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Welcome 2023!
The party at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin had been canceled two years in a row due to the corona pandemic, but this year there was singing, dancing and celebrating again.
Many traveled to the capital for this: According to Visit Berlin, hotels expected 80 to 90 percent occupancy.
However, the celebration was much smaller than in previous years.
For the show under the motto "Celebrate at the Gate" on Pariser Platz - i.e. on the east side of the gate - you had to book a ticket in advance.
With 2500 people, the celebration was fully booked.
Photo: Michael Sohn/AP
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New Zealand is one of the first nations to start the new year: In the center of Auckland, fireworks are celebrated over the Sky Tower, one of the New Year's highlights in the country.
Last year, most events were canceled due to Corona.
Photo: Uncredited / dpa
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Colorful, more colorful, Bangkok: Firecrackers explode over Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, during the New Year celebrations.
Photo: Athit Perawongmetha / REUTERS
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What would the turn of the year be without the impressive pictures from the Opera House in Sydney?
A number of rockets were fired at midnight Australian time, fittingly framing the postcard view at the turn of the year.
About a million people came to the light spectacle.
A rainbow waterfall was the focal point of the eight-tonne fireworks show ahead of Sydney WorldPride, which kicks off in the metropolis in February.
As early as 9 p.m. local time, the first fireworks lit up the sky as a family event.
Photo: Jaimi Joy / REUTERS
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Many gather for the New Year's Eve celebrations at the main roundabout in Jakarta, Indonesia.
Many capture the spectacle with their smartphones.
Photo: Mast Irham/EPA
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From a German perspective, China is also one of the early turn-of-the-year countries.
The celebrations took place at Hong Kong's Victoria Harbor with fireworks appearing to emanate from the skyline.
But this year the festival was overshadowed by the big corona wave in the country.
Bars and restaurants have been allowed to hold parties since the authorities have abandoned their strict measures against the virus, but people in many places chose to stay at home because of illness or fear of infection.
The real celebrations in China are not until January 22, 2023 anyway, when the new year begins according to the traditional lunar calendar.
Photo: Anthony Kwan / dpa
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People visit India Gate on New Year's Eve in New Delhi.
Pedestrians are also allowed here until midnight - according to the newspaper "The Indian Express", more than 18,000 police officers are on duty to ensure security in all districts of the capital.
Photo: Kabir Jhangiani / ZUMA Wire / IMAGO
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At the turn of the year things can also get colourful: in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia there are sparkling celebrations.
Photo: Hasnoor Hussain / REUTERS
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People walk on Red Square in Moscow.
This year, as in most Russian regions, there will be no official New Year's fireworks.
The administration of the capital justified this with an online survey in which the majority of citizens spoke out against loud celebrations.
The background is the war against Ukraine.
However, Moscow has designated places where citizens can set off fireworks themselves.
Photo: Mikhail Tereshchenko / ITAR-TASS / IMAGO
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In recent years, the New Year festival in South Korea has had to be canceled again and again due to the corona pandemic - now it can be celebrated again.
Many gather for this in central Seoul - but some Buddhist believers take photos while celebrating New Year's Eve in a temple.
Photo: Kim Hong-Ji / REUTERS
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In Dubai, too, New Year's Eve is being celebrated like before the pandemic.
Of course, the fireworks on the facade of the tallest skyscraper in the world, Burj Khalifa, should not be missing.
A light show was also planned in the metropolis of the United Arab Emirates, with hundreds of drones drawing shapes and messages in the night sky.
The show is supported musically by Australian pop singer Kylie Minogue and Spanish singer Enrique Iglesias.
Photo: Satish Kumar Subramani / REUTERS
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The sky behind the Parthenon in Athens is on fire - at least it looks like it.
The New Year is also greeted with fireworks on the Acropolis Hill: the Greek capital is starting 2023 with a postcard motif.
Photo: Yorgos Karahalis / dpa
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Residents take shelter in a subway station during an airstrike alert in Kyiv.
Russian missiles hit major cities in Ukraine ahead of New Year celebrations.
Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported explosions and destruction in three districts of the capital.
Photo: Oleg Petrasyuk / EPA
ani/dpa
