The world is ushering in 2025 with huge crowds waving goodbye to the year that brought Olympic glory, a dramatic Donald Trump return, and turmoil in the Middle East and Ukraine.
Sydney — the self-proclaimed "New Year's capital of the world" — sprayed nine tonnes of fireworks from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge to begin the year's farewell.
Those who snagged a harbour view were treated to a stunning front-row experience of the glittering display that, for the first time, dazzled the city from both the east and west sides of the bridge.
Composer Luna Pan debuted her 12-minute underwater-themed fireworks soundtrack at midnight, which rang out alongside skyward explosions and artificial intelligence projections.
British pop star Robbie Williams headlined the ABC's New Year's Eve party outside the Sydney Opera House. Source: AAP / Ruby Boland/PA
Hundreds of thousands of Melbourne partygoers were treated to a fireworks and laser spectacular. Source: Getty / Asanka Ratnayake
Victoria Harbour was lit up for New Year celebrations in Hong Kong. Source: Getty / Anadolu
The Taipei 101 skyscraper was the centre of the city's New Year celebrations. Source: AAP / Ritchie B. Tongo/EPA
Bangkok's six-act fireworks display, enhanced with pastel and gold hues, celebrated Thai heritage. Source: Getty / Sirachai Arunrugstichai
"We were hesitant to go out this year because of the security situation, but we decided to overcome our fears," lawyer Maram Ayoub, 34, told AFP from the capital, Damascus.
Many Syrians flocked to the streets of Damascus to ring in the new year. Source: AAP / Mosa'ab Elshamy/AP
Thousands of revellers gathered in the United Arab Emirates' most populous city to watch an almost nine-minute-long light show featuring fireworks, lasers, and colourful displays. Source: Getty / Fadel Senna/AFP
"I once had big dreams and ambitions ... this war has destroyed everything, " Deir al-Balah resident Mohammed Masri said.
"I hope we can see the light of hope for the future, to once again pursue all the good things in life, like education and research, and to break free from the devastation brought by the war."
Dwindling stocks of food, shelter and medicine have made the humanitarian crisis in Gaza even bleaker, but some Palestinians remain optimistic about what the new year may bring. Source: Getty / Anadolu
In Ukraine, Kyiv's landmark Maidan Square (Independence Square) remained empty due to a curfew that was introduced after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnkyy remained defiant in his New Year's Eve address, acknowledging that "peace will not be given to us as a gift, but we will do everything to stop Russia and end the war".
Some Ukrainians sang Christmas carols to collect donations for the army at an underground metro station in Kyiv before curfew began at midnight. Source: Getty / Anadolu
Tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied outside Georgia's parliament in Tbilisi, calling for fresh elections. Source: Getty / Giorgi Arjevanidze
The mayor of Athens said this year's celebration took into account .
Athens' new year celebrations were stripped back this year. Source: AP / Petros Giannakouris/AP
Fireworks illuminated the sky around the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Source: Getty / Thomas Samson/AFP
The festivities went ahead despite much of the United Kingdom being subjected to severe weather warnings for the coming week.
London welcomed 2025 with a dazzling fireworks display. Source: AAP / James Manning/PA
Edinburgh's famous Royal Mile is usually packed with thousands of people on New Year's Eve but was near-deserted after the cancellation of the city's Hogmanay celebrations. Source: AAP / Andy Buchanan/PA
Organisers planned to drop 3,000 pounds of confetti on revellers in New York's Times Square. Source: AAP / Stefan Jeremiah/AP
