In Pictures: Cities around the world ring in the new year as 2025 dawns

Countries in the South Pacific Ocean were the first to welcome 2025.

Published Dec 31, 2024

Last updated Dec 31, 2024

Cities around the world have begun to ring in the new year.

Countries in the South Pacific Ocean were the first to welcome 2025, with midnight in New Zealand striking 18 hours before the ball drop in New York’s Times Square in the US.

In Australia, an estimated one million people celebrated at Sydney Harbour, while some two million people were expected to flock to Copacabana Beach in Brazil.

Here are some of the colourful scenes from across the globe so far:

Two boys play football in front of a billboard welcoming the New Year 2025 in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam — Two boys play football in front of a billboard welcoming the new year 2025 in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam (Hau Dinh/AP)

Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney — Fireworks explode over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during New Year’s Eve celebrations (Bianca De Marchi/AAP Image via AP)

Cambodian dancers perform during the Celebrating Cambodia event as part of New Year’s Eve in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh — Cambodian dancers perform during the Celebrating Cambodia event on New Year’s Eve in front of the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh (Heng Sinith/AP)

A monk hits the bell at the Bentendo Hall of Sensoji Buddhist temple as participating in a bell-ringing ritual called Joya no Kane on New Year’s Day in Tokyo — A monk hits the bell at the Bentendo Hall of Sensoji Buddhist temple in a bell-ringing ritual called Joya no Kane on New Year’s Day in Tokyo (Hiro Komae/AP)

Vatican Pope New Year’s Eve — Pope Francis waves to faithfuls after celebrating over New Year’s Eve Vespers and Te Deum, in St Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican (Andrew Medichini/AP)

New Year’s Eve Russia Ukraine — A couple share a tender moment as they walk with their child in a square decorated for Christmas and the New Year festivities in Donetsk in Russian-controlled Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine (Alexei Alexandrov/AP)

New Year’s Eve Thailand — Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand (Sakchai Lalit/AP)