Cabbages, cricket, church: Celebrations in one of the world’s most remote placespublished at 14:47 GMT
14:47 GMT
Jacob Phillips
Live reporter
Image source, Aukusitino VitaleImage caption,
Tokelau was one of the first nations to enter 2026
The remote nation of Tokelau entered 2026 a few hours ago but the celebrations are only just beginning.
Tokelau is made up of three small Pacific islands and has a population of around 1,500 people. It is so remote that it takes around 24 hours to travel to Samoa, the nearest mainland, by boat – and you can only take the trip once a fortnight.
To celebrate 2026 islanders will enjoy a feast with their families on 1 January, government official Aukusitino Vitale tells me.
Suckling pigs that live on the island will be roasted on a spit while carrots, cabbages, apples and oranges will be imported for the occasion.
On 2 January, the islands traditionally play a game of Kilikiti.
“It’s like cricket except you have one hundred people playing,” Aukusitino explains. “Sometimes it goes on for two weeks with the children’s, women’s and men’s games.”
Many of the islanders go to church at new year and pray for good weather as it is cyclone season, he adds.
While it is very remote the island manages to stay well connected using the internet and a number of residents now use Starlink – the high speed internet network run by Elon Musk’s Space X.
Image source, Aukusitino VitaleImage caption,
Tokelau is one of the world’s most remote locations
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