Qatar and the United Arab Emirates lit up their night skies, holding grand celebrations to mark the start of 2026. Thousands gathered in Qatar's Lusail district to ring in the New Year on Thursday with a dazzling fireworks display.

Uninhabited Baker Island is among the last to see the new year, as 2026 takes 26 hours to roll across the globe.

A huge crowd gathered on the Las Vegas Strip on New Year's Eve to watch a massive fireworks display marking the arrival of 2026. (AP Video by Ty ONeil)

Sydney, considered the New Year's capital of the world, held a colorful celebration that included a moment of silence for the victims of the Bondi Beach attack.

Thousands lined the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok as Thailand welcomed the New Year. In Dubai, people watched fireworks from the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, following a performance with light displays, music and water jets.

Countries across the globe are beginning to usher in 2026. The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first to ring in the new year, while Alaska and Hawaii will be among the last places to say goodbye to 2025. At 6 a.m. ET, New Zealand was one of the first countries to reach 2026, ringing in the new year with a fireworks display.

See global New Year's Eve celebrations for 2026 from around the world, including eye-popping fireworks displays from Hong Kong, Dubai, Paris and other major world cities.

As fireworks erupted into the sky above the Las Vegas Strip to usher in 2026 revelers shouted “Happy New Year” while exchanging hugs and kisses. For a few minutes