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Updated Jan 1, 2020

In photos: Cities around the world ring in the new year

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New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House (L) during the fireworks show on January 1, 2020.

Sydney's New Year's Eve fireworks show went ahead despite tens of thousands signing a petition imploring authorities to call it off because of Australia's deadly wildfires. Photo: Peter Parks/AFP via Getty Images

From New Zealand to New York City, crowds have gathered to ring in the new year and the start of a new decade.

The big picture: The Pacific island nations of Tonga, Samoa, and Kiribati were the first in the world to mark the arrival of 2020, when it was still 5 a.m. on New Year's Eve on the U.S. East Coast. Here's how events have been unfolding around the U.S. and the world, in photos.

A general view of atmosphere is seen at the 2020 NHL Winter Classic New Year's Eve Bash at American Airlines Center on December 31, 2019 in Dallas
The 2020 NHL Winter Classic New Year's Eve Bash in Dallas, Texas. Photo: Minas Panagiotakis/NHLI via Getty Images
Red fireworks and yellow strobe lights illuminating the Cinderella Castle in the Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park.
Fireworks and strobe lights illuminating the Cinderella Castle in Walt Disney's Magic Kingdom theme park in Florida. Photo: Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images
Confetti fills the air over top of revelers in New York City's Times Square.
Confetti fills the air over top of revelers in New York City's Times Square. Photo: Gary Hershorn/Getty Images
Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro celebrations
Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: Daniel Ramalho/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light up the sky over the General de Gaulle bridge and the Ebrie lagoon during New Year's celebrations in Abidjan
General de Gaulle bridge at Ebrie in Abidjan, the economic capital of Ivory Coast. Photo: Sia Kambou/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks explode around the London Eye during New Year's celebrations in central London just after midnight on January 1, 2020.
Celebrations at the London Eye in central London. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images
People, including pro-democracy protesters, gather at the promenade of Tsim Sha Tsui district as they take part in a rally and to celebrate the New Years eve, in Hong Kong
Pro-democracy protesters gather at the promenade of Tsim Sha Tsui district as they take part in a rally and celebrate New Year's Eve in Hong Kong. Photo: Philip Fong/AFP via Getty Images
A crowd waits for the new year's eve fireworks at the Champs Elysees in Paris on December 31,
The Champs Elysees in Paris. Photo: Martin Bureau/AFP via Getty Images
he Quadriga statue stands on the Brandenburg Gate during New Year's Eve fireworks on January 01
The Quadriga statue on the Brandenburg Gate during the fireworks in Berlin. Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
People in light-costumes welcome the new year in Coin, near Malaga, Spain, on January 1
People in light-costumes welcome the new year in Coin, near Malaga, Spain. Photo: JORGE GUERRERO/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks light up the night sky as part of new year celebrations in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on January 1, 2020.
New Year's celebrations in Amsterdam. Photo: Paco Nunez/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Fireworks light up the night sky over Heroes Square within the new year celebrations in Budapest, Hungary on January 01
Heroes Square in Budapest. Photo: Arpad Kurucz/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
People gather to welcome new year at Kizilay Square
Revelers gather at Kizilay Square in Ankara. Photo: Ozge Elif Kizil/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
A boy spins a burning steel wool with a sling performing light painting during the New Year celebrations in Rajpura town
A boy spins burning steel wool with a sling during celebrations in Rajpura town, India. Photo: Saqib Majeed/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Drones are seen forming the year '2020' formation as fireworks, created by Star Island, light up the sky as Singapore ushers in the New Year at Marina Bay on January 1, 2020 in Singapore
Singapore ushers in the new year at Marina Bay. Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images
People cheer during New Year celebrations in Manila on January 1, 2020.
People cheer the new year in Manila. Photo: Maria Tan/AFP via Getty Images
Fireworks illuminate the night sky over Sulaymaniyah, Iraq
Fireworks illuminate the night sky over Sulaymaniyah, Iraq. Photo: Fariq Faraj Mahmood/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images
Fireworks go off at the Burj Khalifa on New Year's Eve 2019 on January 1, 2019 in Dubai
Above, Burj Khalifa fireworks in Dubai. Photo: WIN-Initiative/Getty Images. Below, fireworks in Auckland, New Zealand.

Editor's note: This article has been updated with more images and details of New Year's events around the world.

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