New Year's 2026: Celebrations around the world

ball dropped at midnight in Times Square, with more than one million people gathering in New York City to ring in 2026. The most watched celebration of the night amid enhanced security, with law enforcement using artificial intelligence surveillance of the crowd. Minutes later, a surprise second celebration in honor of America's 250th birthday. The ball was then relit in patriotic colors, with red, white and blue confetti released. There's a second ball drop planned for July four. Soon after, Chicago marked the start of 2026 with celebrations along the River Walk around the globe. Crowds counted down the clock on the Sky Tower in Auckland as New Zealand became one of the first countries to reach 2026. In Australia, fireworks over the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge. Law enforcement presence was ramped up in Sydney in the wake of this month's mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach to Rio, where revelers gathered for Brazil's main New Year's Eve bash at Copacabana Beach in London. Big Ben chimed at midnight, celebrating 2026 with fireworks over the River Thames and in France, fireworks lit up the sky at midnight over the Arc de Triomphe. Meantime, President Trump and First Lady Melania celebrated the new year with a party at Mar-a-Lago. He ignored questions from reporters about the possibility of U. S. Boots on the ground in Ukraine. The only question Trump did answer what his New Year's resolution was here in New York City. This was one of the coldest ball drops in recent years at 30 degrees, with the winds making it feel colder and the real field temp of 20 degrees.