Revellers around the world ring in 2018 with New Year's festivities - Action News
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Revellers around the world ring in 2018 with New Year's festivities

Revellers ushered in 2018 today with major celebrations around the world.

'In 2018, let's continue to celebrate... openness, compassion, equality and inclusion': PM Trudeau

Fireworks explode over the Kremlin, during New Year celebrations in Moscow, Russia. (Denis Tyrin/Associated Press)

People around the world are welcoming 2018 with traditional fireworks displays, partying and an array of local traditions.

Here's a look at celebrations in Canada and around the world.

Australia

One of the first countries to welcome the new year was Australia, where fireworks exploded over the iconic Sydney Opera House as people watched from boats in the harbour nearby.

Fireworks explode over Sydney Harbour during New Year's Eve celebrations in Sydney. (Davoid Moir/Associated Press)

Indonesia

Hundreds of couples took part in a mass wedding ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, on New Year's Eve designed to help the poor who were unable to afford a proper wedding.

A bride and groom react to their marriage documents during a mass wedding held in celebration of the New Year in Jakarta. (Dita Alangkara/Associated Press)

Canada

Despite the cold, Canadians ventured out in temperatures that felt like 30 C to ring in the new year.

Althoughevents were cancelled inseveral Canadian cities,organizers forged aheadwith celebrations atMontreal's Old Port and on GrandeAllein the Quebec City extreme cold warning were in effect for both cities.

Celebrations were punctuated by fireworks at the stroke of midnight and a light show on the Jacques Cartier Bridge

Organizers forged ahead with celebrations at Montreal's Old Port despite the cold. (Radio-Canada)

Charlottetown found a way to hold an indoor New Year's celebration after cancelling its annual outdoor plans.

The city partnered with basketball team Island Storm to host the first-ever family tailgate party ahead of the team'sNew Year's Eve matinee game against the Halifax Hurricanes.

The city had said Thursday that its planned celebration in Victoria Park was being cancelled due to extreme cold. According to Environment Canada, the high on Sunday was expected to be -11 C, compared to an average high of -2.2 C.

Torontonians undaunted by temperatures that felt like - 24 C gathered at Nathan Phillips Square, where revellersenjoyed a Live DJ set by Hamilton performerJessyLanzabeginning at 11:30 p.m.

The event was shortened from its usual two-hour long revelry to a half-hour celebration by the city in anticipation of bone-chilling temperatures.

Fireworks are seen at Toronto's Nathan Phillips Square to celebrate New Year's. (Michael Cole/CBC)
People ice skate during New Years Eve celebrations held at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto. (Christopher Katsarov/Canadian Press)

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau,in a statement releasedSunday, reflected on the country's accomplishments in the past year, as well as its150thanniversary of Confederation, but added "we still have a lot of hard work left to do."

"In 2018, let's continue to celebrate the values that unite us openness, compassion, equality, and inclusion," he said.

"Let's move forward together, put those values into practice, and work to build a better future for all of us."

North and South Korea

Buddhists lit candles during New Year celebrations at Jogyesa temple in Seoul, South Korea.

In some other places, the tone was more sombre. Just hours after a fireworks display over the Taedong River in Pyongyang, North Korea, leader Kim Jong-un said in a New Year's Day speech the country had achieved the historic feat of "completing" its nuclear forces despite U.S. opposition.

A woman prays in front of lanterns to celebrate the New Year at Jogyesa Buddhist temple in Seoul. (Ahn Young-joon/Associated Press)
People enjoy as fireworks explode over the 123-storey skyscraper Lotte World Tower during New Year celebration in Seoul, South Korea on Monday. (Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters)

Turkey

Some 100 people gathered outside the Reina nightclub in Istanbul, Turkey, to remember victims of a New Year's mass shooting a year ago. The group, holding carnations, observed a moment of silence for 39 people killed in the attack.

Consul General of Canada Ulric Shannon leaves a carnation outside Reina nightclub in Istanbul. (Emrah Gurel/Associated Press)

Scotland

In Scotland, a torchlight procession began Edinburgh's famed Hogmanay New Year's Eve celebration.

Revellers are seen in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Alex Hewitt/AP Images for Edinburgh's Hogmanay)

Brazil

A woman in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, threw flowers into the water to ask Yemanja, goddess of the sea, for good luck in the new year.

A woman offers flowers to Yemanja, goddess of the sea, for good luck in Rio de Janeiro. (Leo Correa/Associated Press)
People watch the fireworks exploding over Copacabana beach during the New Year's celebrations in Rio de Janeiro. (Leo Correa/Associated Press)

U.S.

Revelers gathered for the annual ball drop in New York's Times Square bundled in several layers of clothes to keep warm in frigid temperatures.

Revellers embrace in Times Square early Monday. (Craig Ruttle/Associated Press)

Las Vegas welcomed 2018 with fireworks, big-ticket musical acts and unprecedented security after a gunman killed 58 and injured hundreds more in October from his 32nd-floor Mandalay Bay hotel-casino room on the Strip.

"One bad incident is not going to deter us from having a good time," Honolulu resident Pettra Stark, who planned her trip after the Oct. 1 shooting, said while standing underneath the massive video canopy on Fremont Street.

New Year's fireworks are seen along the Las Vegas Strip from the top of the Trump International. (Richard Brian /Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)

With files from CBC News