By Ayomide Otitoju
The Pacific island nation of Kiribati was the first country to welcome 2026, as clocks struck midnight in its Line Islands.
New Year celebrations are set to unfold gradually across the globe, beginning in Oceania and moving through East Asia, South and Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and the Americas.
Following Kiribati, countries including New Zealand and Australia will ring in 2026 with large public gatherings and fireworks displays in major cities. Several Asian nations, such as Japan, South Korea, China, and India, are also expected to celebrate shortly afterward.
In Nigeria, celebrations are scheduled several hours later. Churches across the country are expected to host larger-than-usual crossover services, while fireworks are set to light up the skies in major cities to usher in the New Year.
