As the world prepares to usher in the New Year, the first place to welcome 2026 will be Kiribati Island in the Pacific Ocean. Kerala too is all set for New Year celebrations, with clubs and various venues organizing a wide range of programmes. Special arrangements and strict security measures have been put in place at major celebration hubs.
In Kochi, preparations for the Cochin Carnival have been completed. In the capital Thiruvananthapuram, New Year celebrations have been arranged at Varkala and Kovalam beaches, as well as in luxury hotels. Similar to Fort Kochi, a Pappanji effigy will be burnt at the Arts and Crafts Village in Vellayani, where 10 artists have jointly created a 40-foot-tall Pappanji.
As part of the celebrations, stringent traffic regulations have been imposed in Thiruvananthapuram. In Kannur, restrictions have been enforced at Payyamballi Beach from 6 pm onwards. A special police force has been deployed to ensure security during the Cochin Carnival. Entry of vehicles into Fort Kochi will be prohibited after 2 pm, and the use of drones has been banned.
Meanwhile, as part of the New Year celebrations, bars across Kerala will be allowed to operate until midnight tonight. On Wednesday, December 31, bars can remain open until 12 midnight, and the operating hours of beer and wine parlours have also been extended, as per a government order. However, there is no change in the working hours of BEVCO outlets, which will continue to function only until 9 pm.
