The New Year is here, with Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in Kiribati, which lies in the world’s earliest time zone, seeing the the clock strike past midnight, heralding the arrival of 1 January 2026. This is followed by other islands across the Asia–Pacific region and Oceania.<h2>The first places to welcome the New Year&nbsp;</h2>The Republic of Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands, is usually the first place where a new day begins. Kiritimati (Christmas Island) is the earliest inhabited location to enter the New Year, as it is located in the UTC+14 time zone, the world’s most easterly time zone, just west of the International Date Line.Caroline Island, also known as Millennium Island, lies slightly farther east within the same time zone. While it can technically be the first land to catch the sun’s rays depending on latitude and conditions, it is essentially uninhabited.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/january-2026-holiday-calendar-festivals-public-holidays-and-long-weekends-you-shouldn-t-miss-1767157626917/amp">January 2026 holiday calendar: Festivals, public holidays, and long weekends you shouldn’t miss</a><h2>Why Kiritimati Island is first to greet each new day</h2>Kiribati adjusted its time zones in 1995 to unify the country under a single calendar day and to ensure that the Line Islands would be the first to welcome each new day and year. Kiritimati Island, the most populated of the Line Islands, is therefore widely recognised as the first inhabited place to welcome 1 January.Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/new-ott-releases-in-january-2026-from-a-knight-of-the-seven-kingdoms-to-taskaree-shows-movies-to-watch-on-netflix-prime-and-other-ott-platforms-1767111509313">New OTT releases in January 2026: From A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to Taskaree: Shows &amp; movies to watch on Netflix, Prime, and other OTT platforms</a><h2>Where else does the New Year arrive early in 2026?</h2>After Kiribati, other Pacific nations such as Tonga, Samoa, and New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands) enter the New Year soon afterwards. While some Antarctic regions may experience continuous daylight during the southern summer, Kiribati holds the distinction among inhabited places.<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/2025-brings-a-break-2026-brings-action-indian-women-s-cricket-plans-ahead-1762325615996/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/2025-brings-a-break-2026-brings-action-indian-women-s-cricket-plans-ahead-1762325615996/embed</a><h2>World set to welcome 2026</h2>Below is an approximate list showing when 1 January 2026 begins in selected locations, expressed in Indian Standard Time (IST). These times indicate the arrival of the New Year at midnight local time, not local sunrise.Chatham Islands, New Zealand — 3:45 pm IST Wellington, New Zealand — 4:30 pm IST Fiji — 5:30 pm IST Sydney, Australia — 6:30 pm IST Tokyo, Japan — 8:30 pm IST Beijing, China — 9:30 pm IST Dhaka, Bangladesh — 11:30 pm IST Kathmandu, Nepal — 11:45 pm IST Moscow, Russia — 2:30 am IST Paris, France — 4:30 am IST United Kingdom — 5:30 am IST New York, United States — 10:30 am IST

Kiribati’s Kiritimati Island is the first inhabited place to welcome 1 January 2026. Pacific nations follow as the New Year moves west across the globe, marking the transition into 2026.

The New Year is here, with Kiritimati (Christmas Island) in Kiribati, which lies in the world’s earliest time zone, seeing the the clock strike past midnight, heralding the arrival of 1 January 2026. This is followed by other islands across the Asia–Pacific region and Oceania. The first places to welcome the New Year The Republic of Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands, is usually the first place where a new day begins. Kiritimati (Christmas Island) is the earliest inhabited location to enter the New Year, as it is located in the UTC+14 time zone, the world’s most easterly time zone, just west of the International Date Line. Caroline Island, also known as Millennium Island, lies slightly farther east within the same time zone. While it can technically be the first land to catch the sun’s rays depending on latitude and conditions, it is essentially uninhabited. Also read: January 2026 holiday calendar: Festivals, public holidays, and long weekends you shouldn’t miss Why Kiritimati Island is first to greet each new day Kiribati adjusted its time zones in 1995 to unify the country under a single calendar day and to ensure that the Line Islands would be the first to welcome each new day and year. Kiritimati Island, the most populated of the Line Islands, is therefore widely recognised as the first inhabited place to welcome 1 January. Also read: New OTT releases in January 2026: From A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms to Taskaree: Shows & movies to watch on Netflix, Prime, and other OTT platforms Where else does the New Year arrive early in 2026? After Kiribati, other Pacific nations such as Tonga, Samoa, and New Zealand (including the Chatham Islands) enter the New Year soon afterwards. While some Antarctic regions may experience continuous daylight during the southern summer, Kiribati holds the distinction among inhabited places. https://www.wionews.com/videos/2025-brings-a-break-2026-brings-action-indian-women-s-cricket-plans-ahead-1762325615996/embed World set to welcome 2026 Below is an approximate list showing when 1 January 2026 begins in selected locations, expressed in Indian Standard Time (IST). These times indicate the arrival of the New Year at midnight local time, not local sunrise. Chatham Islands, New Zealand — 3:45 pm IST Wellington, New Zealand — 4:30 pm IST Fiji — 5:30 pm IST Sydney, Australia — 6:30 pm IST Tokyo, Japan — 8:30 pm IST Beijing, China — 9:30 pm IST Dhaka, Bangladesh — 11:30 pm IST Kathmandu, Nepal — 11:45 pm IST Moscow, Russia — 2:30 am IST Paris, France — 4:30 am IST United Kingdom — 5:30 am IST New York, United States — 10:30 am IST

Kiribati’s Kiritimati Island is the first inhabited place to welcome 1 January 2026. Pacific nations follow as the New Year moves west across the globe, marking the transition into 2026.

2026 is here! Kiribati Islands enters New Year as clock strikes midnight in world's easternmost inhabited region

As New Year’s Eve approaches, police forces across India are taking comprehensive steps to ensure public safety and prevent any potential disorder during celebrations. Authorities are increasing their presence in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, deploying additional personnel and using advanced technology for crowd monitoring. In Delhi, approximately 3,000 police officers have been stationed throughout the city, alongside more than 50 checkpoints aimed at tackling traffic violations and drunk driving.&nbsp;&nbsp;The checkpoints, located in high-traffic areas, will also focus on ensuring public safety. Delhi’s Joint Commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Jain, emphasised the importance of visible police patrols and coordinated efforts to handle violations effectively. Special attention will be given to popular party zones, such as malls, nightclubs, and markets, where intensified security checks will be conducted.&nbsp;Similarly, Bengaluru has implemented strict security protocols, with over 20,000 officers deployed, including specialised teams of women officers. The city's police will leverage modern technology like heat maps to track crowds and identify traffic violations. Quick response teams, traffic personnel, and emergency services are on high alert to ensure smooth operations. Additionally, special bus services will operate until 2:00 am on Jan 1 to facilitate transport for revelers.&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/snow-celebrations-and-smiles-kashmir-tourism-shows-strong-signs-of-revival-1767084855760">Snow, celebrations, and smiles: Kashmir Tourism shows strong signs of revival</a>&nbsp;Kolkata is also under tight security, with measures focused on key metro stations, particularly along the North-South corridor. Over 17,000 personnel, including Railway Protection Force officers, will manage the flow of passengers and ensure crowd control at busy stations like Esplanade and Park Street. Special attention will be given to women’s safety, with additional female officers deployed to monitor high-traffic areas.&nbsp;In Mumbai, police have launched an enforcement campaign and urged residents to use emergency helplines (100 and 112) for any urgent issues. The city is also deploying additional personnel to ensure safety across the region during the festivities. With a combination of strategic planning, increased manpower, and technological advancements, these major cities are prioritising public safety and working to ensure a smooth transition into the New Year.

Police officials in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata are ramping up security with additional personnel and tech to prevent disorder and ensure safety during New Year celebrations

As New Year’s Eve approaches, police forces across India are taking comprehensive steps to ensure public safety and prevent any potential disorder during celebrations. Authorities are increasing their presence in major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Bengaluru, deploying additional personnel and using advanced technology for crowd monitoring. In Delhi, approximately 3,000 police officers have been stationed throughout the city, alongside more than 50 checkpoints aimed at tackling traffic violations and drunk driving. The checkpoints, located in high-traffic areas, will also focus on ensuring public safety. Delhi’s Joint Commissioner, Sanjay Kumar Jain, emphasised the importance of visible police patrols and coordinated efforts to handle violations effectively. Special attention will be given to popular party zones, such as malls, nightclubs, and markets, where intensified security checks will be conducted. Similarly, Bengaluru has implemented strict security protocols, with over 20,000 officers deployed, including specialised teams of women officers. The city's police will leverage modern technology like heat maps to track crowds and identify traffic violations. Quick response teams, traffic personnel, and emergency services are on high alert to ensure smooth operations. Additionally, special bus services will operate until 2:00 am on Jan 1 to facilitate transport for revelers. Also Read: Snow, celebrations, and smiles: Kashmir Tourism shows strong signs of revival Kolkata is also under tight security, with measures focused on key metro stations, particularly along the North-South corridor. Over 17,000 personnel, including Railway Protection Force officers, will manage the flow of passengers and ensure crowd control at busy stations like Esplanade and Park Street. Special attention will be given to women’s safety, with additional female officers deployed to monitor high-traffic areas. In Mumbai, police have launched an enforcement campaign and urged residents to use emergency helplines (100 and 112) for any urgent issues. The city is also deploying additional personnel to ensure safety across the region during the festivities. With a combination of strategic planning, increased manpower, and technological advancements, these major cities are prioritising public safety and working to ensure a smooth transition into the New Year.

Police officials in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Kolkata are ramping up security with additional personnel and tech to prevent disorder and ensure safety during New Year celebrations

Checkpoints, heat maps, women squads: Here's how police are ensuring safety for New Year's celebrations

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2026 is here! Kiribati Islands enters New Year as clock strikes midnight in world's easternmost inhabited region

Checkpoints, heat maps, women squads: How cops are ensuring safety for revelers