New Year’s Eve: celebrations around the world as 2023 begins – live | World news

Posted on December 31, 2022

Key events

Fireworks explode over Sky Tower in central Auckland, New Zealand, as New Year celebrations begin.

Fireworks explode over Sky Tower in central Auckland as New Year celebrations begin in New Zealand, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. (Dean Purcel/NZ Herald via AP)
Fireworks explode over Sky Tower in central Auckland as New Year celebrations begin in New Zealand, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023. (Dean Purcel/NZ Herald via AP) Photograph: AP

The time in Seoul, South Korea, is only just coming up to 10pm but already crowds are beginning to gather to celebrate.

New Year’s eve celebrations in central Seoul.
New Year’s eve celebrations in central Seoul, South Korea. Photograph: Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters
Members of the public gather to celebrate New Year's Eve at the Gwanghwamun Square.
Members of the public gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Gwanghwamun Square. Photograph: Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images

The sun sets behind Wat Arun or the temple of dawn on New Year’s Eve in Bangkok.

The sun sets behind Wat Arun or the temple of dawn on New Year’s Eve in BangkokLights illuminate Wat Arun or the temple of dawn on New Year’s Eve in Bangkok, Thailand, 31 December 2022.
The sun sets behind Wat Arun or the temple of dawn on New Year’s Eve in Bangkok. Photograph: Athit Perawongmetha/Reuters

It looks like it was a good turnout as families came out to see the early bird fireworks in Australia this evening.

Here are some more photos from the event.

People watch 9pm fireworks on December 31, 2022 in Sydney, Australia
People watch 9pm fireworks on December 31, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Photograph: Roni Bintang/Getty Images
People watch 9pm fireworks at Sydney Botanic Garden during New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31, 2022 in Sydney, Australia.
People watch 9pm fireworks at Sydney Botanic Garden during New Year’s Eve celebration on December 31, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. Photograph: Roni Bintang/Getty Images

Here are some snaps of the family fireworks display taking place in Sydney, Australia.

It is held three hours before midnight so that young children get a chance to join in the festivities before their bed times.

The ‘family fireworks’, which take place three hours before midnight every year ahead of the main show at midnight, fill the sky over the Opera House in Sydney on New Year’s Eve.
The ‘family fireworks’, which take place three hours before midnight every year ahead of the main show at midnight, fill the sky over the Opera House in Sydney on New Year’s Eve. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
New Year’s Eve celebrations in SydneyEarly fireworks explode over Sydney Opera House during the New Year’s Eve celebrations.
New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney
Early fireworks explode over Sydney Opera House during the New Year’s Eve celebrations. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters
New Year’s Eve celebrations in SydneyEarly fireworks explode over Sydney Opera House.
New Year’s Eve celebrations in Sydney
Early fireworks explode over Sydney Opera House. Photograph: Jaimi Joy/Reuters

Welcome

It might mark an arbitrary point in the motion of the Earth around the sun, but as the year 2022 turns into 2023 as ever it will result in celebrations, fireworks, broken resolutions and quite a bit of staying up late to see in the new year, wherever you are on the globe.

It is already 2023 in Kiritimati (a big happy new year to all our readers on the islands), with many major cities around the world about the kick off their own celebrations. In the next few hours, the new year will be rung in across the Pacific in places including New Zealand, Australia and Tonga.

I will be bringing you the best photos from around the world and all the latest scenes of celebration as we bid farewell to 2022 and see in the new year.