International New Year Celebrations in London

Come December 31st, London is all fireworks, sequins and singing. For an event that happens every year, the city never fails to celebrate in its signature raucous style. But beneath the flashy façade, many beloved traditions and rituals are celebrated in this multi-cultural melting pot of a capital. From the Philippines to Sweden, we’ve rounded up some of the global New Year’s Eve traditions and where you can replicate them in London.

Spain and Latin America

‘Las doce uvas de la suerte’, which translates to ‘the twelve lucky grapes’, is a tradition which originates from Spain in the late 1800s. At the stroke of midnight on December 31st, participants eat twelve grapes, one for each month of the incoming year. It is believed that doing so will attract luck, wealth, and love. This tradition has become an important part of New Year’s Eve for many Latin American countries and is due to be celebrated in London this year by Mexican restaurant, Mestizo. Guests can book a table at one of their restaurants, located in Camden and Chelsea, and enjoy a £60 set menu which includes a corona, glass of wine or frozen margarita, a three-course meal, piñata and raffle. When it hits midnight, guests will ring in the new year with 12 lucky grapes.

You can make your booking for their Camden venue here, and for their Chelsea venue here.

Sweden

When New Year’s Eve rolls around in Sweden, it is tradition to hold a grand and luxurious dinner party – oh so Scandi and civilised. The table is adorned in linen and greenery, and on the menu is (lots of) Champagne, pickled herring, lobster, steak and Kransekage, a traditional Scandinavian cake made of stacked marzipan rings. The Swedish dinner party is a great one to recreate if you’re looking for a slightly cosier but no less classy evening. For a Champagne which perfectly compliments a seafood menu, a bottle of Blanc de Blancs such as Dom Ruinart is top of the list , whilst a vintage Brut such as Krug Grande Cuvée is a great choice if you’re planning to serve richer meats. If you want an extra Swedish touch, grab a bottle of aquavit, a herby spirit served ice cold and a great accompaniment to festivities. For fish, meat and treats – Swedish style – pop into ScandiKitchen in Fitzrovia. 

Italy

In a country internationally renowned for its gastronomic excellence, it is perhaps unsurprising that the dinner menu itself plays a central role in one of Italy’s most popular New Years Eve traditions.The star of the table is the cotechino, a traditional Italian pork sausage which requires slow simmering to release the rich, spiced taste it is famed for. Much like in Austria, the pig symbolises good luck and abundance, making it the perfect centrepiece for a New Year’s Eve feast. Cotechino is traditionally served with lentils whose circular shape, synonymous with coins, is also said to attract good fortunate for the year ahead.

In Mayfair, Il Gattopardo is bringing in the New Year the Italian way with a four-course bespoke menu featuring their own modern take on cotechino and lentils. The menu also features wagyu beef tartlet served with porcini and Oscietra caviar, poached lobster and the option of enjoying a bottle of Dom Pérignon between two.

Book your table here.

The Phillippines

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In the Philippines, the new year is welcomed with a midnight feast, known as Media Noche. At the centre of the table sit 12 round fruits, often apples, lychee and grapes, believed to bring good fortune and luck. It is also a New Year’s Eve tradition to wear polka dots, with their round shapes said to encourage wealth. If you’re keen to welcome prosperity into your 2026, take a look at some of our favourite dotted designs, like the Valentino Garavani small DeVain should bag in polka dot print. With gold-accent hardware upon a silk exterior, this bag promises versatility, class and perhaps even a stroke of luck.

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This satin polka dot corset dress from Ganni blends festive glamour with timeless grace. With a sophisticated rounded neckline and softly gathered skirt, this dress is as suited to a New Year's Eve soirée as it is a summer evening in the French Riviera.

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In a revival of their archived ivory polka dot design, Tom Ford's Duchesse Polka Dot Jacquard Jacket delivers classic elegance with modern refinement.

Greece

In Greece, one of the most renowned traditions is the smashing of a pomegranate (not plates this time), a ritual which promises luck and abundance in the year to come. Over the festive period, the fruit will be hung over the front door. When the clock strikes 12 on New Year’s Eve, the lights will be turned out, and one person will smash the pomegranate. The more seeds that scatter, the better the year ahead is set to be. For those looking to enjoy a spirited Greek New Year’s Eve, but who aren’t interested in Pomegranates, Bacchanalia in Mayfair’s Bacchus Ball boasts cocktails and lavish feasting paired with live opera, electro-classical violin and a DJ set. The interiors of Bacchanalia transport guests to an ancient world of opulence, and is the perfect place to welcome in 2026. 

Book your tickets here.

Austria

In Austria, New Year’s Eve is celebrated through the exchange of small gifts, known as lucky charms, with popular emblems including four-leaf clovers, horseshoes, and unexpectedly, pigs. Whilst in the UK, pigs don’t traditionally represent good luck, in Austria, they symbolise wealth and prosperity and are commonly gifted in marzipan form. For those seeking an Austrian-inspired New Year, you can purchase delicious marzipan pigs online at Leonidas To continue the festivities, on New Year’s Day, you can join the Strauss Orchestra of London in a musical celebration of Austria at St Michael and All Angels Church, Chiswick. Purchase your tickets here.

Purchase your tickets here.