With glittering lights, exciting showcases, and ample festivities, cities across the world ushered in 2025 with vibrant New Year's Eve celebrations. From the iconic Times Square to the stunning Sydney Harbor, communities came together to bid farewell to 2024 and welcome the new year.
New York City stood as one of the high-profile locations for New Year’s Eve festivities. Despite the heavy rain, nearly a million revelers gathered at Times Square wearing ponchos and braving the downpour to participate in the grand ball drop. "I’m just here celebrating love, life, and happiness," remarked one excited attendee. For many, being part of this tradition was a dream come true. A visitor from California expressed, "I've always wanted to do this; it's been on my bucket list since I was a kid." With the New York Police Department deploying extensive security measures and bomb-sniffing dogs to keep everyone safe, Mayor Eric Adams emphasized, "We want everyone to have a happy and safe 2025, no place is greater to bring it in than here." The surrounding streets began to close at 4 AM, with police ensuring the safety of the event as spectators entered the ball drop viewing area from 3 PM.
Meanwhile, celebrations across the globe kicked off 18 hours earlier, as Auckland became the first major city to welcome 2025. The vibrant festivities there included fireworks celebrations and performances reflecting the rich Indigenous culture of New Zealand. Sydney followed suit, with over one million attendees watching fireworks blanket the iconic harbor. British pop star Robbie Williams led the crowd’s singalong as the first thrilling bursts of fireworks lit the sky.
Seattle also displayed stunning spectacles, with the Space Needle as its centerpiece. A dazzling fireworks show was enhanced by synchronized lighting and the coordination of 500 drones, allowing for captivating displays as the countdown to midnight commenced. Safety was of utmost importance for the event. Prior to the show, the performance was thoroughly considered, especially due to recent safety concerns surrounding drone displays. "The Space Needle has had large exclusion zones for our show for 30 years," noted Randy Cote, chief marketing officer at the Space Needle, underscoring the precautions taken to create enjoyable, yet secure festivities.
From Australia to North America and beyond, diverse global celebrations unfolded, each uniquely infused with local traditions. Fireworks lit up the skies from Dubai's Burj Khalifa to the streets of Mumbai, where thousands gathered to celebrate along the Arabian Sea's shoreline. Other cities, such as Paris, which capped off 2024 with its traditional fireworks show on the famed Champs-Élysées, highlighted their own cultural flair with unique displays and festive events.
While some locations reveled joyfully, others marked the night with somber acknowledgment of recent conflicts and tragedies. Areas such as Ukraine and the Middle East saw muted celebrations, underscoring the complex global atmosphere amid joyous occasions.
Back to New York, as the clock struck midnight, revelers donned silver top hats marked with “2025” and celebrated with cheers, music performances from artists like TLC, Jonas Brothers, and Rita Ora. Tommy Onolfo, a long-time attendee, captured the essence of the evening: "It’s the biggest party in the world. There’s no other place to celebrate New Year’s than Times Square.”
Moving toward Asia, cultural significance played its part as Japan prepared for its biggest holiday, ushering the Year of the Snake. Stores witnessed booming sales of snake-themed decorations and products, emphasizing the blending of cultural practices with contemporary celebrations. Meanwhile, celebrations of ice plunges and traditional rituals paraded throughout various cities, with places like Sri Lanka hosting gatherings at Buddhist temples.
Other notable moments included fireworks shows across India’s financial hub and the biggest party anticipated along Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach. Here, more than two million people, traditionally dressed in white, enjoyed performances leading up to the captivating fireworks show. Attendees could also witness the spectacle from boats nearby, creating a truly immersive experience.
With many cities executing creative means to adapt to recent challenges, reflections from this past year shaped how communities celebrated this New Year’s Eve. Looking back on 2024, the world recognized the resilience and joy present during these festive gatherings, portraying the universal desire for hope as people embraced the New Year together.
All around the world, New Year's boasts celebrations embraced by warmth, culture, and the electric energy of communities. This time of collective festivity connects diverse peoples across continents, uniting them under the shared wish for peace, prosperity, and love as they step together, hand-in-hand, toward 2025.