The 2025 New Year celebrations began on Kiritimati, a remote island in the Pacific Ocean, before gradually spreading westward on a journey around the globe. Each major city presented its unique spectacle to mark this transition. In Sydney, the first major fireworks lit up the Australian sky. In Dubai, impressive pyrotechnics set the Burj Khalifa, the tallest tower in the world, ablaze, while in Athens, a ballet of colorful drones captivated spectators. Paris saw large crowds dancing on the Champs-Élysées under an illuminated Arc de Triomphe, accompanied by a spectacular pyrotechnic show.
In London, fireworks erupted over the River Thames, continuing this wave of festivities which then moved to Rio de Janeiro, before reaching its peak in Times Square, Manhattan.
The celebrations took place in a specific order, starting in Kiritimati at 12:00 p.m. (Pacific Time), followed by New Zealand at 1:00 p.m., then Australia at 3:00 p.m. Japan, South Korea and North Korea welcomed 2025 at 5:00 p.m., followed by China and Southeast Asia at 6:00 p.m.
Europe joined the festivities later, with Greece, Romania and other countries at midnight, followed by Germany, Italy and France at 1:00 a.m., then the United Kingdom at 2:00 a.m. The American continent closed out the celebrations, with Brazil at 05:00, the east coast of the United States at 07:00, and finally Hawaii at 12:00, thus completing the cycle of global New Year festivities.
France
