Updated Jan 1, 2025 - Business

In photos: New Year's celebrations in U.S. and around the world

Rebecca Falconer

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A view of the ball drop during Times Square New Year's Eve 2025 Celebration on December 31, 2024 in New York City. — A view of the ball drop during the Times Square New Year's Eve 2025 Celebration on Dec. 31 in New York City. Photo: TheStewartofNY/FilmMagic via Getty Images

U.S. cities joined millions of people around the world in New Year's celebrations ringing in 2025 on Wednesday.

The big picture: Countries in the Asia-Pacific region were the first to mark New Year's Day, with Auckland, New Zealand, the first major city to see Jan. 1, 2025.

Pink fireworks over the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, as people walk in a park with green trees, surrounded by sky scrapers.. — Fireworks over the Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, which celebrated the arrival of New Year's Day 18 hours ahead of the ball drop in New York City's Times Square. Photo: Auckland Council

Revelers celebrate the new year during Zac Brown Band Special New Year's Eve Show at State Farm Arena on January 1, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. — Revelers celebrate the new year during Zac Brown Band Special New Year's Eve Show at State Farm Arena on Jan. 1 in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Paras Griffin/Getty Images

Charlotte welcomes New Year and 2025 with CLT NYE (Charlotte New Year's Eve) for the first time in Truist Field in Charlotte, United States on December 31, 2024 — Charlotte, North Carolina, welcomes 2025 with CLT NYE (Charlotte New Year's Eve) for the first time in Truist Field on Dec. 31. Photo: Peter Zay/Anadolu via Getty Images

Fireworks light up the sky over the Potomac River in Virginia United States on Jan. 1. — Fireworks over the Potomac River in Virginia on Jan. 1. Photo: Celal Gunes/Anadolu via Getty Images

Christ The Redeemer statue as fireworks explode all over Rio de Janeiro during New Year celebrations in Rio de Janeiro early on January 1, 2025. A traditional fireworks display and free music concerts will be held to welcome the new year during the New Year's Eve celebration in Brazil. — Celebrations in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, early on Jan. 1. Photo: Mauro Pimentel/AFP via Getty Images

A general view of fireworks fired from the General de Gaulle bridge, on the Ebrie lagoon during the New Year celebration in Abidjan on January 1, 2025. — A general view of fireworks fired from the General de Gaulle bridge, on the Ebrie Lagoon during the New Year's celebration in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Jan. 1. Photo: Sia Kambou/AFP via Getty Images

Fireworks seen above Chao Phraya river near The Grand Palace (L) during the new year celebration in Bangkok. — Fireworks above Chao Phraya River near The Grand Palace (left) during New Year's celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo: Varuth Pongsapipatt/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images

Traditional dancers with torches dance around the burning papers and play traditional instruments as they celebrate the New Year's eve in Lompoul, 180 kilometers from Dakar, Senegal on December 31, 2024. — In Lompoul, Senegal, New Year's Eve celebrations include a traditional dance around burning papers. At midnight on Jan. 1, performers dressed in lion costumes, known as "Simb," set fire to papers with "2025" written on them in the sand. Photo: Cem Ozdel/Anadolu via Getty Images

Drones form ''Athens'' next to the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis during New Year celebrations in Athens, Greece, on January 1, 2025. — Drones form ''Athens'' next to the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis during New Year celebrations in Athens, Greece, on Jan. 1. Photo: Dimitris Lampropoulos/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Fireworks and light shows are held at the Champs-Elysees during the New Year celebrations in Paris, France on January 1, 2025. — Fireworks and light shows are held at the Champs-Elysees during celebrations in Paris, France, on Jan. 1. Photo: Luc Auffret/Anadolu via Getty Images

People celebrate with fireworks along the Rhine River during the upcoming New Year's Eve celebration in Cologne, Germany, on December 31, 2024. — New Year's Eve celebrations along the Rhine River in Cologne, Germany, on Dec. 31. Photo: Ying Tang/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Fireworks explode in the sky around the London Eye and The Elizabeth Tower, commonly known by the name of the clock's bell, "Big Ben", at the Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament, in central London, at midnight on January 1, 2025. — Fireworks explode in the sky around The Elizabeth Tower, commonly known by the name of the clock's bell, "Big Ben," at the Palace of Westminster, home to the Houses of Parliament, and the London Eye in central London, at midnight on Jan. 1. Photo: Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images

Anti-government demonstrators protest against the Georgian government's postponement of European Union accession talks until 2028, outside the parliament in central Tbilisi on December 31, 2024, the New Year's Eve. — Anti-government demonstrators in Georgia continued a month-long protest during New Year's Eve celebrations against the Georgian government's postponement of European Union accession talks by rallying outside Parliament in Tbilisi on Dec. 31. Photo: Giorgi Arjevanidze/AFP via Getty Images

This photograph shows a laser show over the port as part of the New Year celebrations in Colombo on December 31, 2024. — A laser show over the port as part of the New Year's Eve celebrations in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Dec. 31. Photo: Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images

Fireworks light up the sky ushering in the New Year in Makati, Metro Manila on January 1, 2025. — Fireworks light up the sky in Makati, Metro Manila, on Jan. 1. Photo: Jam Sta Rosa/AFP via Getty Images

- A man dressed in a Dracula costume poses with others to take a selfie during the New Year celebrations in Bandung, West Java, on December 31, 2024. — A man dressed in a Dracula costume hugs two people during New Year's Eve celebrations in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia, on Dec. 31. Photo: Timur Matahari/AFP via Getty Images

People walk at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival as they await the New Years Eve fireworks and drone show in Abu Dhabi on December 31, 2024. — People walk at the Sheikh Zayed Heritage Festival as they await the New Year's Eve fireworks and drone show in Abu Dhabi on Dec. 31. Photo: Ryan Lim/AFP via Getty Images

Fireworks light up the sky ahead of the new year countdown on December 31, 2024 in Singapore, Singapore. — Fireworks light up the sky in Singapore on Dec. 31. Photo: Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images

This photograph shows a New Year fireworks show for children at the Museumplein in Amsterdam on December 31, 2024. — A New Year's Eve fireworks show for children at the Museumplein in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, on Dec. 31. Photo: Koen van Weel/ANP/AFP via Getty Images

Fireworks light up the sky during the New Year celebrations in Hong Kong, China on December 31, 2024. — Fireworks over the harbor in Hong Kong, China, on Dec. 31. Photo: Man Hei Leung/Anadolu via Getty Images

Fireworks light up the midnight sky over Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during 2025 New Year's Day celebrations in Sydney on January 1, 2025. — Fireworks light up the midnight sky over the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge during 2025 New Year's Day celebrations in Sydney, Australia, on Jan. 1. Photo: Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images

Go deeper: Paid prenatal leave, child influencer protections, no taxes on rent: New 2025 laws

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

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