As the clock struck midnight, cities worldwide lit up with dazzling fireworks, vibrant street parties, and heartfelt traditions to welcome the New Year. From iconic landmarks aglow with festivities to unique cultural rituals, here’s a glimpse of how the world celebrated the arrival of another year—in photos.
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)
The ball drops in New York’s Times Square, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the start of 2025 at Tsim Sha Tsui in Hong Kong, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Chan Long Hei)
Performers prepare to ring in the new year near a Chinese national flag during a count down event held in Beijing, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)
A view of Times Square as confetti falls during the annual New Year’s Eve celebration, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)
Revelers celebrate in New York’s Times Square as they attend a New Year’s Eve celebration, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Stefan Jeremiah)
People gather in the center of the Russian far east port of Vladivostok, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, to celebrate the new year. (AP Photo)
People gather in the center of the Russian far east port of Vladivostok, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, to celebrate the new year. (AP Photo)
Fireworks light up the sky around the London Eye on the south bank of the River Thames to celebrate the New Year in London, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Cambodian dancers greet before performing during the “Celebrating Cambodia” event as part of the New Year’s Eve in front of Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
People dance during a New Year celebration at Kim Il Sung Square Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, in Pyongyang, North Korea. (AP Photo/Cha Song Ho)
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)
People make a selfie as they gather in the center of the Russian far east port Vladivostok, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, to celebrate the new year. (AP Photo)
Cambodian dancers perform during the “Celebrating Cambodia” event as part of the New Year’s Eve in front of Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Tuesday Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)
A couple make a selfie as other people gather in the center of the Russian far east port of Vladivostok, Russia, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024, to celebrate the new year 2025. (AP Photo)
Fireworks light up the sky around the London Eye on the south bank of the River Thames to celebrate the New Year in London, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
Lights illuminate Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, ahead of New Year’s Eve celebration, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
A woman from Nagoya, left, and her friend from Tokyo, both originally from Indonesia, react to their photos they just took as they visit Sensoji Buddhist temple on New Year’s Eve in Tokyo, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Fireworks explode as thousands of people gather in the main business district on New Year’s Eve in Jakarta, Indonesia, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Tatan Syuflana)
People pose for photos with balloons near Al-Hamidiyeh Souq on New Years Eve in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024 (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)
Two boys play football in front of a billboard welcoming the New Year 2025 in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam on Tuesday, Dec.31, 2024. (AP Photo/Hau Dinh)
Revelers gather near the Petronas Twin Towers to watch the fireworks for the New Year’s celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
An Egyptian poses in front of New Year decorations in Cairo, Egypt, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Amr Nabil)
People gather during a countdown event at the Bosingak pavilion in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (Jean Shin/Newsis via AP)
Fireworks light up the sky over Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben, and the London Eye in central London during the New Year celebrations Wednesday Jan. 1, 2025. (James Manning/PA via AP)
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)
Fireworks light up the sky around the London Eye to celebrate the New Year in London, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)
A couple make a selfie as they celebrate New Year’s Eve near the iconic Gateway of India in Mumbai, India, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)
People celebrate New Year at the Cathedral Square in Vilnius, Lithuania, early Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis)
People pray on their traditional New Year’s pilgrimage, at the main hall of Sensoji Buddhist temple, in Tokyo, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae)
Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
A vendor sells new Syrian flags in Al-Hamidiyeh Souq on New Years Eve, in Damascus, Syria, Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2024. (AP Photo/Mosa’ab Elshamy)
Fireworks explode in the sky above the New Town Hall on New Year’s Eve in Hanover, Germany, on Jan. 1, 2025. (Moritz Frankenberg/dpa via AP)