As the clock ticked towards midnight on Wednesday 31 December 2025, the United Kingdom prepared to usher in 2026 with large-scale public celebrations, despite freezing conditions across the nation.
London's Thameside Spectacle Draws Chilled Crowds
Thousands of people defied temperatures hovering around zero degrees Celsius to secure vantage points along the River Thames for the capital's iconic fireworks display. The main pyrotechnics were launched from barges near the London Eye, with the spectacle broadcast to millions watching at home on television.
Highly coveted tickets for the prime viewing areas had sold out long in advance. To manage the huge crowds, closures around Embankment and parts of Lambeth began as early as 2pm. Notably, the popular free viewpoint of Primrose Hill in Camden was closed this year. The Royal Parks charity, which manages the site, cited the Metropolitan Police's decision to disband the Royal Parks police earlier in the year as a contributing factor to the closure.
Edinburgh's Hogmanay Makes a Triumphant Return
North of the border, Scotland's famous Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh made a welcome comeback after being cancelled in 2024 due to severe weather. More than 40,000 ticket-holders were expected for the festivities centred on Princes Street.
The entertainment lineup featured a pipe band, drummers, a DJ set by Belgian duo 2manydjs, and a silent disco. In a build-up to the main midnight display, hourly 'teaser' fireworks were launched above Edinburgh Castle starting at 9pm. Meanwhile, in Princes Street Gardens West, the band Wet Leg headlined the Concert in the Gardens.
Nationwide and Global Celebrations
Other major UK cities hosted their own events to ring in the new year. Manchester's official display lit up St Peter’s Square, while Newcastle upon Tyne's Quayside hosted a 'Howaymanay' festival, complete with a massive fireworks display.
Globally, celebrations had already begun in earlier time zones. The Pacific island of Kiritimati, part of Kiribati, was the first place to welcome 2026. Australia's Sydney Harbour saw a spectacular display of 40,000 fireworks, preceded by a minute's silence to commemorate the victims of the Bondi Beach attack.
In South Korea, tens of thousands gathered at Seoul's Bosingak Pavilion for a traditional bell-ringing ceremony, where a bronze bell was struck 33 times at midnight local time. The UK's celebrations preceded those in New York, where performances by Diana Ross and Ciara were scheduled for the famous Times Square ball drop at 5am GMT on New Year’s Day.
