Last year, all celebrations were cancelled because of the covid-19 restrictions and to maintain 6ft social distance for your safety. Now you might be thinking, what about the 2023 celebrations?

Don’t worry, this time the world is in a better position and covid-19 graph has also been decreased. (Thanks to all the medical and healthcare workers who worked day and night to control the covid-19 situation)

Every country has their own unique style of celebrations, and fireworks. Paris, which is famously known for its wedding proposals, choreographs fireworks.  Dubai, which is famous for its luxurious lifestyle, spends millions of dollars on fascinating fireworks along with lightning shows at Burj Khalifa. United States, which is famous for its new year celebrations and dance. Each year thousands of people gather at different places to enjoy the new year eve. 

Fun Fact: Burj Khalifa holds the title of the longest new year celebrations in the world. 

With so many countries in the world, and every country has some time difference, you must be questioning with yourself which country is the first to welcome the new year in the world?

If you are interested to know, here’s a list of the countries when and how they celebrate the new year.

Which Country is the FIRST to hold the title of celebrating the new year 2023?

You might have heard about Sydney that it holds the title of being first in the world to welcome the new year, but it may surprise you that’s wrong. It’s not the first to celebrate the new year. 

Then who’s the first to celebrate it? 
Line Islands (part of Kiribati) and Tonga, a tiny island, is the first in the world to welcome the new year at 10am GMT on December 31st. However, they go to church and pray for the upcoming blessed year, and experience the local singing of the locals at different places.

Things to do in Tonga on New Year Evening

There are people who always want to be on the top of the list, so Tonga is the one you should consider going on a new year eve. Because that won’t only make you the first to celebrate the new year, you can explore different cultures. Following are some of the places you can visit on new year eve:

1. Go to the local church and experience the local singing.
2. Watch the first sun rise on January 1st.
3. Bars in Nuku’alofa
4. Tongan Feast (A festival)

Hotels to stay in Tonga on New Year

You may not experience the five star hotels, and luxurious life in the tiny island, but you could have resorts, and hotels at the beach front. 

1. Tanoa International Dateline Hotel
2. House of Tonga Hotel
3. Little Italy Hotel
4. Emerald Hotel
5. City Hotel

Which Country is the LAST to celebrate the New Year?

As per the Gregorian calendar, new year is the last day of the previous year, and people celebrate it with full swing; it is an event full of emotions, and happiness. Every country has its unique style of celebrations while some do fireworks, and some spend the eve with their loved ones at beaches.

Each country celebrates it with their own specific time, and the uninhabited islands of Howland and Baker Islands are the last to celebrate the new year at 12pm GMT on January 1st.

You may not have heard it because the place is unsettled, and often comes across in the news. 

Can You Visit Baker Island?

It is extremely difficult to go there because there’s not any reservoir of fresh water, and it is an extremely restricted area by the United States. You need a special-request permit from the United States Military, or from the wildlife fish and services.

Different timings of the New Year (London time)

December 31st

Country	Time
Samoa and Christmas Island/Kiribati	10 am
New Zealand	10:15 am
Most of Australia	1pm
Japan	3pm
South Korea	3 pm
North Korea	3 pm
China	4 pm
Singapore	4 pm
Philippines	4 pm
Thailand	5 pm
Cambodia	5 pm
Indonesia	5 pm
Bangladesh and nepal	6 pm and 6:15pm respectively
India and Sri Lanka	Half past 6 pm
Pakistan	7 pm
Azerbaijan and Iran	8 pm and 8:30 pm respectively
Turkey, Iraq, Kenya	9 pm
Greece, South Africa, Romania	10 pm
Germany and France	11 pm

January 1st (London Time)