Sydney welcomed the start of 2026 with the city's biggest ever fireworks display, which featured a waterfall effect falling from the top of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The display covered the largest area to date with more launch sites added on the western side of the bridge and another city centre rooftop, according to organisers.
The 12-minute spectacular stretched 7km along Sydney Harbour and featured 25,000 individual pyrotechnic shots that shaped into cockatoos, koalas, bottle brush and other Australian native plants and animals.
Fireworks were also launched from the Sydney Opera House, six city building rooftops and six aerial pyrotechnic platforms hovering above the water.
According to organisers, the display used nine tonnes of fireworks shot from the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, city centre buildings and eight platforms on the harbour.
There was a sombre tinge to party preparations in the self-proclaimed "New Year's capital of the world".
Barely two weeks have passed since a father and son allegedly opened fire on a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people in the nation's deadliest mass shooting for almost 30 years.
A minute of silence was held at 11pm local time as the Sydney Harbour Bridge was bathed in white light to symbolise peace.
"Right now, the joy that we usually feel at the start of a new year is tempered by the sadness of the old," Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a video message earlier.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined Sydney's foreshore, with nine tonnes of fireworks exploding on the stroke of midnight.
Residents and tourists gathered by the city's harbour and boats dotted the water to secure the best viewing spots near the Sydney Opera House.
"The fireworks have always been on my bucket list and I'm so happy to be here," said Susana Suisuikli, an English tourist.
Security was tighter than usual, with squads of heavily armed police patrolling the crowds.
Pacific nations including New Zeland and Kiribati were the first to see in the new year.
New Zealanders celebrated the arrival of 2026 with a fireworks display in Auckland.
Watch: New Zealanders welcome 2026 with fireworks display
According to organisers, the fireworks launched from three levels on Sky Tower sending 3,500 firework shots around the tower and soaring 80 metres above the tower.
The display lasted five minutes with more than 500kg of pyrotechnics launched from the Sky Tower and the Auckland Harbour Bridge also illuminated.
More than two million people are expected to pack Brazil's lively Copacabana Beach for what authorities have called the world's biggest New Year's Eve party.
In Hong Kong, a major New Year fireworks display planned for Victoria Harbour was cancelled to pay homage to 161 people killed in a housing estate fire in November.
In Dublin, festivities will begin at 4.30pm with a Procession of Light, which will weave its way through the streets of the capital.
Inhaler will headline a sold-out Countdown Concert at Dublin Castle, to ring in the New Year, while earlier in the evening the NYF Dublin Fireworks Spectacular returns with fireworks displays at Howth Harbour and Dún Laoghaire Harbour, both starting at 6.30pm.
