Australians have rung in the new year with dazzling fireworks and a moment of silent reflection for the Jewish community.

All eyes were on Sydney Harbour on New Year’s Eve where, two weeks on from the Bondi Beach terrorist attack, hundreds of thousands of people observed a minute’s silence for the victims.

The crowd held their phone torch lights aloft while a menorah was projected onto the harbour bridge’s pylons and a dove with the words “peace” and “unity” were displayed.

The silent reflection contrasted with the brilliant firework display that rang out across the world-famous harbour at midnight.

Some 40,000 pyrotechnic effects stretched seven kilometres across buildings and ⁠barges along the harbour and featured a waterfall effect from the bridge.

Security was heavy throughout the festivities, with thousands of armed police in attendance.

Around the world, people said goodbye to a ‍sometimes challenging 2025 and expressed hopes for the new year to come.

Midnight arrived first on the islands closest to the International Date Line in the Pacific Ocean, including Kiribati, ​Tonga and New Zealand.

In Seoul, thousands gathered at the Bosingak bell ‍pavilion, where a bronze bell was struck 33 times at midnight — a tradition rooted in Buddhist cosmology, symbolising the 33 heavens. The chimes are believed to dispel misfortune and welcome peace and prosperity for the year ahead.

Participants in Seoul hit a huge bell during a countdown. Photo: AAP

An hour to the west, there were celebrations and a drum performance at the Juyong Pass, at the Great Wall of China just outside Beijing.

Revellers wore headgear and waved boards emblazoned with “2026” and the symbol of a horse. February will mark the arrival of the Year of the Horse on the ​Chinese lunar calendar.

In Hong Kong, the annual New Year’s fireworks display was called off after the apartment ‌complex blaze in November that killed 161 people. Instead, a light show with the theme of “New hopes, new beginnings” transformed facades in the Central district.

A crowd gathers at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate before midnight. Photo: AAP

In Croatia, revels got off to an early start. Since 2000, the town ​of Fuzine has held its countdown at noon, a tradition that has since spread across the country. Crowds cheered, toasted each other with champagne and danced to ‍music — all in the middle of the day. Some brave souls in Santa hats took a plunge into the icy waters of Lake Bajer.

Elsewhere, preparations got under way for the more traditional midnight toast. In subzero temperatures in New York, organisers began putting up security barriers and stages ahead of the ​crowds ​that will flock to Times Square for the annual ball drop.

Similarly, on ​Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro — albeit with warmer weather — staging was being set up ​for a massive music and fireworks party known as “Reveillon”.

Young people in Moscow’s Red Square celebrate the new year. Photo: AAP

Organisers were hoping to beat their 2024 Guinness World Record for the biggest New Year’s Eve celebration. In snowy Kyiv and Moscow, both Ukrainians and Russians prepared to see in the new year, expressing hopes of peace after nearly four years of conflict.

“I wish for the war to end, I think that this is the main and most important topic for our country,” said a woman in central Moscow who gave her name only as Larisa.

She said she had travelled from distant Altai Krai to see the Russian capital in the winter holidays with her family.

A Jewish menorah is projected onto the pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Photo: AAP

Back in Sydney, Irishman David Mooney, who nabbed an early spot on the harbour, said the potential security risks had only “slightly” crossed his mind.

“With everyone in such good spirits, you almost feel a bit of safety in numbers,” the 29-year-old said.

“Everyone’s in good form, everyone’s relaxed, I personally couldn’t have felt more reassured.”

Earlier on Wednesday night, there was a relaxed atmosphere as crowds gathered, shared drinks and played board games while they waited for the fireworks.

Lieke Wijnhoven, 24, from the Netherlands, said extra security measures gave her peace of mind.

“Of course [the Bondi terror attack] is in your mind a little bit, but it could happen anywhere,” she said.

“Because of all the security, the police, even police helicopters, they’ve done what they can and we’re just here trying to enjoy ourselves.”

Caroline Meierhans, 24, from Switzerland, said the long hours queuing to enter Sydney’s Macquarie Point had not dampened her spirits.

“For hours we were singing, just standing there, connecting with other people, looking at our watches wondering how long it would take,” she said.

Just over a fortnight has passed since 15 people were killed and 41 others were injured in the Bondi attack, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese encouraging people to show kindness.

“What Bondi also showed us was the best of the Australian spirit, in all its courage and compassion,” he said.

Police were also out in force in Melbourne, with about 500,000 people flocking to the city for the fireworks and laser display at midnight.

German tourist Alexandra Bender said she felt unconcerned as she nabbed an early viewing spot with her family at Flagstaff Gardens.

“Everywhere can happen, things like this. We had it in Germany too,” she said.

At other Melbourne live sites at the Treasury Gardens, Kings Domain and Docklands, families enjoyed live entertainment before fireworks at 9.30pm and midnight.

In Adelaide, partygoers lined the banks of the River Torrens for fireworks in Elder Park.

The fireworks went off along the Brisbane River in the Queensland capital amid rainy weather, while Tasmanians were able to ring in the new year at the River Derwent in Hobart.

There were also fireworks on the Darwin waterfront with displays at 9pm and midnight.

In Perth, fireworks lit up the sky over the Swan River at midnight, three hours after the eastern states.

-AAP