New Year's Eve 2021 celebrations around the world - in pictures

See how countries around the world are welcoming 2021

The ball drops to ring in the new year in a mostly empty Times Square in New York City. AFP

A light show is seen over Tower Bridge on the New Year amid the coronavirus outbreak, in London, Britain. Reuters

Parisians ring in the New Year 2021 near the Eiffel Tower. New Year's eve celebrations and fireworks have been cancelled throughout France with an 8 o'clock curfew imposed in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections. Getty Images

People drink champagne on the banks of the Seine in front of the glittering Eiffel Tower at midnight during New Year's Eve, in Paris, France. EPA

Fireworks were shot over Puerta del Sol Square on New Year's Eve in Madrid, Spain. Getty Images

Madrid's regional government has forbidden celebrations for New Year's Eve at Puerta del Sol Square for first time in its history due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Getty Images

Revellers celebrated on the Erasmus Bridge in Rotterdam. Selling, owning, and lighting fireworks was prohibited during New Years in The Netherlands this year. EPA

Fireworks explode over the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill during New Year's in Athens, Greece. Reuters

The Balmoral Clock and Edinburgh Castle at 11pm as the UK departs the EU nearly a full year after officially leaving the 27-nation bloc. Getty Images

The last ferry before the end of the transition period with the EU leaves the port in Dover, The pandemic has forced cancellation of the normal New Year party festivities, as Britain's split from the European bloc becomes a reality on January 1. AP

Fireworks explode over the ancient Parthenon temple atop the Acropolis hill during New Year's celebrations in Greece. Reuters

With a projected image of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and ruler of Dubai, fireworks explode at the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building, to mark New Year in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP

Fireworks on the Burj Khalifah tower in Dubai during the New Year's Eve celebrations. AFP

Freworks and "2021" lettering seen on the Burj Khalifah tower in Dubai during the New Year's Eve celebrations. AFP

People watch fireworks during New Year celebrations in Pakistan's Rawalpindi. AFP

The Brandenburg Gate, without a live audience, for the New Year's Eve "Willkommen 2021" performance in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Berlin's annual official New Year's Eve festivities were broadcast over TV without the celebration's traditional public audience of thousands or fireworks display. Getty Images

A fireworks show celebrates the New Year in Hanoi's city center in Vietnam. Citizens celebrated this year with a sense of joy, knowing that their country has been one of the most successful globally at containing the novel coronavirus. Getty Images

A general view of the live broadcast of the New Year's Eve show 'Welcome 2021' (Willkommen 2021) by public German TV broadcasting station ZDF, at the Brandenburg in Berlin, Germany. EPA

A police officer stands on Taksim Square during the New Year's celebrations in Istanbul. The Turkish government announced a four-days lockdown starting on New Year's Eve. AFP

Fireworks explode on New Year's in Baghdad, Iraq. EPA

Fireworks explode over the new suspension bridge crossing the River Nile and named the Tahya Misr (Long Live Egypt) bridge, during New Year celebrations in Cairo, Egypt. Reuters

Fireworks explode over Chao Phraya River during the New Year celebrations in Bangkok, Thailand. Reuters

A fireworks display is conducted moments after midnight to welcome the New Year at the Quezon City Memorial Circle in Metro Manila, Philippines. EPA

People take selfies as they celebrate the New Year in Wuhan, China. EPA

The crowd watch as fireworks explode from the landmark building Taipei 101 during New Year celebrations in Taiwan. Reuters

LED lights that read 2021 are illuminated on the Taipei 101 commercial building to celebrate the New Year in Taipei. AFP

Fireworks light up the Taiwan skyline and Taipei 101 during New Years Eve celebrations. Getty Images

Fireworks light up the Taiwan skyline and Taipei 101 during New Years Eve celebrations Getty Images

People celebrate at Tamar Park on New Year's Eve in Hong Kong, China. Bloomberg

Revelers write "2021" in a heart shape with sparkler candles in Lahti, Finland. EPA

People watch a light show, as the traditional New Year's Eve fireworks are cancelled, off Marina Bay in Singapore. Reuters

People chant as they celebrate New Year's day in Shibuya district of Tokyo. AFP

A woman prays at the Chogey temple during the New Year's Eve in Seoul, South Korea. Getty Images

People visit Central World Department Store in downtown during New Year's Eve in Bangkok, Thailand. Getty Images

New Year's Eve fireworks erupt over Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge and Opera House during the fireworks show. AFP

A deserted Sydney Opera House forecourt can be seen in front of fireworks exploding from the Sydney Harbour Bridge during New Year celebrations in central Sydney. AFP

Fireworks are launched from the Sky Tower to mark the changing of the year in Auckland, New Zealand. The country and its South Pacific island neighbours have no cases of Covid-19, and New Year celebrations there are the same as ever. AP

Crowds enjoy the music during New Year's Eve celebrations in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty Images

Fireworks are seen from the SkyTower during New Year's Eve celebrations in Auckland, New Zealand. Getty Images

Auckland Harbour Bridge light show beams colorful lights across the sky in New Zealand. Getty Images

The Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon is lit with a Covid-19 safe message ahead of midnight fireworks during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. EPA

Sunday River guests watch the fireworks display on the side of the ski trails to ring in the New Year in Newry, Maine. All festivities stopped promptly at 9 PM in accordance with state guidelines. AP Photo

Mayor Bill De Blasio hugs his wife Chirlane McCray after dropping the ball on New Years Day in Times Square in New York City, U.S. Reuters

Jennifer Lopez performs in Times Square on New Years Eve in New York City, U.S. Reuters

Singer Pitbull performs in Times Square during New Year's Eve celebrations in New York City. AFP

Confetti flies around the ball and countdown clock in Times Square during the virtual New Year's Eve event following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S. Reuters

Fireworks explode over the near-deserted Times Square area ahead of midnight during a virtual New Year's Eve celebrations in New York, U.S. Bloomberg

Billy Porter performs in Times Square on New Years Eve in New York City, U.S. Reuters

After a challenging year around the globe, the world is preparing to welcome in 2021 with open arms, and New Zealand is kicking off the celebrations.

Marking the arrival of the New Year with a fireworks show at SkyTower in Auckland, people gathered to celebrate as the clock hit midnight.

In Australia, Sydney's world-famous fireworks took place with much smaller crowds than usual, due to Covid-19 restrictions.

As people gear up for New Year's celebrations around the world, many of which will look rather different this year, The National will be sharing pictures as the start of 2021 trickles across the globe.

In the UAE, the turn of the New Year was marked with fireworks displays, including a show at the world's tallest building, and an attempt to break a Guinness World Record in the capital with the world's longest fireworks display, at 35 minutes.

"Happy new year" and "2021" were seen on the Burj Khalifah in Dubai as fireworks shot off up and down the tower.

In Cairo, Egypt, fireworks exploded over the new suspension bridge crossing the River Nile, named Tahya Misr (Long Live Egypt), for the new year.

Berlin's annual official New Year's Eve festivities at The Brandenburg Gate were broadcast by public German TV station ZDF.

Any chance of an in-person crowd at the "Welcome 2021" show was blocked, because of rising coronavirus cases in Germany.

Britain rang in the new year with subdued, limited, and cancelled celebrations shortly after the nation formally left the European Union market.

New York City's Times Square was barricaded on Thursday, with only a handful of invited guests, including healthcare workers and others from the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, allowed in to watch the New Year's Eve ball drop in person.

The eagerly awaited first lights of 2021 fell on the Pacific nations of Kiribati and Samoa, with the uninhabited Howland and Baker Islands the last to tip over into the New Year 26 hours later.

New Zealand, which has won plaudits for its handling of the coronavirus, followed an hour later with large crowds gathered in Auckland to watch a fireworks display.

Although still isolated by international border closures, months of zero recorded cases in the community has let life in New Zealand return to relative normality.

In Australia's largest city, Sydney, plans to allow crowds were scrapped amid a cluster of about 150 new infections, leading to severe travel restrictions to and from the city.