It's a 24-hour feast of colour and light that begins each year in Auckland and ends somewhere around American Samoa.
But which big city rang in the new year best?
Auckland
Auckland Sky Tower kicks off New Year's around the globe. Photo: Abigail Dougherty
Sydney
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House during New Year's Eve celebrations. Photo: AAP
Melbourne
Melbourne sees in 2018 with the city's biggest-ever fireworks display. Photo: Joe Armao, Fairfax Media
Manila
Filipino revelers watch as fireworks light up the sky to welcome the New Year at the seaside Mall of Asia in suburban Pasay city, south of Manila. Photo: AP
Hong Kong
Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour during New Year's Eve to celebrate the start of year 2018 in Hong Kong. Photo: AP
Beijing
Participants of a countdown to the New Year event marking the passage into 2018 in Beijing, China. Photo: Ng Han Guan
Taipei
Fireworks explode from the Taipei 101 building during the New Year's celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan. Photo: Chiang Ying-ying
Tokyo
Visitors watch the fireworks display during a New Year celebration event at the Hakkeijima Sea Paradise aquarium-amusement park complex in Yokohama, southwest of Tokyo. Photo: AP
Vilnius, Lithuania
Fireworks light the sky above the Cathedral Square in Vilnius, Lithuania, shortly after midnight during the New Year's celebrations. Photo: Mindaugas Kulbis
Moscow
People take pictures as fireworks explode over the Kremlin. Photo: AP
London
Fireworks explode over the River Thames behind the Elizabeth Tower which contains the bell know as "Big Ben", at the Houses of Parliament in London. Photo: AP
Berlin
Fireworks light the sky above the Quadriga at the Brandenburg Gate during New Year's celebrations shortly after midnight in Berlin. Photo: AP
Paris
A firework explodes over the Arc de Triomphe as part of the New Year celebrations on the Champs Elysees, in Paris. Photo: Thibault Camus
Giza
Visitors film the light on the historical site of Giza Pyramids as they celebrate the New Year in Egypt. Photo: AP
Rio de Janeiro
People watch the fireworks exploding over Copacabana beach during the New Year's celebrations in Rio de Janeiro. Photo: AP
New York
Confetti drops over the crowd as the clock strikes midnight during the New Year's celebration in Times Square in New York. Photo: AP