Fireworks. Auld Lang Syne. A blurry memory you’re happy to leave behind as you head into a new year.

These are New Year’s Eve traditions for many, but how will coronavirus change how people celebrate the final moments of 2020 with most of the world still facing strict restrictions?

Will there still be fireworks displays and other celebrations this New Year’s Eve?

Will there be any fireworks this New Year’s Eve?

The year won’t be going out with a bang as nearly every major firework display across the country has been called off.

Unsurprisingly since coronavirus cases have spread following the discovery of a new variant – dubbed a mutant strain – major cities known for ostentatious displays each New Year’s Eve have cancelled their largescale events.

These include London, Edinburgh, Manchester and Liverpool.

Cancelling the annual show back in September – months before the capital entered tier four, England’s highest tier with the strictest restrictions, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said to LBC: ‘I can tell you there will not be fireworks on New Year’s Eve this year like in previous years, we simply can’t afford to have the numbers of people who congregate on New Year’s Eve congregating.’

Of course, if you did want to have your own little firework show, you are allowed to set fireworks off until 1am on New Year’s Eve.

How to watch virtual New Year’s Eve celebrations

 Being at home doesn’t mean going to bed at the stroke of midnight.

There are plenty of virtual events if you and your household want to party into the early hours of 2021.

These include Manchester’s fabled Hacienda returning as the Virtual Hacienda, a faithful 3D Virtual Reality version of the nightclub, for a 24-hour NYE party, paying homage to the late godfather of house, Frankie Knuckles.

YouTube will also air a special celebration with Hello 2021: UK, a virtual New Year’s Eve party bringing together 2020’s most influential public figures, music artists, comedians and YouTube creators to keep viewers energized throughout the countdown to midnight and ring in 2021 together.

Hello 2021: UK will include a star-studded guest list including Behzinga, Big Narstie, Katherine Ryan, Michaela Coel, Kurupt FM, Yammy, WillNE, Holly H, Natasia Demetriou and many more.

The event will also feature the biggest tunes of 2020 performed live as musical guests Dua Lipa, Anne-Marie, MNEK w/ Joel Corry and Aitch & AJ Tracey get the party started with some exclusive live performances.

The event will be broadcast on the YouTube Originals channel.

How to watch London’s New Year’s Day Parade

London is not about to let a pandemic cause the year to start off on a mediocre note.

Putting safety first, the capital will livestream an exciting New Year’s Day Parade completely free.

Starting from 12pm, the parade will carry a ‘Welcome Back’ message to the world, featuring big name artists and cultural performance groups, streamed across the globe in celebration of the new year.

It is available to stream on all devices on the LNYDP website.

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