Happy New Year! Well, that is if you’re in Australia, where folks have already rang in 2026.
Sydney, Australia, is 16 hours ahead of the United States’ East Coast, meaning it is already Jan. 1, 2026, down under. So Australians already switched their calendars to 2026, while it was only 8 a.m. in New York City, and most folks on the West Coast hadn’t even rolled out of bed yet.
Video shows the moment when Australia launched fireworks into the sky to welcome the new year.
Fireworks lit up the night sky over the iconic Sydney Harbor dazzling a crowd of folks waiting outside, some of whom camped out the night before to get a spot to see the spectacular show.
Australia rang in 2026 at 8 am ET, followed by these locations across the globe:
For those who are feeling a bit festive and looking to celebrate the new year a little earlier than America’s festivities kick off, USA TODAY has you covered.
Below, you will find a live stream showing New Year’s celebrations taking place across the globe.
Can’t see the video? Click here.
Julia is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers scientific studies and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.