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Ringing in a New Decade: See How New Year’s 2020 Is Celebrated All Over the World

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Updated: | Originally published: ;

When the clock hit midnight on Jan. 1, 2020, a new decade began. As New Yorkers prepared for the famed ball to drop in Times Square and folks across the U.S. were going about their day Tuesday, other cities worldwide were already ringing in the New Year.

In Australia, revelers celebrated the moment with fireworks by the Sydney Opera House and above Melbourne’s skyline. Many in Seoul saw paper lanterns. Singapore’s luxurious Marina Bay celebrated with fireworks. In Hong Kong, pro-democracy protests continued.

Here, see how different cities around the world marked New Year’s 2020.

New York

New York City’s Times Square reportedly had more than one million people gather to watch the ball drop, where many had been waiting since the early morning to snag a spot. As part of the annual televised event, Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, revelers both at home and in person saw performances by Post Malone, BTS and Sam Hunt.

Times Square New Year's Eve 2020 Celebration
The ball drops during the 2020 New Year Celebration on December 31, 2019 in New York City.Roy Rochlin—Getty Images

New Orleans

One hour behind New York, New Orleans celebrated the new year at 1 a.m. EST. Billy Porter hosted the New Orleans portion of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve broadcast, and performers included Usher and Sheryl Crow.

Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebration
Billy Porter and Adam Porter-Smith celebrate onstage during Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve Celebration on December 31, 2019 in New Orleans City.Santiago Felipe—Getty Images

Las Vegas

The West Coast rang in the decade with fireworks over the Las Vegas Strip at 3 a.m. EST.

New Year Fireworks Light Up Over The Las Vegas Strip
Fireworks illuminate the skyline over the Las Vegas Strip during an eight-minute-long pyrotechnics show put on by Fireworks by Grucci titled "America's Party 2020" during a New Year's Eve celebration on January 1, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. About 400,000 visitors gathered to watch more than 80,000 fireworks shoot from the rooftops of seven hotel-casinos to welcome the new year.Bryan Steffy—Getty Images

Paris

After a year filled with protests, Parisians celebrated 2020 together with a light show at the Champs Elysees, illuminating the Arc de Triomphe. The clock hit midnight at 6 p.m. EST on Tuesday.

New Year Celebration In Paris
People wait for the new year's eve fireworks at the Arc de Triomphe at Champs Elysees in Paris, France on December 31, 2019.Zakaria Abdelkafi—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

London

Londoners celebrated with fireworks surrounding the London Eye at 7 p.m. EST, followed by a parade for New Year’s Day on Wednesday.

New Year Celebrations In London
Fireworks light up the sky above the London Eye during the new year celebrations in London, United Kingdom on Jan. 1, 2020.Vickie Flores—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
London New Year's Day Parade 2020
Performers during the New Year's Day Parade in London on Jan. 1, 2020.Victoria Jones—PA Images/Getty Images

Berlin

Berlin’s new year kicked off with fireworks above the Brandenburg Gate at 6 p.m. EST.

New Year Celebrations in Berlin
Fireworks explode over Berlin's landmark Brandenburg Gate in the New Year on Jan. 1, 2020 in Berlin, Germany.Abdulhamid Hosbas—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

Fireworks shot above the General de Gaulle bridge in Abidjan at 7 p.m. EST.

ICOAST-NEW YEAR
Fireworks light up the sky over the General de Gaulle bridge and the Ebrie lagoon during New Year's celebrations in Abidjan early on Jan. 1, 2020.Sia Kambou—AFP/Getty Images

Sydney, Australia

Sixteen hours ahead of New York, the clock struck midnight and a new decade began in Australia at 8 a.m. EST. Fireworks lit up the sky behind the Sydney Opera House.

Australians Celebrate New Year's Eve 2019
Fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House during the midnight display during New Year's Eve celebrations on January 01, 2020 in Sydney, Australia.Hanna Lassen—Getty Images

Melbourne, Australia

Southwest of Sydney, the city of Melbourne lit up for 2020 at midnight, too.

Australians Celebrates New Year's Eve 2019
Fireworks erupt over the Melbourne central business district during New Year's Eve celebrations on January 01, 2020 in Melbourne, Australia.Asanka Ratnayake—Getty Images

Tokyo, Japan

The decade began in Japan at 10 a.m. EST The new year is special in Japanese culture as it is considered a time to pray for one’s family.

JAPAN-NEW YEAR
Japanese priestess prepare for New Year prayers at Kanda Myojin Shrine in Tokyo on December 31, 2019. Millions of Japanese people will visit shrines and temples across the country during the first three days of the new year to pray for the well-being of their families.Kazuhiro Nogi—AFP/Getty Images

Seoul, South Korea

Lanterns were lit up in Seoul to mark the new decade at 10 a.m. EST.

South Koreans Countdown To The New Year
People gather to celebrate New Years on December 31, 2019 in Seoul, South Korea.Chung Sung-Jun—Getty Images

Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protest movement didn’t slow down for New Year’s Eve, where the new year began at 11 a.m. EST.

Final Pro-Democracy Protests of 2019 in Hong Kong
Riot police ride an escalator as they patrol the Harbour City shopping mall in the Tsim Sha Tsui district of Hong Kong, China, on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2019.Justin Chin—Bloomberg

Singapore

Fireworks at Marina Bay drew huge crowds in Singapore, when the day changed at 11 a.m. EST.

Singapore Celebrates New Year's
Singapore awaits 2020 with curtain-raiser fireworks by Star Island as revellers join in the biggest countdown celebration at Marina Bay on December 31, 2019 in Singapore.Suhaimi Abdullah—Getty Images

Bangkok, Thailand

12 hours ahead of New York, the new year was counted down in Bangkok outside of a shopping mall at 12 p.m. EST.

THAILAND-NEW YEAR
Revelers arrive early to watch the New Year countdown outside a shopping mall in downtown Bangkok on December 31, 2019.Mladen Antonov—AFP/Getty Images

Moscow, Russia

Celebratory fireworks went off in Moscow at 4 p.m. EST.

RUSSIA-NEW-YEAR
Fireworks explode over the Kremlin in Moscow during New Year celebrations, on January 1, 2020.Dimitar Dilkoff—AFP/Getty Images

Istanbul, Turkey

The July 15 Martyrs’ Bridge lit up in red and blue as fireworks soared high above for the new year at 4 p.m. EST.

New Year Celebrations in Istanbul
Fireworks go off in front of July 15 Martyrs' Bridge within the new year celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey on January 01, 2020.Arif Hudaverdi Yaman—Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Taipei, Taiwan

Taiwan’s capital city celebrated the new year at 11 a.m. EST, 13 hours ahead of New York.

Taiwanese Countdown To The New Year
Fireworks light up the Taiwan skyline and Taipei 101 during New Years Eve celebrations on January 01, 2020 in Taipei, Taiwan.Gene Wang—Getty Images

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Write to Rachel E. Greenspan at rachel.greenspan@time.com