New Year’s Day 2026

Thu, 1 Jan, 2026: Happy New Year 2026! New Year’s Day is the first day of the calendar year, 1 January. Most solar calendars, such as the Gregorian and Julian calendars, begin the year regularly.

New Year’s Day on January 1 in the Gregorian calendar is celebrated in many countries including UAE and India. Nearly the entire world recognizes New Year’s Day on January 1st. It’s also one of the most celebrated holidays of the year.

New Year’s Day is celebrated on January 1 and marks the beginning of the Gregorian calendar, which is widely used around the world today.

Nearly the entire world recognizes New Year’s Day on January 1st. It’s also one of the most celebrated holidays of the year.

New Year’s Day in 2026 is on the Thursday, 1st of Jan (1/01/2026).

New Year’s Day is on the 1nd day of 2026. There are 364 days left in the year.

Fireworks and drone displays light up skies as Asian countries welcome 2026.

A new year dawns in Pakistanpublished at 00:3000:30Breaking

Half an hour after India and Sri Lanka, the new year reaches Pakistan – you can follow the celebrations in Karachi, Pakistan, by clicking watch live above.

It’ll be 2026 in neighbouring Afghanistan shortly – stay with us for a glimpse at the ongoing celebrations across the globe.

Large parts of Asia ring in new year – in pictures
published at 00:21
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Asian countries have been ringing in the new year with festivities, fireworks and spectacular drone displays.

With Pakistan next to see the clock strike midnight – we’ve taken a look back at some of the pictures coming from Asia.

In the Philippines, Manila’s skyscrapers have been lit up by fireworks

Bangkok put on a colourful display.

Hanoi, Vietnam, lit up the sky with a boquet-esque firework display at midnight.

Instead of fireworks, China danced to the beat of their own drum – with a dazzling performance in Beijing as they entered 2026.

New Year’s Day is a time of tradition in Japan when many people enjoy auspicious dishes and receive greeting cards from friends and relatives.

At 6 a.m. ET, New Zealand was one of the first countries to reach 2026, ringing in the new year with a fireworks display.

In Australia, fireworks over the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge went along as planned, but law enforcement presence was ramped up in Sydney.

Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour Bridge to mark the New Year in Sydney, Australia, January 1, 2026.

Fireworks light up the sky over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House during New Year’s Eve celebrations on January 01, 2026 in Sydney, Australia.

Spectators shine light from their mobile phones during a tribute to the victim’s of the Bondi terror attack during the New Year’s Eve Celebrations at Mrs Macquaries Point in Sydney, Australia, December 31, 2025.

In Tokyo, Japan, revelers rang in 2026 at 10 a.m. ET.

In Seoul, South Korea, fireworks were lit over the massive Lotte World Tower.

In Beijing, China, people gathered at one of the most famous sections of the Great Wall.

At 11 a.m. ET, revelers counted down to the new year in Hong Kong.

A beautiful fireworks display lit up the sky in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Vatican’s traditional year-end prayer service has taken place in St Peter’s Basilica in Rome, where Pope Leo thanked all those who worked through 2025 to “serve pilgrims and make Rome more welcoming.”

• “The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all.” — Josiyah Martin
• “Tomorrow is the first blank page of a 365-page book. Write a good one.” — Brad Paisley
• “What the new year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the new year.” — Vern McLellan
• “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” — Seneca
• “New year is the glittering light to brighten the dream-laden pathway of future.” — Munia Khan
• “Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on.” — Hal Borland
• “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.” — Michael Altshuler
• “Each day is a chance to begin again. Don’t focus on the failures of yesterday.” — Catherine Pulsifer
• “Cheers to a gracious New Year. May we uphold one another in peace and love.” — Lailah Gifty Akita
• “This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.” — Taylor Swift
• “The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.” — Lao Tzu
• “Your life does not get better by chance, it gets better by change.” — Jim Rohn
• “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe
• “Small steps in the right direction can turn out to be the biggest step of your life.” — Naeem Callaway

Welcome the Year of the Fire Horse! 2026 is a year for courage, action, and new opportunities. Learn about the Lunar New Year and embrace the energy.