Kiritimati Becomes First To Welcome 2026

COLOMBO (News 1st); While celebrations in Sri Lanka are hours away, the tiny island of Kiritimati in the Pacific Ocean has already ushered in 2026, becoming the first place in the world to celebrate the New Year.

Part of the nation of Kiribati — pronounced Kiribass — Kiritimati lies south of Hawaii and northeast of Australia.

The country spans nearly 4,000 km east to west, comprising several low-lying atolls that face severe threats from rising sea levels due to global warming.

Home to about 116,000 people, Kiribati gained independence from the UK in 1979 and boasts the South Pacific’s largest marine reserve. Despite its proximity to Hawaii, Kiribati celebrates New Year a full day earlier, thanks to its position near the International Date Line.