In Pictures: New Year 2019 celebrations around the world

A wave of celebrations are illuminating the skies above cities around the world, dazzling millions of people as spectacular firework displays and light shows welcome the arrival of the New Year.

Revellers celebrate New Year's Eve in Times Square in the Manhattan borough of New York, U.SReuters

The annual ball drop in New York City was welcomed with cheers and rain

Fireworks explode over the iconic London Eye marking the beginning of the New Year in central LondonEPA

Pyrotechnics explode over the iconic London Eye for a 10-minute performance in central London

A man wearing a yellow vest lights up a flare on the Champs-Elysees, Paris, 31 December 2018EPA

"Yellow Vest" protesters demonstrate among revellers on the Champs-Elysees in Paris

Fireworks illuminate the sky over the Quadriga statue of the Brandenburg Gate during New Year's Eve celebrations in BerlinEPA

Fireworks shoot across the sky over the Quadriga statue of the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin

A young couple shares tender moments celebrating New Year on the Red Square in Moscow, RussiaEPA

A couple share a tender moment while celebrating New Year on the Red Square in Moscow

Fireworks illuminate the night sky during New Year's Eve celebrations at a concert in Nairobi, KenyaEPA

At a New Year's Eve concert in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, fireworks illuminate the night sky

A make-up artist decorates the hair of a woman in the shape of Santa Claus during the New Year preparations in Ahmedabad, India, 31 December 2018Reuters

A make-up artist decorates hair ahead of New Year celebrations in Ahmedabad, India

Revellers watch as a fireworks display marks the arrival of the new year following a countdown event on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang on January 1, 2019AFP/Getty

Thousands gathered in Pyongyang, North Korea for performances and fireworks

Revellers launch fireworks from Jeongdongjin beach in Gangneung, Ganwon-province, South KoreaEPA

Fireworks are launched by revellers at a beach in Gangneung, South Korea

Fireworks illuminate the sky around Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, during New Year's 2019 celebrations in the Gulf emirate of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1 January 2019Getty Images

The tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, is lit up with pyrotechnics

A reveller wears glasses that spell out 2019 during the New Year's Eve party in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines, 31 December 2018Reuters

A reveller wears glasses that spell out "2019" during a New Year's Eve party in Quezon City in the Philippines

Buddhist believers light candles during celebrations to mark the Year of the Pig in the Chinese zodiac at Jogye temple in central Seoul, 1 January 2019AFP

Buddhists light candles to mark the Year of the Pig in the Chinese Zodiac at the Jogyesa Temple in Seoul, South Korea

Fireworks and light effects illuminate the night sky from the Taipei 101 skyscraper during New Year's Eve celebrations in Taipei, Taiwan, 1 January 2019EPA

Crowds catch the spectacle on their smart phones as fireworks are projected from Taiwan's famous Taipei 101 skyscraper

Fireworks light up Hong Kong's iconic skyline as revellers celebrate the arrival of 2019, in China, 1 January 2019EPA

Hong Kong's iconic skyline is lit up as revellers celebrate the arrival of 2019 in China

Chinese people celebrate during a New Year's Eve ceremony in Beijing, China, 31 December 2018Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

A New Year's Eve ceremony is held in Beijing, China

Fireworks burst over the water of Marina Bay during the New Year countdown celebration in SingaporeAFP/Getty

Crowds enjoy an impressive pyrotechnic display over the Marina Bay in Singapore

Fireworks explode over the harbour and the Sydney Harbour Bridge landmark during New Year's celebrations in Sydney, Australia, 1 January 2019EPA

The fireworks over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia lasted for 12 minutes

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