As the world bids farewell to another year, the global New Year celebrations unfold across 39 different local time zones, each marking the passage of time in its unique way. These time zones, spread across continents, vary not only by the hour but also include differences of 15 or 30 minutes compared to neighboring regions. This intricate web of time zones creates a vibrant tapestry of celebrations, with each location welcoming the New Year at its own pace.
The journey of New Year festivities begins with Kiritimati Island in Kiribati. As the clock strikes 11 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) on December 31, Kiritimati becomes the first place on Earth to usher in the New Year. Following closely behind are the Chatham Islands in New Zealand, which celebrate at 5:15 a.m. Eastern Time (ET), and the rest of New Zealand joining in at 6 a.m. ET.
As the clock ticks forward, Australia’s Western Australia greets the New Year at 5:15 a.m. ET, while the Pacific Island nation of Tokelau follows suit at 6 a.m. ET. Meanwhile, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and Bougainville in Papua New Guinea rejoice in the New Year at 10 a.m. ET.
Moving to Asia, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea join in the celebrations at 8 p.m. ET. As night falls across Europe, countries like the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Iceland welcome the New Year at 11 p.m. ET, each with their distinct traditions and festivities.
Across the Atlantic, South American nations such as Brazil, Argentina, and Chile ring in the New Year at 10 p.m. ET. On the North American continent, the East Coast of the United States, including iconic cities like New York City, Washington, D.C., and Detroit, celebrates at midnight ET.
The celebration then continues across the United States. The Pacific time zone, encompassing vibrant cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco, marks the New Year at 8 p.m. ET. Meanwhile, Hawaii and American Samoa, along with several US outlying islands, are among the first in the US to celebrate when it is 6 p.m. ET on December 31.
As the clock winds down to conclude the US celebrations, the Mountain time zone, including Denver and Phoenix, is among the last to bid farewell to the old year at 9 p.m. ET.
