26 Dec 2015

If there’s one thing you can count on, it’s that almost every city will bring out the big guns for New Year’s Eve, to make sure fireworks, lightshows, parties and celebrations get bigger and bigger every year. If you’re looking for a little inspiration, here’s a rundown of some of the most spectacular NYE’s from across the world.

1. New York

New York City is one of the most famous New Year’s Eve destinations. A million people gather in Times Square every year to watch the giant crystal ball drop, and with thousands more watching around the globe and a preshow concert featuring some of the most famous acts on the planet, New York has sort of come to define the quintessential NYE experience.

2. Las Vegas

The world famous Las Vegas Strip becomes a giant street party, and there’s concerts and famous people everywhere. At midnight, fireworks are launched off seven hotels/casinos along the Strip and the party goes all night long.

3. Sydney

Sydney is the first major city to hit midnight in the world (represent!), and more than a million people gather round the harbour foreshore to watch one of the largest and most spectacular fireworks displays in the world over the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge.

4. Paris

Paris certainly lives up to its ‘City of Light’ moniker on NYE, when the Eiffel Tower puts on a spectacular lightshow and fireworks display. The Champs-Elysees becomes a massive street party and it’s champagne and chocolates to ring in the New Year in one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

5. London

At midnight Big Ben chimes and pulses with light and then it’s the London Eye that sets off the celebrations, with an incredible fire and lightshow to light up the urban landscape. Afterparties go all night and a parade of floats and dancers take to the streets on New Year’s Day.

6. Rio de Janeiro

One of the largest and wildest NYE parties is at Rio’s Copacabana Beach, where more than two million people cram onto the two and a half mile stretch of sand. The religious/cultural tradition of Réveillon is followed by music, dancing and parties like you’ll find nowhere else.

7. Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay (last day of the year) traditions actually last for three whole days. A procession and fireworks on December 30 precede a New Year’s Eve all about street parties and concerts, with 4.5 tonnes of fireworks exploding over Edinburgh Castle at midnight as revellers sing Auld Lang Syne.

8. Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s dramatic skyline is lit up every year with a fireworks display that just keeps getting more and more spectacular. They’ve even got a pyrotechnic dragon to top it all off! There’s a replica ball drop in homage to NYC and parties take place across the city on boats and rooftops.

9. Berlin

The highlight of the German NYE is “Party Mile,” a 2km stretch of bars, food stalls, music and parties between Brandenburg Gate and the Victory Column. There’s fireworks at midnight and then everyone heads to dancefloors across the city, partying ‘til dawn.