By: The Trek News Desk
The small Pacific island of Kiritimati has officially ushered in 2026, becoming the very first place in the world to welcome the new year.
Also known as Christmas Island, Kiritimati is part of the island nation of Kiribati, located south of Hawaii and northeast of Australia. The country consists of multiple atolls, ring-shaped coral islands, stretching nearly 4,000 kilometres from east to west.
Kiribati gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1979 and is home to the South Pacific’s largest marine reserve. Many of its atolls are inhabited, though most are low-lying and at significant risk from rising sea levels caused by climate change.
With a population of around 116,000, Kiribati celebrates the new year a full day earlier than most of the world, due to its location near the International Date Line.
Hours after Kiritimati welcomed 2026, other islands in Kiribati will follow suit, marking the start of new year celebrations across the archipelago with traditional festivities and community gatherings.
Source: News Agencies
