London welcomed 2026 with spectacular celebrations that drew over 100,000 spectators to the Thames riverbanks. The capital hosted Europe's largest annual fireworks display on New Year's Eve. Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan hailed the festivities as the "greatest in the world," emphasizing themes of togetherness and diversity despite bitter temperatures.
The New Year's Eve display lit up the sky around the London Eye with more than 12,000 fireworks and over 400 lights, accompanied by holographic screen animations. The BBC broadcast the spectacle to millions worldwide.
The show celebrated 2025's sporting triumphs including England's Women's Rugby World Cup victory, the Lionesses retaining the Euros, and Europe's Ryder Cup win. The soundtrack featured music from Raye, Sabrina Carpenter, Ed Sheeran, and Coldplay, while stars Celia Imrie, Andrew Cotter, and Alison Hammond provided voice-overs.
Parade brings color to West End
Crowds braved bitter temperatures on New Year's Day as more than 8,000 performers marched from Piccadilly to Whitehall. The procession featured marching bands, acrobats, elaborate floats, dancers wearing daffodil costumes, and a parade of Mokes—small open-top vehicles.
Khan told the Press Association the celebrations carried a deliberate message. "We spend a lot of time and effort curating our New Year's Eve celebrations – the theme of tonight's celebration is togetherness," he said.
Diversity as strength
The mayor used the occasion to champion London's multicultural identity. "I think diversity is a strength, not a weakness – it makes us richer, not poorer, stronger, not weaker," Khan told the Press Association. "I think you can be a proud Londoner but also someone whose country of origin is somewhere across the globe."
He added: "I'm delighted that we have once again shown why London's New Year's Eve celebrations are the greatest in the world."
Tracy Halliwell, director of tourism at London and Partners which runs Visit London, said: "It's always fantastic to see Londoners and visitors from around the world come together and welcome the new year in London."
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
