Countries That Celebrate New Year Before Anyone Else: 2026 Countdown
As the world prepares to flip the calendar, a global wave of celebration begins in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and sweeps westward. Due to the International Date Line and varying time zones, the "New Year" doesn't hit everyone at once—it's a 26-hour relay race.
If you’ve ever wondered who gets to pop the champagne first, this guide explores the first 10 countries to welcome the New Year, the specific cities leading the charge, and the unique traditions that make their celebrations special.
1. Kiribati (Kiritimati)
City: London (on Kiritimati Island)
Time Zone: UTC+14
Kiribati is the undisputed champion of the New Year. Specifically, the Line Islands—the easternmost part of this island nation—are the first inhabited places on Earth to see the calendar turn. Kiritimati (also known as Christmas Island) sits right next to the International Date Line.
How They Celebrate: * Spiritual Beginnings: The celebration is deeply communal and spiritual. Most locals begin the evening with church services that last until midnight.
Traditional Dancing: You will see the Mwaie, a traditional Kiribati dance characterized by bird-like movements and intricate costumes made of pandanus leaves and feathers.
The Feast: Families gather for a massive feast featuring roast pig, "palu sami" (taro leaves with coconut cream), and fresh seafood.
Island Vibe: Since it is a remote coral atoll, there are no massive LED screens or high-tech light shows; instead, the sky is lit by the stars and modest community bonfires.
2. New Zealand (Chatham Islands)
City: Waitangi
Time Zone: UTC+13:45
While many think Auckland is the first major city, the tiny Chatham Islands, located about 800km east of the mainland, beat the rest of New Zealand by 45 minutes.
How They Celebrate:
First Sunrise: The Chathams are famous for being among the first to witness the first sunrise of the year. Many visitors fly in specifically to stand on the eastern cliffs for this moment.
Low-Key Community: Celebrations here are intimate, centered around local pubs and community halls where "Kiwi hospitality" is at its peak.
Nature Focus: It’s a time for fishing, hiking, and reflecting on the year ahead in one of the most rugged and beautiful environments on Earth.
3. Samoa
City: Apia
Time Zone: UTC+13
Samoa used to be among the last to celebrate the New Year, but in 2011, the country "jumped" across the International Date Line to align its time with trading partners like Australia and New Zealand. Now, they are among the very first.
How They Celebrate:
Fire Dancing: The Siva Afi (fire knife dance) is a staple of Samoan New Year’s Eve. Performers spin flaming blades with incredible speed and precision.
Beach Parties: Being a tropical paradise, the resorts in Apia and along the coast host massive beach parties with live music, Fiafia (celebration) shows, and midnight fireworks over the ocean.
The "Umu" Feast: Locals prepare food in a traditional earth oven called an umu, where food is slow-cooked over hot volcanic stones.
4. Tonga
City: Nuku’alofa
Time Zone: UTC+13
The "Friendly Islands" of Tonga share the UTC+13 time zone. As a deeply religious nation, the transition into the New Year is marked by a blend of Christian devotion and Polynesian joy.
How They Celebrate:
Choral Singing: Tongan churches are world-renowned for their powerful, harmonious singing. Midnight services are the primary way families usher in the New Year.
Uike Lotu: New Year’s Day kicks off a week-long period of prayer and celebration known as Uike Lotu (Week of Prayer).
Community Feasts: It is common for villages to host a "Polotu" (evening service) followed by a massive community meal where roasted whole pigs are the centerpiece.
5. Fiji
City: Suva
Time Zone: UTC+12
Fiji is the first major island hub to hit the midnight mark after the "first wave." Its capital, Suva, becomes the center of a nationwide party.
How They Celebrate:
The Water Splash: A unique Fijian tradition involves splashing or drenching friends and neighbors with water (and sometimes baby powder). This symbolizes "cleansing" the old year away and starting fresh.
Kava Ceremonies: No celebration is complete without the sharing of Kava, a traditional drink made from the root of a pepper plant. It promotes a sense of peace and community.
Street Parties: In Suva, the streets come alive with the "Street Party" organized by the city, featuring live bands and fireworks over the harbor.
6. Russia (Far East)
City: Anadyr & Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky
Time Zone: UTC+12
Russia is so large that it spans 11 time zones. The far eastern regions of Chukotka and Kamchatka are the first parts of the European/Asian landmass to enter the New Year.
How They Celebrate:
The Olivier Salad: This is the "Must-Have" dish. A creamy potato salad with meat, peas, and pickles, it’s a staple of every Russian New Year table.
Ded Moroz: "Grandfather Frost" (the Russian Santa) and his granddaughter Snegurochka visit children.
Presidential Speech: It is a strict tradition to watch the President's pre-recorded speech on TV just before the Kremlin clock (the Spasskaya Tower) chimes twelve times.
Outdoor Festivities: Despite the sub-zero temperatures, thousands gather in the central squares of Anadyr and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky for fireworks and public concerts.
7. Australia
City: Sydney
Time Zone: UTC+11 (Daylight Savings)
Though not the first country, Sydney is arguably the most famous "early" celebration. Because it is the first major global metropolis to put on a world-class show, it draws millions of eyes.
How They Celebrate:
Harbour Bridge Fireworks: The $6 million+ pyrotechnic show over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House is legendary.
The Great Aussie BBQ: Since it’s mid-summer, most Australians celebrate with a barbecue (shrimp, sausages, and lamb) in parks or on the beach.
Smoking Ceremony: Sydney’s event often begins with a traditional Aboriginal Smoking Ceremony to cleanse the harbor of bad spirits.
9 PM Family Fireworks: Recognizing that kids can't always stay up, they hold a smaller (but still huge) show three hours before midnight.
8. Japan
City: Tokyo
Time Zone: UTC+9
Japan’s New Year (Oshogatsu) is less about loud parties and more about tradition, family, and spiritual renewal.
How They Celebrate:
Joya no Kane: At midnight, Buddhist temples across Japan ring their bells exactly 108 times. This is believed to cleanse the 108 human sins (or earthly desires).
Hatsumode: This is the tradition of the first shrine visit of the year. Millions of people visit places like Meiji Jingu in Tokyo to pray for good fortune.
Osechi-ryori: Special New Year foods served in beautiful lacquered boxes. Each item, like sweetened black beans (health) or shrimp (long life), has a symbolic meaning.
Toshikoshi Soba: Eating long buckwheat noodles on New Year’s Eve symbolizes a "long life" and "breaking off" the hardships of the past year.
9. South Korea
City: Seoul
Time Zone: UTC+9
While Korea celebrates the Lunar New Year (Seollal) more traditionally, the Gregorian New Year (Jan 1) is a massive public celebration.
How They Celebrate:
Bosingak Bell Ringing: Thousands gather in central Seoul to hear the historic Bosingak Bell rung 33 times at midnight.
Sunrise Watching: A very popular tradition is to travel to the east coast (places like Jeongdongjin) to watch the first sunrise of the year over the sea.
Tteokguk: Eating a bowl of rice cake soup is essential. In Korean culture, you aren't considered a year older until you finish your bowl of Tteokguk on New Year’s Day.
K-Pop Concerts: Major TV networks host massive music festivals (Gayo Daejeon) that lead right up to the countdown.
10. North Korea
City: Pyongyang
Time Zone: UTC+9
North Korea celebrates the New Year with grand, highly choreographed events that are unique to the nation’s political culture.
How They Celebrate:
Kim Il Sung Square: The center of Pyongyang hosts a massive gala with thousands of performers, dancers, and musicians.
Pyongyang Fireworks: In recent years, the regime has invested heavily in a spectacular synchronized firework and drone light show over the Taedong River.
Ice Sculpture Festivals: Kim Il Sung Square often features intricate ice sculptures of national monuments and rockets.
Flower Tributes: Many citizens begin the day by laying flowers at the statues of former leaders Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Il.
Summary Table: The First 10 Countries to Hit 2026
| Order | Country | City/Region | Time Relative to GMT |
| 1 | Kiribati | Kiritimati (Line Islands) | UTC+14 |
| 2 | New Zealand | Chatham Islands | UTC+13:45 |
| 3 | Samoa | Apia | UTC+13 |
| 4 | Tonga | Nuku’alofa | UTC+13 |
| 5 | Fiji | Suva | UTC+12 |
| 6 | Russia | Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky | UTC+12 |
| 7 | Australia | Sydney / Melbourne | UTC+11 |
| 8 | Japan | Tokyo | UTC+9 |
| 9 | South Korea | Seoul | UTC+9 |
| 10 | North Korea | Pyongyang | UTC+9 |
Why Do These Countries Celebrate "Earlier"?
The International Date Line (IDL) is an imaginary line on the Earth's surface, located roughly at 180° longitude. It separates one calendar day from the next.
Going West: If you cross the line from east to west, you "gain" a day (it becomes the next day).
Political Choice: Countries like Samoa and Kiribati have actually moved the line or their position relative to it for economic reasons. Kiribati used to be split by the line, but in 1995, they unified their time zones so the whole country could be on the same workday—resulting in the "wedge" in the IDL that makes them the first to see the New Year.
Conclusion
From the quiet, star-filled skies of Kiribati to the high-tech drone shows of Seoul, the New Year is a reminder of our shared journey around the sun. Whether you prefer a bowl of Tteokguk in Korea or a bucket of water over your head in Fiji, these traditions show that while we might celebrate at different times, the hope for a "fresh start" is universal.
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