Happy New Year! World Celebrates 2022

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 infection was declared a pandemic in March 2020, everyone has had to adjust to new restrictions when it comes to mass gatherings and celebrations.

Although many COVID-19 restrictions have remained in place amid the latest wave of the pandemic and the spread of the Omicron strain, we have tried our best to see the arduous year 2021 off and meet 2022 with hope for the better.

Check out Sputnik's gallery to see how bright and colourful the New Year celebrations were across the globe and...Happy New Year!

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© AFP 2023 / Gladys Vega/Getty Images for Discover Puerto Rico

Roselyn Sanchez and Daddy Yankee lead the historic first-ever Spanish countdown of Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with Ryan Seacrest 2022 live from Distrito T-Mobile in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

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© REUTERS / Christian Hartmann

People attend New Year celebrations on the Champs-Elysees in Paris, France as the traditional light show and fireworks have been cancelled due to the spread of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), 31 December 2021.

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© REUTERS / Dieu-Nalio Chery

Revellers gather during New Year's Eve celebrations in New York's Times Square, as the Omicron coronavirus variant continues to spread, 31 December 2021.

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© REUTERS / Thomas Peter

People pose for pictures as the first sun of the year rises above the Forbidden City in Beijing, China as the city prepares to host the Winter Olympics, 1 January 2022.

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© Sputnik / Aleksander Kryazhev

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People celebrate New Year in Novosibirsk, Russia, 31 December 2021.

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© REUTERS / Ahmed Yosri

Mashari Al-Zahrani, a Saudi, holds toys for children to celebrate the New Year, at Boulevard City in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, 31 December 2021.

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© AP Photo / Bruna Prado

Revellers ring in the New Year as they watch fireworks explode over Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, 1 January 2022.

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© AFP 2023 / Kim Won Jin

Performers take part in a new year performance on Kim Il Sung Square in Pyongyang late on 31 December 2021.

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© AP Photo / Nabil al-Jurani

People, including a man dressed in a Santa Claus costume, dance as they celebrate the New Year in Basra, Iraq, Friday, 31 December 2021.

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© REUTERS / Amit Dave

A barber colours the digits of the number 2022 after cutting a man's hair to welcome the upcoming new year, at a barbershop in Ahmedabad, India, 31 December 2021.

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© AFP 2023 / Oli Scarff

Revellers queue to enter Depot Mayfield, a 10,000 capacity club in Manchester, England on New Year's Eve, 31 December 2021.

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© AP Photo / Vadim Ghirda

A couple attends a concert during New Year's celebrations in Bucharest, Romania, on 31 December 2021.

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© Sputnik / Evgeniy Biyatov

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Girls wearing costumes watch something on a cell phone during New Year celebrations in Moscow.

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© AP Photo / Emrah Gurel

A balloon seller talks to a client in Ortakoy during New Year's Eve celebrations in Istanbul, Turkey, Friday, 31 December 2021.

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© REUTERS / Ann Wang

People gather near Taiwan's Taipei 101 skyscraper to celebrate the arrival of 2022.

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© REUTERS / Loren Elliott

A woman looks out on the Yarra River waterfront at a New Year's Eve celebration in Melbourne, Australia, 31 December 2021.

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© AFP 2023 / Kazuhiro Nogi

People gather at a seaside park to watch the sunrise on New Year's Day in Tokyo on 1 January 2022.