Ringing in 2026: World's first new year celebrations begin here 9 hours ahead of India

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): While countries around the world are eagerly awaiting the clock to strike 12, New Year 2026 has already begun in remote islands nestled in the Pacific Ocean. The New Year arrived here nearly nine hours before India. The world's first New Year was welcomed on the tiny island of Kiribati, Kiritimati, where celebrations began as soon as midnight struck.

Why is New Year celebrated first in Kiribati?

Kiribati is an island nation in the Pacific Ocean, located south of Hawaii and northeast of Australia. Spread across an area of ​​approximately 4,000 kilometers, this nation is a group of 33 small and large coral islands (atolls). This nation, which gained independence from Britain in 1979, has a population of approximately 116,000. Despite its geographical proximity to Hawaii, New Year's Day is celebrated a full day earlier. This is primarily due to the 1994 time zone change, which was implemented to ensure the same date across all the islands. This is why Kiritimati is said to be the world's first New Year's celebration.

Celebration amidst existential crisis

However, amidst the celebrations, a worrying aspect is that many of Kiribati's islands are located at very low elevations above sea level. Rising sea levels due to global warming pose a constant threat to their existence. Despite this, locals remain enthusiastic and have welcomed 2026 with great enthusiasm. This area is also considered the largest marine reserve in the South Pacific.

A new dawn also dawned in New Zealand's Chatham Islands

Shortly after celebrations began in Kiribati, New Zealand's Chatham Islands also rang in the New Year. The island has a population of just 600 people. Locals gathered at the Hotel Chatham bar to bid farewell to the last moments of 2025. Hotel owner Tony Kroon said that while young people will celebrate late into the night, the elderly may go to bed early. She said that the connection between people despite being isolated from the world makes this place special, and welcoming 2026 here is truly a unique experience.