several years and has only recently resumed its traditional role. The London Eye fireworks and South Bank celebrations draw over 100,000 ticketed spectators.

Famous celebrations:

• London, UK: Big Ben, London Eye, and South Bank fireworks
• Edinburgh, Scotland: Hogmanay, one of the world's largest New Year festivals
• Dublin, Ireland: Custom House Quay celebrations
• Lisbon, Portugal: Praca do Comercio waterfront party
• Reykjavik, Iceland: Bonfire and fireworks traditions

UTC-3 to UTC-5: The Americas Begin

When it's midnight here, it's 3:00-5:00 AM (Jan 1) in London.

South America celebrates before North America. Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach hosts one of the world's largest New Year gatherings, with over 2 million people wearing white for good luck.

Famous celebrations:

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Copacabana Beach attracts millions
• Buenos Aires, Argentina: Puerto Madero fireworks
• New York City, USA: Times Square ball drop, watched by 1 billion worldwide
• Washington D.C., USA: National Mall celebrations
• Toronto, Canada: Nathan Phillips Square
• Havana, Cuba: Malecon waterfront parties

UTC-6 to UTC-8: North American Prime Time

When it's midnight here, it's 6:00-8:00 AM (Jan 1) in London.

The Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones of North America celebrate during global prime time. Las Vegas's Las Vegas Strip fireworks and Los Angeles celebrations cap off the continental US party.

Famous celebrations:

• Chicago, USA: Navy Pier fireworks
• Denver, USA: Downtown Denver countdown
• Las Vegas, USA: Las Vegas Strip synchronized fireworks from multiple casinos
• Los Angeles, USA: Grand Park countdown
• San Francisco, USA: Embarcadero fireworks

UTC-9 to UTC-12: The Final Frontier

When it's midnight here, it's 9:00 AM-12:00 PM (Jan 1) in London.

Alaska, Hawaii, and the remote Pacific islands bring up the rear. Honolulu's celebrations mark the last major city to welcome the new year in the United States.

Famous celebrations:

• Anchorage, Alaska: Town Square Park celebrations
• Honolulu, Hawaii: Waikiki Beach fireworks
• American Samoa: The last populated territory to celebrate

Tips for Following the Global Countdown

Watching the full 26-hour marathon takes dedication (or unemployment). Here's how to do it right.

Plan Your Viewing Schedule

Use a time zone converter to figure out when celebrations hit your time zone. Example from New York (EST/UTC-5):

• Auckland: 6:00 AM Dec 31
• Sydney: 8:00 AM Dec 31
• Tokyo: 10:00 AM Dec 31
• Dubai: 3:00 PM Dec 31
• London: 7:00 PM Dec 31
• Your midnight: 12:00 AM Jan 1
• Los Angeles: 3:00 AM Jan 1

Notice the problem? You're watching for 21 hours straight if you want Auckland through LA.

Set Up Multiple Streams

News networks broadcast live all day. Have multiple devices or use picture-in-picture. Some celebrations overlap — Sydney and Melbourne, for example — so you'll need to pick favorites or split-screen.

Host a Time Zone Party

Celebrate midnight multiple times. Toast when it hits midnight in Sydney, then London, then your local time. Serve food or drinks from each region if you want to go overboard. People remember this kind of party.

Be Realistic

Our overlap finder shows which celebrations happen during hours you're actually awake. You probably can't watch all 26 hours. Pick your favorites.

The Science Behind New Year Time Zones

The 26-hour gap between first and last celebrations exists because Earth's time zones span from UTC+14 to UTC-12. While 24 time zones would cover a full day, political decisions have created this extended range.

Kiribati moved the Line Islands to UTC+14 in 1995 specifically to be first into the new millennium. Similarly, Samoa jumped from UTC-11 to UTC+13 in 2011 to align better with its major trading partners, Australia and New Zealand.

Conclusion

New Year's Eve spans 26 hours globally. Kiribati starts it. American Samoa finishes it. Watching the wave of midnight sweep across the planet beats sitting around waiting for your local countdown.

Pick a few key celebrations or go for the full marathon. Either way, understanding the timezone sequence transforms one night into a journey across continents.

Use our meeting planner to see when midnight strikes anywhere. The time zone converter builds your personal viewing schedule. For timezone fundamentals, read how many time zones exist in the world.