People around the world are set to ring in the New Year. The Pacific island nation of Samoa was the first to enter the year 2019. DW is keeping track of all the New Year's celebrations across the globe.
16:00 Although the Lunar New Year is still king in China, revelers gathered in Hong Kong for a massive fireworks display marking the arrival of 2019. In Beijing, celebrities attended a VIP gala dedicated to the 2022 Winter Games. President Xi Jingping addressed the nation before the evening news, saying that his government "sent out China's voice" into the world.
The celebrations in China came an hour after Japan welcomed the 2019 with a bout between American boxer Floyd Mayweather and Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa. The 41-year-old American defeated the local champion in less than three minutes.
15:47 Berlin opened its party mile which starts at the city's iconic Brandenburg Gate and stretches some two kilometers (1.24 miles) west to the Victory Column. The party is set to start in a few short hours, with city officials promising "live bands, DJs and a spectacular fireworks display at midnight." British pop singer Bonnie Tyler is also set to perform.
14:00 Brisbane celebrated New Year's an hour later than Sydney — even though Brisbane is located 2 degrees longitude east of Sydney.
13:00 Tens of thousands have gathered in Sydney despite stormy conditions to witness the city's spectacular fireworks show for New Year's.
Organizers say it will be the most expensive celebration ever at 6 million Australian dollars ($4.2 million, €3.7 million). The 12-minute show was to feature 100,000 pyrotechnics and culminate at midnight with "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman," a song made famous by the recently deceased Aretha Franklin.
12:00 Most of the remaining island Oceanic nations have now bid farewell to 2018.
11:00 Fiji, Tuvalu, and half of New Zealand have now joined in on the festivities. Fireworks were shot from the top of the Sky tower in downtown Auckland, New Zealand to ring in the new year.
#HNY from #Auckland #Newzealand @skytower pic.twitter.com/aF2MXRjJts
— VoyageToTheHeart (@UnifiedLove) December 31, 2018
Anadyr, the easternmost town in Russia, has also entered 2019.
10:00 Samoa has become the first full country to enter the new year. Fireworks exploded over the Samoan capital of Apia for locals and tourists who timed their visit to enter 2019 before anyone else.
The Pacific nation shifted to the zone west of the international date line eight years ago, jumping forward 24 hours and wiping out December 30, 2011.
The island of Kiritimati, part of the group of islands that makes up Kiribati, and Tokelau, an island territory belonging to New Zealand, were also among the first islands to enter the new year.
