In pictures and videos: How the world is celebrating New Year 2025?

As the midnight hour passed all over the world, every continent saw 2025 dawn in its unique flavor. Whether it was dazzling fireworks or ancient rituals, hope and unity united the world to welcome and celebrate the New Year 2025.

Let’s explore in pictures and videos how each of the seven continents ushered in the new year, focusing on the peculiar customs and celebrations that characterized their moments.

1. Oceania

Oceania, being the closest to the International Date Line, was the first to usher in the new year.

Kiribati, the small island nation, was one of the first to officially ring in 2025. Beaches were filled with people watching as the horizon glowed bright with fireworks, and the air was filled with traditional Polynesian chants. New Zealand soon followed suit, displaying an extravagant fireworks show from Auckland’s famous Sky Tower. The Maori, New Zealand’s indigenous people, also joined in the celebrations by performing sacred rituals to invoke blessings for the year.

Sydney was in the world spotlight as fireworks lit up over the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. It was the festival of renewal and revival when millions of Australians and international guests united to mark this day of the year. Back in the small Pacific nation, Fiji, people had “meke” dancing accompanied by family feasts; they would get together under the starry night sky to have dinner and share their stories.

2. Asia

Asia, the world’s largest continent, welcomed 2025 with spectacular blends of traditions and innovation.

In Japan, it was about spirituality. The family went to Shinto shrines to ask for prosperity while temple bells sounded 108 times to cleanse sins from the past, according to Buddhist traditions. In China, emphasis was placed on gathering and ritualistic activities. People climbed the sacred mountains in time to catch the sunrise, and the big cities like Shanghai and Hong Kong had spectacular fireworks and light shows over their city skylines.

In India, the cities of Mumbai and Delhi held lively concerts and outdoor celebrations, but traditional practices such as lighting oil lamps and sharing sweets with loved ones remained central. In Southeast Asia, countries like Thailand and the Philippines combined street parties with unique traditions such as releasing floating lanterns into the sky, symbolizing letting go of negative energy.

Adding its own excess to the extravaganza, the Middle East witnessed a Burj Khalifa from Dubai that dazed millions in a light and fireworks spectacle illuminating the desert night.

3. Europe

Europe also welcomed 2025 into her books with a mix of historical tradition and modern creativity.

In London, the Thames had become the centerpiece of attention where fireworks lit up the London Eye and Big Ben. Across the Channel, Paris would host a wonderful light show at the Champs-Élysées, as the Eiffel Tower became a beacon of hope. Rome would host a New Year’s Eve Mass at the Vatican, where people from different parts of the world would go to attend the mass, and Italy’s old towns would mark the occasion by feasting and singing and bonfires.

Berlin welcomed technological innovation with a spectacular drone show at the Brandenburg Gate, replacing traditional fireworks to address environmental concerns. Scandinavian cities, such as Stockholm and Oslo, celebrated in quieter settings, with emphasis on family gatherings, snowy adventures, and vibrant but modest firework displays over frozen lakes.

In Greece, the old mixed with the new as the Parthenon glowed at night while street parties danced to the beat in Athens. Everywhere else on the continent, little towns made their own flavor in the celebrations through local customs, traditional dances, and sumptuous feasts.

4. Africa

Africa, a treasure trove of cultures, bid 2025 in its various ways.

In South Africa, Cape Town’s Victoria & Alfred Waterfront was the hub of the celebrations. Live performances by Afro-jazz musicians, traditional dancers, and firework displays drew both locals and tourists. Further north, Kenya ushered in the new year with community celebrations in Nairobi and coastal gatherings along the Indian Ocean, combining Swahili music and cuisine with fireworks.

In Nigeria, Lagos was full of street carnivals and colorful parades, which indicated the love of music and dance by the people of the country. In North Africa, cities such as Cairo, Egypt, took on a blend of tradition and modernity as families gathered along the Nile River to enjoy firework displays and evening cruises.

West African communities celebrated drumming circles and storytelling, the passing of hope for the future through oral tradition. From metropolises to rural villages, the continent took great pride in their unity in diversity.

5. North America: Grand Spectacles and Community Spirit

North America began the new year with its perfect blend of big grand spectacles and close-knit gatherings.

Millions in New York City gathered in Times Square to witness the iconic ball drop. Rain poured down, but the crowd’s energy was sustained by performances by artists and a spectacular confetti show. Chicago and Miami each added their unique flavors: fireworks over Lake Michigan and waterfront concerts in the Sunshine State. Quirky traditions were found in smaller towns: the watermelon drop in Indiana.

Celebrations in Canada stretched from the Maritimes to Vancouver across its expansive territory. In Toronto, Nathan Phillips Square hosted an ice-skating party with a concert and fireworks. A bonfire and a family gathering were a quiet and warmness delight in the smaller communities.

In Mexico, fireworks mingled with traditions as old as time, such as 12 grapes eaten at midnight for good luck. Everywhere from the booming Mexico City to the smaller towns, the mood of the new year was felt, whether in the family feasts or public festivals.

6. South America

South American celebrations were nothing short of high-energy and culturally proud.

Millions of people gathered at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where samba rhythms, fireworks, and offerings to the sea goddess Iemanjá created an unforgettable experience. Dressed in white for peace, revelers danced late into the night under the tropical sky.

Argentina made its own iconic style in welcoming 2025; Buenos Aires became a dance floor for the entire city. Tango shows mesmerized the nation and visitors. Bonfires in the outback of Chile were complemented by firework shows in Santiago. In Peru, thousands thronged ancient sites such as Machu Picchu; people performed rituals for Pachamama, the earth goddess.

7. Antarctica

Even Antarctica, the icy continent, joined in the global celebrations.

Scientists at the scientific outposts rang in the new year with small gatherings, toasting under the midnight sun. Isolation was not an issue, as camaraderie and laughter were the day’s orders. Parties featured homemade decorations, international cuisine, and shared traditions from the scientists’ home countries, creating a uniquely global yet intimate atmosphere.

A Final Note: Completing the Circle

As the first rays of 2025 touched the Earth’s surface in Oceania, and the last celebrations concluded in remote Pacific islands like Hawaii, the new year brought with it a reminder of the world’s incredible diversity. Each continent celebrated differently, yet the shared hope for renewal and joy united everyone in spirit.

From cities full of commotion to serene countryside, 2025 dawned as a celebration of humanity’s strength and imagination—a mosaic of cultures, innovation, and harmony across the world.