By David Brennan & Emily Shapiro
Happy 2025!
In some parts of the world, anyway.
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first country to ring in 2025, with its 133,500 citizens celebrating the new year at 5 a.m. ET on Tuesday. The Micronesian nation was soon followed into 2025 by the Chatham Islands in New Zealand at 5:15 a.m. ET.
MORE: New Year's Eve weather: What to expect
Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand's capital Wellington and its largest city of Auckland -- both located on the country's North Island -- welcomed 2025 at 6 a.m. ET. Fireworks lit up the Auckland skyline as massed crowds watched.
New Zealanders were amongst the first in the world to celebrate the arrival of 2025 with a fireworks display in Auckland.
Sydney, Australia
Residents of the western Australian city of Sydney enjoyed a fireworks display three hours ahead of midnight local time, which is 8 a.m. ET.
Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
The Sydney NYE fireworks seen from the Sydney Opera House on January 01, 2025 in Sydney, Australia.
Bianca De Marchi/AP
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, Jan. 1, 2025.
The famed Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House provided a familiar backdrop for New Year's revelers in the country's largest city.
Bianca De Marchi/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Fireworks illuminate the sky above the Sydney Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, Australia, Jan. 1, 2025.
Brook Mitchell/Getty Images
The Sydney New Year's Eve fireworks seen from the Sydney Opera House, Jan. 1, 2025, in Sydney, Australia.
Watch the spectacular fireworks display at the famed Sydney Harbor to welcome 2025.
Tokyo, Japan
The words "Happy New Year" lit up a building in Tokyo as Japan ushered in 2025.
MORE: 'New Year's Rockin' Eve': Time, performers and more
Kim Kyung-hoon/Reuters
A projection is displayed on the surface of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building, to celebrate the New Year, in Tokyo, Japan Jan. 1, 2025.
Seoul, South Korea
In South Korea, people gathered at midnight to honor the victims of this weekend's plane crash at South Korea's Muan International Airport that killed 179 of the 181 people on board.
Jung Yeon-je/AFP via Getty Images
People pay tribute to the victims of the Jeju Air plane crash during a countdown event to mark the 2025 New Year, at the Bosingak pavilion in central Seoul before midnight, Dec. 31, 2024.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong said goodbye to 2024 with an epic fireworks display at 11 a.m. ET.
Chan Long Hei/AP
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the New Year in Hong Kong, China Jan. 1, 2025.
Chan Long Hei/AP
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the New Year in Hong Kong, China Jan. 1, 2025.
Hong Kong said goodbye to 2024 in a big way with an epic fireworks display.
Beijing, China
Partyers posed with light-up sticks in Beijing at 11 a.m. ET.
Ng Han Guan/AP
Revelers ring in the new year during a countdown event held in Beijing, Jan. 1, 2025.
Andres Martinez Casares/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Performers take part in the New Year's 2025 countdown celebrations at Shougang Park in Beijing, China, Jan. 1, 2025.
Manila, Philippines
The buildings were as bright as the fireworks in Manila, the capital of the Philippines.
Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light up the sky ushering in the New Year in Makati, Metro Manila, Philippines, Jan. 1, 2025.
Bangkok
In Bangkok, crowds gathered around the IconSiam shopping mall to ring in the new year at noon ET.
Thousands gathered in and around the IconSiam shopping mall to ring in the new year.
Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters
Fireworks explode over the Grand Palace during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 1, 2025.
Sakchai Lalit/AP
Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, Jan. 1, 2025.
Jakarta, Indonesia
Some women donned "2025" headbands to celebrate New Year's Eve in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Willy Kurniawan/Reuters
Women wearing '2025' head bands attend the New Year's Eve celebrations in Jakarta, Indonesia, Dec. 31, 2024.
Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP via Getty Images
Local residents look at fireworks as they celebrate the New Year at Ancol Beach in Jakarta, Jan. 1, 2025.
Karachi, Pakistan
Karachi, Pakistan, kicked off 2025 with a 40-minute fireworks show.
Sindh Gov. Kamran Tessori opened all five gates of the Governor's House to the public for a 40-minute fireworks show.
Dubai
The world's tallest building, Burj Khalifa, was lit up for New Year's Eve in Dubai as it rang in 2025 at 3 p.m. ET.
Altaf Qadri/AP
Lights illuminate Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, and other buildings ahead of the New Year's Eve celebration, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dec. 31, 2024.
Amr Alfiky/Reuters
Fireworks explode over the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jan. 1, 2025.
Dubai rings in 2025 with a spectacular skyscraper fireworks extravaganza.
Moscow
Revelers took to the streets in Moscow for the new year, which began at 4 p.m. ET.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters
People react as they take part in New Year celebrations in central Moscow, Jan. 1, 2025.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters
People light sparklers during New Year celebrations near Red Square in central Moscow, Jan. 1, 2025.
Damascus, Syria
A DJ performed at a New Year's Eve party in Damascus, Syria.
Amr Abdallah Dalsh/Reuters
A DJ performs as people gather during New Year's Eve, after the ousting of Syria's Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria, Dec. 31, 2024.
Baghdad, Iraq
A massive fireworks display was set off over palm trees in Baghdad, Iraq.
Ahmed Saad/Reuters
Fireworks explode during New Year celebrations in Baghdad, Jan. 1, 2025.
Cairo, Egypt
Egyptian revelers rang in the new year at 5 p.m. ET.
Amr Nabil/AP
An Egyptian poses in front of New Year decorations in Cairo, Dec. 31, 2024.
Amr Nabil/AP
Fireworks spark over the historical site of Giza Pyramids, marking the new year, just outside Cairo, Jan. 1, 2025.
Athens, Greece
Athens, Greece, dazzled its large crowds with both fireworks and a drone show at midnight.
Yiannis Kotsiaris/Reuters
A drone view shows fireworks exploding behind the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill during New Year's celebrations, in Athens, Greece, Jan. 1, 2025.
Paris, France
The Arc de Triomphe was a glowing centerpiece of new year celebrations in Paris, which began at 6 p.m. ET.
Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters
Fireworks explode as The Arc de Triomphe is illuminated during the New Year's celebrations on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris, Jan. 1, 2025.
Berlin, Germany
Fireworks brightened the sky above the Quadriga at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, as 2025 launched with great fanfare.
Ebrahim Noroozi/AP
Fireworks light the sky above the Quadriga at the Brandenburg Gate during New Year's celebrations shortly after midnight in Berlin, Jan. 1, 2025.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Museumplein in Amsterdam featured both a fireworks display and an electronic light show.
Koen Van Weel/ANP/AFP via Getty Images
Revellers celebrate the new year at the Museumplein during the fireworks and electronic light show in Amsterdam on Jan. 1, 2025.
Nairobi, Kenya
Fireworks illuminated the UAP Old Mutual Tower during new year's celebrations in Nairobi, Kenya.
Thomas Mukoya/Reuters
Fireworks over the UAP Old Mutual Tower during the New Year's celebrations in Nairobi, Kenya, Jan. 1, 2025.
Brussels, Belgium
Fireworks lit up the Atomium in Brussels during a majestic commemoration of a new year.
Hatim Kaghat/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks shoot at the Atomium in Brussels during the New Year's Eve celebration on early Jan. 1, 2025.
Madrid, Spain
Thousands gathered in Puerta del Sol square in downtown Madrid to usher in the new year.
Manu Fernandez/AP
People celebrate during New Year's celebrations at Madrid's Puerta del Sol square in downtown Madrid, Jan. 1, 2025.
London, England
London welcomed the new year with a radiant fireworks show over the Thames at 7 p.m. ET.
James Manning/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, Jan. 1, 2025.
Isabel Infantes/Reuters
Fireworks explode over the London Eye Ferris wheel as Britons across the country welcome the New Year, in London, Jan. 1, 2025.
Warsaw, Poland
Fireworks are part of a festive occasion to ring in the new year in Warsaw, Poland.
Czarek Sokolowski/AP
Fireworks light the sky above the Royal Castle during New Year's celebrations shortly after midnight in Warsaw, Poland, Jan. 1, 2025.
An evening of thunderstorms in Manhattan couldn't spoil the party on New Year's Eve. One million gathered in Times Square to watch the ball drop as part of New York City's annual celebration at 12 a.m. ET.
Yuki Iwamura/AFP via Getty Images
Revelers celebrate the New Year at Times Square in New York City, just after midnight on January 1, 2025.