Kirimati, Kiribati, welcomes 2026 first

Kirimati, the first country in the world and the first region of the country, welcomed the new year 2026. This small Pacific nation celebrated the first light of the new year with the world's attention.

The Pacific nation of Kiribati is located south of Hawaii and northeast of Australia. The country is made up of numerous coral reefs and stretches about 4,000 kilometers from east to west. The locals call their country 'Kiribati'. Kiribati gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979.

Being part of the largest marine reserve in the South Pacific, many of Kiribati's coral reefs are devoid of life. There is a risk of flooding in low-lying areas due to rising sea levels.

Although the total population is only 116,000, Kiribati's time zone is south of Hawaii's, so they celebrate the new year a day earlier than Hawaii. For this reason, Kiritimati is seen as the earliest in the world to celebrate the New Year.