PICTURES: South Africa and the world welcome the new year

A young man swings a burning tyre in Zone 7 of Sebokeng township, south of Johannesburg, on January 1, 2026, as neighbours gather to welcome the New Year. The tradition of setting a tyre alight and spinning it in the air began during the apartheid era, when black township communities found creative ways to celebrate despite limited resources. Today, the fiery display remains a lively and symbolic expression of community spirit, resilience, and the joy of starting a new year together. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP)

Fireworks light up the sky above the Great Pyramids of Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo, during New Year celebrations, early on January 1, 2026. (Photo by Ahmed HASAN / AFP)

The Mayor of London’s New Year’s Eve Fireworks show is launched from the London Eye, with Queen Elizabeth Tower (commonly known as Big Ben) in the foreground, to mark the new year on January 1, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images)

New Year's Eve Celebration on Durban's Beachfront

Fireworks during the New Year’s Eve Celebration on Durban’s North Beach on January 01, 2026 in Durban, South Africa. The iconic Durban Beach Piers serves as the stage for a spectacular celebration, welcoming the dawn of 2026 with an unforgettable display of colour and light. (Photo by Gallo Images/Darren Stewart)

Aerial view of Christ the Redeemer as fireworks to celebrate the New Year explode on Copacabana Beach during celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on January 1, 2026. Rio de Janeiro received, on December 30, 2025, the title of the world’s largest New Year’s Eve celebration from the Guinness World Records, a recognition of its famous massive festivity with live music shows by the sea. (Photo by EGBERTO RAS / AFP)

Lifesavers keep an eye on New Year's day revellers in Durban

Lifesavers keep an eye on New Year’s day revellers and holidaymakers at Durban North beach during New Year festivities in Durban on January 1, 2026. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)

Fireworks light up the sky to usher in the new year on January 01, 2026 in Singapore. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images)

Fireworks explode in the sky over the Arc de Triomphe, on the Place de l’Etoile, in central Paris, to celebrate the New Year, just after midnight on January 1, 2026. (Photo by Alain JOCARD / AFP)

A holiday maker tries to grab a selfie of Kwazulu-Natal Premier Thami Ntuli (L) and South African Police Service ( APS) KZN Provincial Commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi (C) during a walk about to check safety and security on the Durban Promenade during New Year festivities in Durban on January 1, 2026. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)

Fireworks explode over the Colosseum in central Rome during New Year celebrations on January 1, 2026. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP)

Members of the Zion Christian Church (ZCC) gather at the Durban North beach during New Year’s Day in Durban on January 1, 2026. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)

Children set off fireworks as they celebrate New Year in Hillbrow, Johannesburg, on January 1, 2026. (Photo by EMMANUEL CROSET / AFP)

Washington Monument Illuminated For America's 250th Anniversary

Fireworks erupt behind the Washington Monument during the New Year’s Eve celebration on January 01 2025, in Washington, DC. As part of the celebration, each side of the monument was illuminated with Freedom 250 projections to kick off the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Members of the public gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Jogyesa buddhist temple on December 31, 2025 in Seoul, South Korea. (Photo by Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

Visitors Take Photos in Front of Yongning Gate in Xi'an at Night

Visitors take photos in a public square with the illuminated Yongning Gate in the background at night, as trees around the historic site are decorated with festive lights ahead of the 2026 New Year in Xi’an, Shaanxi Province, China, on December 29, 2025. Seasonal lighting installations have been set up across the area surrounding the ancient city wall to mark year-end and New Year celebrations. (Photo by Cheng Xin/Getty Images)

New Year's Day Dive On The Hague's Seaside

People take a dive in the North Sea, despite the national New Year’s Eve dive being cancelled due to strong winds on January 1, 2026 in The Hague, Netherlands. The event, held on The Hague beach, usually draws thousands of people. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

Crowds Ring In 2026 In New York's Times Square

Antonio Federico from Naples, Italy wears 2026 glasses in Times Square ahead of New Year’s Eve celebrations on December 31, 2025 in New York City. Thousands of people will pack into Times Square for the celebrations, with over one ton of confetti being dropped at midnight. (Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images)

People take part in New Year’s Eve celebrations on January 01, 2026 in New York City. Thousands of people packed into Times Square to celebrate and watch the ball drop, with over one ton of confetti being released at midnight. (Photo by Adam Gray/Getty Images)

New Year’s day revellers and holidaymakers gather at Durban North beach during New Year festivities in Durban on January 1, 2026. (Photo by RAJESH JANTILAL / AFP)

Groups of residents from neighboring streets clash using fireworks in the Transvaal district on January 1, 2026 in The Hague, Netherlands. Authorities sent an official alert to all mobile phones, urging people to call emergency services only in strictly necessary cases, as responders remain overwhelmed. This New Year’s Eve marks the last opportunity for citizens to legally celebrate with pyrotechnics before a nationwide fireworks ban goes into effect in 2026. (Photo by Pierre Crom/Getty Images)

A man dressed as Father Frost poses for a photo next to Red Square, which is completely closed to the public, several minutes before the start of New Year’s celebrations on December 31, 2025 in Moscow, Russia. From 6:00 PM on December 31, 2025, until 10:00 AM on January 1, 2026, “Red Square will be closed to visitors,” the Moscow City Hall press service told reporters. (Photo by Contributor/Getty Images)

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