Does Kiribati celebrate New Year first every year?

Yes, Kiribati’s Line Islands (UTC+14) are the first inhabited places to reach midnight each New Year, because they have the earliest time zone.

Why does New Zealand use UTC+13 on 1 January?

New Zealand (Auckland) is on daylight saving time during the southern hemisphere summer, which shifts its time zone from UTC+12 to UTC+13 for 1 January.

Can I visit Baker Island or Howland Island to be last?

No, both islands are uninhabited and not accessible for general travel. The last inhabited place to celebrate is American Samoa at UTC-11.

How long does it take for the whole world to enter the new year?

The entire process takes about 26 hours, from the first midnight in Kiribati (UTC+14) to the last midnight on Baker Island (UTC-12).

Who Celebrates New Year First and Last? The Midnight Relay

New Year arrives at different moments around the world, and the first place to celebrate is Kiribati's Line Islands, including Kiritimati, which use the earliest time zone of UTC+14. The last inhabited place to reach midnight is American Samoa at UTC-11. The very last spot is uninhabited Baker Island and Howland Island at UTC-12. The gap between UTC+14 and UTC-12 is 26 hours. That creates a relay of midnights taking a full 26 hours to circle the planet.

The First to Celebrate New Year

Kiribati, a Pacific island nation, uses the earliest time zone (UTC+14) for its Line Islands, which include Kiritimati (Christmas Island). Kiribati is the country that celebrates new year first. When the clock strikes midnight there, the rest of the world is still hours behind. No other inhabited place reaches midnight earlier.

Kiribati straddles the International Date Line. The government realigned its time zones so the entire country would share the same calendar date. The Line Islands became the starting point for the global midnight relay.

Who Follows Right After Kiribati

Shortly after Kiribati's midnight, other Pacific locations enter the new year. Samoa, at UTC+13, is one of the next. New Zealand (Auckland) also uses UTC+13 on 1 January because it is on daylight saving time. People in Auckland celebrate just after Samoa.

The Pacific region rings in the new year well before most of the world. The sequence continues westward, each time zone adding an hour to the wait.

How Midnight Travels Across the World

The Midnight Order

The new year around the world times follow a predictable pattern. As each time zone reaches midnight, the date changes. Here is the order of key cities:

Kiribati (Line Islands) – UTC+14 (first)
Samoa, Auckland – UTC+13
London – UTC+0 (midnight at 00:00 UTC)
New York – UTC-5 (five hours after London)
American Samoa – UTC-11 (one of the last inhabited)
Baker Island and Howland Island – UTC-12 (last, uninhabited)

London reaches midnight at 00:00 UTC. New York follows five hours later. The total span from the first midnight in Kiribati to the last midnight on Baker Island is 26 hours.

The Last Places to Celebrate New Year

The last inhabited place to celebrate new year is American Samoa, at UTC-11. While it is still the previous day there, the rest of the world has already moved on. The absolute last place to reach midnight is Baker Island and Howland Island, both uninhabited, at UTC-12. These islands are the final stop in the 26-hour relay.

No one lives on Baker Island or Howland Island. The last celebration is symbolic. To be among the last to mark the new year, get yourself to American Samoa.

Why the 26 Hour Span Matters for Countdowns

Tracking the Relay

Understanding the new year time zones lets you follow the midnight relay. The 26 hour difference means that if you miss the first celebration, you can catch dozens of others as the clock moves west. After Kiribati celebrates, watch Samoa, then New Zealand, then Asia, Europe, and finally the Americas.

Setting Up Your Countdown

Track the exact moment each time zone enters the new year using a world clock or time zone converter. The site sopacountdown.com offers countdown timers aligned with these global times. List the UTC offsets from +14 to -12 and note the corresponding local times. That gives you the complete relay from start to finish.

Key Facts to Remember

Here are the main points about who celebrates new year first and last:

The earliest time zone is UTC+14, used by Kiribati's Line Islands (including Kiritimati).
The latest inhabited time zone is UTC-11, used by American Samoa.
The latest uninhabited time zone is UTC-12, used by Baker Island and Howland Island.
The difference between UTC+14 and UTC-12 is 26 hours.
New Zealand (Auckland) uses UTC+13 on 1 January because of daylight saving time.
London (UTC+0) hits midnight at 00:00 UTC, and New York (UTC-5) is five hours later.

Practical Use of the Midnight Relay

Virtual Toasts Across Time Zones

Use the 26 hour span to schedule virtual celebrations with friends in different time zones. Know the UTC offset of a location and you can calculate when midnight will arrive. If you are in New York (UTC-5) and want to toast with someone in Auckland (UTC+13), find the time difference and plan accordingly.