In the Pacific Ocean, the uninhabited Baker Island and Howland Island are the last places in the world to reach the new year.

The new year is now truly underway for the whole world and was welcomed with exquisite scenes of fireworks and lights.

You can see the best photos from the new year’s displays here:

On that note, happy new year to you all and thank you for tuning in!

Sir Elton John has thanked his fans for being “amazing” and said it is now “pedal to the metal” in a celebratory new year message.

The Rocket Man singer, 75, was among a host of famous faces sharing farewell to 2022 messages on social media as new year celebrations got under way across the world.

In a video posted to his Instagram, Sir Elton, who celebrated the arrival of 2023 in Australia, said: “Hi everyone! Happy New Year! It’s Happy New Year in Australia already, not most places around the world.

“But I wanted to take this chance very early into 2023, saying thank you for 2022, it was amazing and let’s hope 2023 is going to be just as good.

“But you’ve been amazing. Your support has been great. I love you dearly and I will be seeing you next in Newcastle in Australia on January 8. From then on it’s pedal to the metal until July 8 in Stockholm. Bye!”

Sir Elton is currently playing around the world as part of his farewell retirement tour, which will draw to a close in the summer.

Sir Paul McCartney kept his message short and sweet.

Alongside an image of himself performing, he wrote: “Happy New Year to everyone in the world - Paul. £NewYearsEve.”

Elsewhere David Beckham celebrated with wife Victoria and three of their four children.

Sharing a picture of the family stood in front of a fireworks display, the 47-year-old former footballer said he was missing his eldest son Brooklyn, who was celebrating elsewhere with wife Nicola Peltz.

He wrote: “Happy New Year from the BECKHAM’s. We love you brooklynpeltzbeckham we miss you. 2023.”

Elsewhere former members of One Direction Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne reflected on the year past.

Tomlinson, 31, shared a carousel of pictures alongside the caption: “This time last year I had no idea the year I was about to have.

“The places I’ve seen, the people I’ve shared the memories with, the shows I’ve been lucky enough to play. I’ll never forget it.

“Thank you to everyone who played a part in making this year so special.

“Can’t wait to see what next year has for us!”

Meanwhile, Payne, 29, teased the possibility of new music, writing: “Happy New Year ... I hope 2023 brings you everything you ever wanted.

“Heck who knows maybe even some new music. Have a good one x”

Australian actor Hugh Jackman rang in 2023 with an espresso martini while wishing fans a happy new year.

The Wolverine actor, 54, posted a video of himself enjoying the cocktail on Instagram and said: “Happy New Year to every single one of you. Lots of love.”

A new year rave attended by around 200 people has been broken up by police.

Avon and Somerset Police were called to Rowberrow Woods near Winscombe, Somerset, at about 12.25am on New Year’s Day.

Officers arrived on the scene at around 1am and found up to 200 people had gathered.

A police spokeswoman said: “One generator was shut down and officers prevented further access to the site.

“The music was turned off by the organisers by 7.30am and officers are directing people to leave the site in accordance with a direction under the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act of 1994.

“We continue to ask people to avoid the area as there is congestion on local routes due to an estimated 150 vehicles trying to leave, with several having parked blocking lanes.”

People in European cities brave the cold to take part in annual new year’s swims.

From the North Sea in Scheveningen, Netherland to the Oranke Lake in Berlin, the merry take a plunge in the deep end.

Fireworks exploded next to the Arc de Triomphe with "2023" projected on it, at the Avenue des Champs-Elysees during New Year celebrations in Paris

Countries around the world have celebrated New Year’s Eve in style following two years of Covid restrictions.

Fireworks and countdowns marked the end of a difficult 2022 in which war returned to Europe and inflation soared into double digits.

The year 2023 kicked off in the atoll nation of Kiribati in the central Pacific, then moved across Russia and New Zealand before heading time zone by time zone, through Asia and Europe and into the Americas.

Raucous crowds cheered and danced in confetti in New York’s Time Square when the clock hit midnight there.

Here is a selection of some of the best New Year’s Eve photos from across the globe.

Approximately 12,000 fireworks were set off in London in the first 12 minutes of 2023 to ring in the New Year.

The display returned for the first time since 2020 after the coronavirus pandemic previously forced the event to be cancelled.

A crowd of more than 100,000 people gathered along the Thames Embankment to watch the show.

Drones paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, with the display featuring a voice recording from her and words from Dame Judi Dench.

The fireworks also paid tribute to England’s Euro 2022 victory and showed solidarity with Ukraine.

Watch here:

The prime minister has delivered a new year’s message to the UK, saying he is “confident” that “better times lie ahead”.

Dubbed the ‘entertainment capital of the world’, Las Vegas lived up to its name as it showcased a spectacular display of fireworks.

Stunning fireworks explode over the Las Vegas Strip during a New Year's Eve celebration as the Nevada city welcomes 2023.