People across the world celebrate the start of 2026, with New York’s iconic Times Square ball descending 18 hours after the South Pacific greeted the new year.

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This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.

Revelers celebrate the start of 2026 after the ball drop in Times Square during New Year's Eve festivities, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Revelers celebrate the start of 2026 after the ball drop in Times Square during New Year’s Eve festivities, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Revelers celebrate the start of 2026 after the ball drop in Times Square during New Year’s Eve festivities, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

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A light show is projected on the Arc de Triomphe as fireworks explode during New Year celebrations on the Champs Elysees, in Paris, France, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A light show is projected on the Arc de Triomphe as fireworks explode during New Year celebrations on the Champs Elysees, in Paris, France, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

A light show is projected on the Arc de Triomphe as fireworks explode during New Year celebrations on the Champs Elysees, in Paris, France, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

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People pose for pictures near illuminated decorations on New Year's Eve in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

People pose for pictures near illuminated decorations on New Year’s Eve in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

People pose for pictures near illuminated decorations on New Year’s Eve in Mumbai, India, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

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Fireworks light-up the sky in central London to celebrate the New Year on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Fireworks light-up the sky in central London to celebrate the New Year on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

Fireworks light-up the sky in central London to celebrate the New Year on Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali)

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Fireworks explode around the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, during New Year's Eve celebrations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Fireworks explode around the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

Fireworks explode around the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, during New Year’s Eve celebrations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Fatima Shbair)

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Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

Fireworks explode over the Chao Phraya River during New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)

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Sora Honda lays on the confetti-covered sidewalk as she celebrates the start of 2026 during New Year's Eve festivities, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Sora Honda lays on the confetti-covered sidewalk as she celebrates the start of 2026 during New Year’s Eve festivities, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Sora Honda lays on the confetti-covered sidewalk as she celebrates the start of 2026 during New Year’s Eve festivities, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

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People cheer during the 2026 Taipei New Year's Party celebration in front of the Taipei City Government Building in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

People cheer during the 2026 Taipei New Year’s Party celebration in front of the Taipei City Government Building in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

People cheer during the 2026 Taipei New Year’s Party celebration in front of the Taipei City Government Building in Taipei, Taiwan, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Chiang Ying-ying)

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People arrive to Times Square during New Year's Eve celebrations, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

People arrive to Times Square during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

People arrive to Times Square during New Year’s Eve celebrations, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez)

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Fireworks burst over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year celebrations in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Fireworks burst over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year celebrations in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

Fireworks burst over the Sydney Harbour Bridge during the New Year celebrations in Sydney, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)

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Revelers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, China, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Revelers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, China, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Revelers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, China, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

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People strike a giant bell to celebrate the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple, minutes after midnight Thursday Jan. 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

People strike a giant bell to celebrate the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple, minutes after midnight Thursday Jan. 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

People strike a giant bell to celebrate the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple, minutes after midnight Thursday Jan. 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Children play on a pile of snow while celebrating New Year's Eve at the Palace Square, in St. Petersburg, Russia, late Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Children play on a pile of snow while celebrating New Year’s Eve at the Palace Square, in St. Petersburg, Russia, late Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Children play on a pile of snow while celebrating New Year’s Eve at the Palace Square, in St. Petersburg, Russia, late Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

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People watch Russian President Vladimir Putin's New Year's message a few minutes prior to the New Year at the Palace Square, in St. Petersburg, Russia, late Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

People watch Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s message a few minutes prior to the New Year at the Palace Square, in St. Petersburg, Russia, late Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

People watch Russian President Vladimir Putin’s New Year’s message a few minutes prior to the New Year at the Palace Square, in St. Petersburg, Russia, late Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

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Fireworks can be seen above the Brandenburg Gate at the "Yeah 26" New Year's Eve event, in Berlin, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP)

Fireworks can be seen above the Brandenburg Gate at the “Yeah 26″ New Year’s Eve event, in Berlin, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP)

Fireworks can be seen above the Brandenburg Gate at the “Yeah 26″ New Year’s Eve event, in Berlin, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Britta Pedersen/dpa via AP)

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People watch fireworks at the beach of the Baltic Sea in Timmendorfer Strand, Germany, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

People watch fireworks at the beach of the Baltic Sea in Timmendorfer Strand, Germany, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

People watch fireworks at the beach of the Baltic Sea in Timmendorfer Strand, Germany, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Probst)

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People burn old resolutions on the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple, minutes after midnight Thursday Jan. 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

People burn old resolutions on the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple, minutes after midnight Thursday Jan. 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

People burn old resolutions on the New Year at the Zojoji Buddhist temple, minutes after midnight Thursday Jan. 1, 2026, in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

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Performers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, China, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Performers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, China, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

Performers ring in the new year at the Juyongguan Great Wall on the outskirts of Beijing, China, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

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People celebrate the New Year in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

People celebrate the New Year in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

People celebrate the New Year in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

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Fireworks illuminate the night sky over Zurich, Switzerland, during the New Year's Eve celebrations, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)

Fireworks illuminate the night sky over Zurich, Switzerland, during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)

Fireworks illuminate the night sky over Zurich, Switzerland, during the New Year’s Eve celebrations, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (Andreas Becker/Keystone via AP)

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Fireworks are launched above the My Dinh national stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Huy Han)

Fireworks are launched above the My Dinh national stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Huy Han)

Fireworks are launched above the My Dinh national stadium in Hanoi, Vietnam, January 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Huy Han)

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Revelers use their smartphones to film the falling balloons and confetti as they celebrate the start of 2026 during the New Year countdown event held at a shopping mall in Beijing, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Revelers use their smartphones to film the falling balloons and confetti as they celebrate the start of 2026 during the New Year countdown event held at a shopping mall in Beijing, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Revelers use their smartphones to film the falling balloons and confetti as they celebrate the start of 2026 during the New Year countdown event held at a shopping mall in Beijing, early Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

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A man sits on a cliff as the last sunset of 2025 is seen over the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

A man sits on a cliff as the last sunset of 2025 is seen over the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

A man sits on a cliff as the last sunset of 2025 is seen over the Mediterranean Sea in Beirut, Lebanon, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

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