As the world gears up to welcome the new year, the island of Kiritimati has become the first in the world to welcome 2026. The remaining parts of Kiribati will ring in the new year over the next four hours.
It is part of the Pacific nation of Kiribati, located south of Hawaii and northeast of Australia. The country is primarily made of a chain of coral atolls and islands, spanning almost 4,000km from east to west.
According to the BBC, Kiribati gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979.
It is home to the South Pacific’s largest marine reserve though many of its coral islands are sparsely inhabited; most are very low-lying and face increasing risks from rising sea levels due to global warming.
The archipelago has a population of about 116,00. Despite being located almost directly south of Hawaii, Kiribati celebrates the New Year a full day earlier, having moved the International Date Line to keep its islands on the same calender day.
While many across the rest of the world are still waiting hours for the check to strike midnight, Kiribati is already just minutes away from welcoming 2026.
From welcoming the year’s first sunrise to exploring the far reaches of Mercury and the shadows of the lunar south pole, 2026 will be defined by our quest to understand the unknown.