Happy New Year! London rings in 2017 with spectacular fireworks display as people around the world enjoy fantastic celebrations 

  • One million people were in London on Saturday to watch the spectacular fireworks display in the capital 
  • A total of 12,000 fireworks painted the night sky of London during the Mayor's showcase display on January 1 
  • The countdown lasted a second longer than usual to compensate for a slowdown in the Earth's rotation  

By Abe Hawken and Sarah Dean For Mailonline

Published: 19:06 EST, 31 December 2016 | Updated: 08:08 EST, 1 January 2017

One million revellers lined the streets of London to watch the spectacular fireworks display and celebrate the arrival of 2017. 

A total of 12,000 fireworks painted the night sky of London during the Mayor's showcase display on the banks of the River Thames. 

Some of the stars the world lost in 2016 were honoured during the 12-minute spectacle, as Bowie, Prince and the Two Ronnies, which included the late Ronnie Corbett, featured in the soundtrack. 

People gathered by London's famous landmarks, including Big Ben and the London Eye, to watch the fireworks light up the sky.   

Fireworks explode around The Elizabeth Tower, also known as 'Big Ben', and the London Eye during New Year's celebrations in central London just after midnight on January 1, 2017

Fireworks light up the sky over the London Eye in central London during the New Year celebrations on the stroke of midnight

The New Year fireworks display lights up the skyline behind Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament just after midnight on January 1, 2017 in London

Fireworks light up the sky over the London Eye in central London during the New Year celebrations on January 1, 2017

Thousands of people lined the banks of the River Thames in central London to see in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display

London celebrated the arrival of 2017 in spectacular style with a spectacular fireworks display in front of the London Eye

A total of 12,000 fireworks painted the night sky of London during the Mayor's showcase display on the banks of the River Thames

The spectacular fireworks display started on the stroke of midnight and lit up the night sky in central London

It was the first time where people without tickets were able to view the fireworks from three locations through a 360 degree live feed on the BBC that started at 11.50pm.

This year's feverish countdown also lasted longer than usual - an extra second - as a so-called 'leap second' is introduced to compensate for a slowdown in the Earth's rotation. 

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he had been concerned 'bearing in mind what happened in Berlin about safety in London', but that it had been a great Christmas.

Wishing everybody a happy new year he added: 'People are optimistic about the future, even people who maybe were down in the dumps about the vote to leave the EU, as Remainers understand that actually now we've got to make a success of it.

A person used their iPhone to take a photograph of the London Eye as it was lit up from the Embankment in central London

 

'So you know I want to bottle up that energy and enthusiasm into 2017.'

Xintong Chen, a Master's student in urban design at the University of Manchester, was at the front of the crowds directly opposite the London Eye.

Her mother, who she has not seen in almost a year, turned 50 today in China.

She said: 'Today is very important for me because it's my mother's birthday. I miss her very much. I think it's very meaningful to have new year in this place.

'Today I want to show my love to my mother,' she added, holding up a home-made birthday card.

The 25-year-old from China said she had been nervous about coming to London following recent terrorist attacks in Europe, but that she felt 'very safe' tonight.

She said: 'My mother is really worried about it, but I think London is a very safe city.

Happy New Year! Pink, purple and orange fireworks explode over the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House

And they're off! The year 2017 has started in Sydney, Australia, with a dazzling fireworks display over Sydney Harbour Bridge

This year's spectacular fireworks display in Sydney paid homage to the late singers Prince and David Bowie, who died in 2016

Revellers celebrate with the backdrop of fireworks on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro 

Party-goers celebrate the New Year in Rio on Copacabana beach in traditional white dress 

'This country gives us many things to learn compared with other countries, you can relax yourself, enjoy your time, enjoy life in this place, I think it is the best country in the world.' 

Adnaan Ahmed, 23, said he had been waiting to get into the ticketed Embankment area since 4pm, and managed to get a spot right at the front of the crowds. 

The 23-year-old from Bolton, Greater Manchester, said: 'I've been waiting five years for this moment.

'It's been a moment I've wanted to do for a long time, but I've finally got the chance to do it - with family.

'Everyone's been very friendly. It's a fun environment to be in, the people are nice, it's been a great welcome,' he added. 

Brazilian revellers annually mark the turn of midnight on January 1 with fireworks along the famed beach

People watch the fireworks exploding over Copacabana beach during the New Year's Eve celebrations

Fireworks for New Year celebration are launched from boats at Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro , Brazil, on January 1

Twelve minutes of fireworks amazed many of the more than 860,000 tourists who traveled to Rio for the party

More than 2 million people welcomed in 2017 at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana beach

A man dances during New Year celebrations on Copacabana beach last night 

With Brazil mired in its worst recession in a century, the fireworks were cut to just 12 minutes

People take photos of fireworks on Copacabana beach during the wild New Year celebrations

North Korean families gathered to watch the New Year's fireworks display at the Kim II Sung Square in Pyongyang 

Thousands of North Koreans gathered to watch a New Year's fireworks display at the Kim II Sung Square in Pyongyang

Performers gather and pose for photograph as they attend the count down event to celebrate the arrival 2017 new year during New Year's Eve celebration at Beijing Olympic Park in China

Asked if had had any concerns coming to London on New Year's Eve he said: 'No, none whatsoever. It's a beautiful city, everyone comes, we all come together.' 

At 1pm GMT on Saturday, Australia rang in the New Year with a spectacular fireworks display in Sydney, sending rainbow-coloured showers into the night sky and defying the global terror attacks that cast a pall over 2016. 

Around 1.5 million people packed Australia's biggest city to watch as the seven tons of midnight fireworks erupted from Sydney Harbour Bridge, with the extravaganza beamed to television sets and phones across the world.

Two hours later, Japan ushered in 2017 in style, with thousands packing the streets of Tokyo and releasing balloons into the air in celebration of the new year.

 Fireworks explode behind the Brandenburg Gate at midnight on January 1, 2017 in Berlin, Germany, to celebrate the New Year

Fireworks explode over the Arc de Triomphe monument with a laser and 3D mapping display on January 1, 2017 in Paris 

Fireworks explode above the pyramids during New Year's day celebrations on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, January 1, 2017

The pyrotechnic display in Auckland, New Zealand, included 500kgs of fireworks, 1 tonne of equipment and 10 kilometres of wire

Fireworks are seen as people celebrate the centenary year of Finnish independence that kicks off on New Year's Eve at Toolonlahti, Helsinki, Finland

Auckland, in New Zealand, was the first major city to ring in 2017. At 11am GMT, five hundred kilos of fireworks were blasted from the city's Sky Tower in just five minutes

North Korea, South Korea, Russia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia have also now rung in the New Year with street celebrations and fireworks. 

Tonga and Samoa in the Polynesian Triangle and Kiribati in the Central Pacific were among the first places in the world to see in 2017.

They entered the New Year at 10am GMT on Saturday, 31 December, celebrating with traditional dancing and flame throwing. 

Auckland, in New Zealand, followed ringing in the New Year at 11am GMT. Five hundred kilos of fireworks were blasted from the city's Sky Tower in just five minutes with Max Key, the son of former Prime Minister John Key, performing a DJ set.

Danish tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, who is in Auckland, tweeted: 'Wishing everyone a happy and healthy New Year from Auckland! Excited to see what 2017 has in store.'

When will countries around the world enter 2017?  

Saturday 10:00 GMT - Tonga, Samoa and Christmas Island, Kiribati

Saturday 13:00 GMT - Much of Australia

Saturday 15:00 GMT - Japan, South Korea, some parts of Russian and Indonesia

Saturday 18:30 GMT - India and Sri Lanka

Saturday 20:00 GMT - Azerbaijan and eight other countries including Armenia, UAE, Oman and the Seychelles

Saturday 22:00 GMT - Greece and 30 other countries, including South Africa, Syria, Finland and Latvia

Saturday 23:00 GMT - Germany and 43 other countries, including Norway, France, Italy and Tunisia

Sunday 00:00 GMT - UK and 26 other countries, including Morocco, Ghana and Ireland

Sunday 04:00 GMT - Small regions of Canada and 29 other countries including Bolivia, Venezuela and Barbados

Sunday 06:00 GMT - Large parts of the U.S and Central America

Sunday 09:00 GMT - Alaska/USA and regions of French Polynesia ​

Sunday 12:00 GMT - Much of US Minor Outlying Islands

Source: Timeanddate.com 

Fireworks explode in Marina Bay during New Year celebrations in Singapore as thousands gathered to attend the event 

A juggler performs during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Hajduszoboszlo - 150 miles east of Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday night 

Fireworks explode above Singapore's financial district at the stroke of midnight to mark the New Year's celebrations

Fireworks explode over the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) square during the New Year's Eve celebrations in Nairobi, Kenya

Fireworks illuminate the night sky around, the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world on occasion of the new year of 2017 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

A spectacular fireworks display took place over Moscow's Red Square marking the arrival of the New Year in Russia

A girl celebrates the new Year during the countdown in Sofia 

Russia's President Vladimir Putin made his annual New Year address to the nation in Moscow, Russia, on December 31 

Meanwhile, Pope Francis greets members of the Vatican Swiss guard in Saint Peter's Square at the Vatican on New Year's Eve

The last place on earth to observe 2017 will be remote and uninhabited US islands, including Baker Island and Howland Island. 

Sydney's visual feast paid tribute to some of the international musical legends who died this year, including David Bowie and Prince, with purple rain pouring off the bridge in an early display and firework 'stars' soaring high above the harbour. Bowie lived in Sydney for about 10 years during the 1980s and '90s.

The fireworks launched from barges on the harbor also included a 'Willy Wonka moment' in tribute to the late actor Gene Wilder's most famous role.  

2016 has seen repeated bloodshed, most recently a deadly truck attack at a Berlin Christmas market, a similar incident on Bastille Day in France that killed 86 people, and atrocities in Turkey and the Middle East.

But the New South Wales state premier urged 'business as usual' as a larger-than-usual crowd gathered due to the weekend timing and warm weather.

'My encouragement to everyone is to enjoy New Year's Eve... in the knowledge that police are doing everything they can to keep us safe,' Premier Mike Baird said.

Fireworks illuminate the night sky over Cologne Cathedral and the Rhine River during New Year's Eve celebrations in Cologne, Germany

The Aurora Borealis lights up the sky above a lodge in Sor Lenangen, Norway, on Satuday evening as British tourists celebrate the New Year festivities with a spectacular natural light show

A spectacular fireworks display rounds off the Winter Carnival in Newcastle city centre as the New Year's Eve celebration

A female fancy dress reveller wearing 2017 LED glasses enjoys the New Years Eve celebrations in Newcastle this evening

Partygoers wait for fireworks on a waterfront as they take part in New Year's Eve celebrations in Hong Kong

2017 was written in lights on one building in Victoria Harbour as the fireworks exploded 

Fireworks explode over Victoria Harbour to celebrate the New Year's Eve in Hong Kong

Fireworks illuminate the sky near Malaysia's landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur - the country's capital 

 

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