Global Countdown: Kiribati's Christmas Island First to Welcome 2026, US Islands Last

• Christmas Island (Kiritimati Island) in Kiribati is the first place on Earth to welcome New Year 2026.
• Villages like Banana, Paris, Poland, and London on Christmas Island will be among the first to celebrate.
• Kiribati shifted the International Date Line (IDL) to ensure its capital and Banana village are on the same day.
• After a global roll-out, American Samoa is the last inhabited place to celebrate 2026.
• Baker Island and Howland Island (US territories) will be the absolute last to greet 2026, even after American Samoa.

Why It Matters: Kiribati's Christmas Island is first to welcome 2026, while remote US islands are the last.