2026 began with a record-breaking celebration in Abu Dhabi, which included a spectacular display of over 6,500 coordinated drones and a continuous fireworks display lasting 62 minutes. The show combined technology, scale, and choreography as part of the UAE’s larger New Year’s Eve spanning several emirates, drawing international attention and establishing new standards for midnight celebrations.

While the rest of the world was pleased with countdowns and brief fireworks, the UAE obviously had other ideas. New Year’s Eve 2026 promised a bigger, brighter, and longer showcase, and Abu Dhabi produced a celebration that seemed less like a party and more like a global performance of innovation and pure visual drama.

Record breaking New Year’s Eve — Google

Record-breaking 2026 welcome in Abu Dhabi

The main festivities in Abu Dhabi were held in Al Wathba, where the organisers showcased an amazing 62-minute fireworks display that has since gone viral online.

According to Gulf News, the show combined advanced launch systems, visual synchronization technology, and sweeping formations that lighted the desert skyline.

Abi Dhabi breaks record with 62- minutes fire work and 6,500-Drone Show — Google

More than 6,500 coordinated drones filled the skies, producing sweeping animations, including a magnificent phoenix figure that seemed to rise, change, and illuminate throughout the night, just as the fireworks seemed unbeatable.

The display emphasized months of engineering, programming and coordination, timed down to the second. Clearly, the goal was to push boundaries and set several Guinness World Records in one memorable evening rather than just celebrate.

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Brigitte Bardot, the pouty, tousle-haired French actress who redefined mid-20th-century movie sex symbols, died on Sunday at her home in southern France. She was 91. Her death was announced by her foundation, dedicated to animal welfare, Fondation Brigitte Bardot.

Ms. Bardot was 23 when “And God Created Woman” (1956) opened in the United States, making her an international star. Critics noted her distinct screen presence, marked by youthfulness and unapologetic sensuality, though the film itself was not highly regarded, but her  husband and director, Roger Vadim, helped shape her public image through several subsequent films.

Bardot and Vadim stand at the altar during their wedding ceremony in Paris. — Hulton Archive @Getty Images

Popular as B.B., she appeared in light comedies such as The Bride Is Much Too Beautiful, Babette Goes to War, and The Vixen, while also working with renowned directors like Jean-Luc Godard, Louis Malle, and René Clair. Her performance in Viva Maria! won her the only acting nomination of her career, for best foreign actress from the British Academy. Despite having done a few English-language films, she never worked in Hollywood.

At the height of her fame, Bardot made a huge impact in fashion worldwide with her wild hair, thick eye makeup, and iconic style, which included tight knit tops, skinny pants, gingham and flounced skirts showing off bare, sun-tanned legs.  She transformed St.-Tropez from a quiet fishing port into a fashionable resort town and became the first celebrity to model as Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic, in 1969.

Bardot wears a white bikini and stands on a rocky beach in a still from The Girl in the Bikini (1958), directed by Willy Rozier — Hulton Archive @ Getty Image

Bardot retired from acting in 1973 to focus on animal rights. In 1986, she established the Fondation Brigitte Bardot, which has cared for more than 12,000 animals in 70 countries. She auctioned personal belongings to fund the foundation, saying she was now giving her “wisdom and experience…to animals.”

In the years that followed, Bardot gained fame for her divisive political views and several convictions for inciting racial hatred, which ruined her public image. She often appeared in public defending animal rights, while expressing hatred for fame, societal standards, and modern movements such as #MeToo.

Bardot founder of animal care @ Getty Image

Born in Paris on September 28, 1934, Bardot began modeling as a teenager and made her film debut in 1952. She married four times and had a son, Nicolas Charrier, who reconciled with her in adulthood.

Despite her difficult personal and public life, Bardot remained true to herself. Reflecting on her remarkable life, she said: “With me, life is made up only of the best and the worst, of love and hate. Everything that happened to me was excessive.”

read also: Italian Designer Giorgio Armani Dies at 91

Timothée Chalamet may not have been front and center at the Kardashian-Jenner Christmas party this year, But one small festive detail shows he’s more part of the family than ever. As the Kardashian-Jenner family continued their annual Christmas ritual. As always, the gingerbread house was there, decorated with the names of family members and partners.

This year, fans quickly noticed something new: Chalamet’s name was written just above Kylie Jenner’s. The moment came via an Instagram Story shared by Atiana De La Hoya, Travis Barker’s stepdaughter, offering a glimpse of the intricately decorated gingerbread display. The house featured more than 20 names across its candy-coated roof and walls, a sweet roll call of the family’s inner circle.

Chalamet’s placement on the gingerbread house puts him right alongside Kylie’s children, Stormi and Aire, and near names like Khloé Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Khloé’s children True and Tatum. Elsewhere on the house were Kim Kardashian and her children, Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker’s blended family, and at the very center, Kris Jenner, her longtime partner Corey Gamble, and her mother MJ.

Photo Credit: E ! News

The Kardashian-Jenners are known for their over-the-top Christmas décor, though this year’s celebration was reportedly more intimate following Kris Jenner’s 70th birthday in November. Even so, the gingerbread tradition remained and Chalamet’s inclusion didn’t go unnoticed.

Photo Credit: E ! News

This comes just weeks after Kris publicly showed support for Chalamet’s latest film, Marty Supreme. On Christmas Day, Kris showed her support by sharing a photo of herself in a blue Marty Supreme bomber jacket as the film premiered.

Kylie Jenner has also been visibly supportive, stepping out in Marty Supreme merchandise and attending premieres alongside Chalamet. The couple, who began dating in spring 2023, made their red carpet debut earlier this year and have steadily grown more comfortable appearing together at public events.

Photo Credit: People

It may seem like a minor holiday detail, In the Kardashian-Jenner household, being included in a family tradition carries weight. For now, Timothée Chalamet’s name etched in icing may be one of the quietest and sweetest signs yet that he’s found a place within Kylie Jenner’s life.

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