Cyprus Times

Kiribati First Country to Welcome 2026

Published December 31, 2025, 11:12
Kiribati First Country to Welcome 2026

Kiribati has become the first country in the world to officially welcome 2026, with celebrations beginning on Kiritimati Atoll, also known as Christmas Island. Other parts of the Pacific island nation will follow in the coming hours. Kiribati, consisting of 33 islands, celebrates the New Year a whole day earlier than many other countries due to its geographical location. The archipelago, which gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979, hosts the largest marine sanctuary in the South Pacific. However, most of Kiribati's islands are very low-lying and face a serious threat from rising sea levels as a result of climate change. The population of Kiribati is approximately 116,000. Following Kiribati, New Zealand, Australia, and other Asian countries will take over the celebrations.