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While billions across the globe are still chilling their champagne and finalizing resolutions for the final hours of 2025, a select group of nations has already crossed the threshold into 2026.
The early arrival of the New Year is driven by the positioning of the International Date Line, which places parts of the central Pacific as much as 14 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).
Ejes Gist News reports that the first inhabited place on Earth to welcome 2026 was Kiribati, specifically the Line Islands, including Kiritimati (Christmas Island). The territory crossed into the New Year at 10:00 a.m. GMT on December 31, setting off the global wave of celebrations that moves westward hour by hour.
Countries and Territories Already in 2026
As celebrations progressed across the Pacific, the following countries and regions officially said goodbye to 2025 at the times listed below (GMT):
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- Kiribati — Kiritimati (Christmas Island): 10:00 a.m.
- New Zealand — Chatham Islands: 10:15 a.m.
- New Zealand — Auckland, Wellington: 11:00 a.m.
- Samoa — Apia: 11:00 a.m.
- Tonga — Nukuʻalofa: 11:00 a.m.
- Fiji — Suva: 12:00 p.m.
- Russia — Anadyr, Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky: 12:00 p.m.
- Marshall Islands — Majuro: 12:00 p.m.
Auckland Becomes the First Major City of 2026
Among major global cities, Auckland was the earliest to welcome 2026. Thousands gathered around the city’s central business district as fireworks erupted from the Sky Tower, marking the transition into the New Year. Light rainfall was reported across parts of the North Island, but it did not significantly affect public turnout.
Also Read : Premier League Fixtures for January 2026: Full Schedule and Key Matchups
How the Countdown Will Unfold Next
Following the Pacific region, the New Year will continue sweeping westward across the globe:
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- Australia — led by Sydney’s Harbour Bridge fireworks.
- East Asia — Japan, South Korea, and China.
- South Asia — India and Sri Lanka.
- Europe and Africa — London, Paris, Lagos, and Cairo.
- The Americas — New York, Mexico City, and Los Angeles.
The Last Places to Enter 2026
The final locations on Earth to welcome 2026 will be Baker Island and Howland Island, uninhabited U.S. territories in the central Pacific. These areas will not reach the New Year until roughly 26 hours after Kiribati, completing the global transition.
