Celebrate New Year’s Eve around the US
From East Coast to West Coast, up north and down south, our festive round-up will help you ring in the new year with style.
By Jessica Poitevien | November 17, 2022 (Updated October 24, 2025)
Whether you’re looking to ring in the new year with your closest friends, share a champagne toast with your significant other, or bring the kids along for a more family-friendly celebration, there are plenty of destinations around the U.S. where you can welcome 2026 in style.
Las Vegas
If there’s one thing Las Vegas knows how to do well, it’s party, and the city pulls out all the stops to make its already-iconic nightlife even more epic on New Year’s Eve. Around 6 p.m. on Dec. 31, traffic shuts down on all 4.2 miles (6.8 kilometers) of the Las Vegas Strip, turning this famed stretch of Sin City into one giant block party for over 300,000 people. If you plan on celebrating outside, be sure to wear layers as this desert destination gets surprisingly cool during the winter months. That way, you’ll more comfortably make it to midnight when casinos along the Strip launch a coordinated fireworks display from their rooftops. Ring in 2026 at Resorts World Las Vegas, where you’ll find three of the city’s most sought-after New Year’s Eve events and dining experiences. Celebrations this year will include an upscale evening at Allé Lounge on 66 with views of the city’s fireworks display and incredible DJs at Zouk Nightclub.
Miami
From Little Havana’s Calle Ocho (Eighth Street) to the Wynwood Arts District, nearly every neighborhood in Miami has a New Year’s Eve party worth attending. Though South Beach is a popular option thanks to the celebrity performances and late-night partying, downtown Miami is the place to go for a night that’s both family friendly and easy on the wallet. Head to Bayfront Park on Biscayne Bay for a free New Year’s Eve celebration, complete with food trucks, multiple concerts, and activities for the kids. Traffic on a regular day in Miami can be rough, so we suggest using public transportation, like the free Metromover train. If you want to limit your travel to walking only, consider staying at Hilton Miami Downtown — conveniently located just over a mile away from Bayfront Park. From the park, you’ll get the perfect view of Miami’s midnight countdown – the largest in South Florida – as the Big Orange ascends towards the sky and the night lights up with fireworks.
Phoenix
For a taste of casual glamour on New Year’s Eve, consider Phoenix. The desert destination’s laid-back atmosphere and lavish celebrations are just the ticket. Join The Phoenix Symphony for its annual New Year’s Eve concert. Considered a local tradition, you’ll bop along to a mix of classic and contemporary music and end the night with a complimentary glass of Champagne at midnight. With a different theme every year, get ready for a night full of surprises. Hampton Inn & Suites Phoenix Downtown puts you just an 8-minute walk from the Symphony Hall, making it easy to go from the night’s revelry to a great night’s sleep. Offering a vastly different musical experience is Decadence Arizona, a lively two-day festival at the Phoenix Raceway featuring more than a dozen artists performing mostly electronic dance music. Meanwhile, for a tranquil pre-NYE celebration, head to the Desert Botanical Garden, which welcomes guests throughout the month of December for Las Noches de las Luminarias, a unique after-hours experience. Holiday lights twinkle above the gardens, large-scale art installations are sprinkled throughout the trails, and live performances fill the air with joyful music.
Washington
The nation’s capital is full of opportunities to party the night (and year) away on Dec. 31, from glamorous, Champagne-fueled galas to sophisticated yacht parties with DJs and a top-shelf open bar. If midnight fireworks are an indispensable part of your New Year’s Eve festivities, make your way to nearby cities like Alexandria in neighboring Virginia. Family fun awaits at First Night Alexandria, a music festival in Old Town, with over 100 live performances from noon to midnight. Before the clock strikes 12, grab your spot along the waterfront and watch as fireworks blast above the Potomac River. Parties aren’t for everyone, of course, so tranquility-seekers should consider a visit to the U.S. National Arboretum, which will host a guided forest bathing experience, encouraging participants to spend time in nature while meditating and reflecting on the past year.
New York
If you want to be among the tens of thousands of people who fill New York City’s Times Square for one of the largest countdowns in the world, you’ll have to strategize. When you see the smiling faces of the lucky revelers who got a front-row view of the Ball Drop, what you don’t see is that they’ve spent hours out in the cold with no access to food or restrooms. The police also close off the streets surrounding Times Square in the afternoon and shut viewing areas as they reach capacity, meaning if you leave your spot — even for necessities — you lose it. Our top Times Square trick? Stay at DoubleTree by Hilton New York Times Square West. The hotel is located within the barricaded zone, meaning all you have to do is flash your hotel key card and you’ll be allowed through designated entry points, no matter what time it is. You and your travel companions can take turns between food runs, relaxing at the hotel, and guarding your prime Ball Drop real estate.
Jessica Poitevien
Jessica Poitevien is an international storyteller with more than a decade of experience in writing and editing. Born in New York, she caught the travel bug throughout multiple moves that brought her to California, Spain, Colombia, and her current home base in South Florida. She has visited over 40 countries (and counting!), including several solo trips. When she's not traveling, Jessica enjoys making social media content, trying new food, and acting as a travel agent for friends and family.
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