New Year’s Eve events in Los Angeles

Marina del Rey rings in the new year with two pyro-filled countdowns. The waterfront city has fireworks at both 9pm and midnight (or a minute before, to be precise). While the fireworks are set off near Burton Chace Park (which hosts a family-friendly “glow party” from 7pm to midnight), all of the restaurants with harbor views should have visibility of the fireworks. Some of the restaurants host ticketed (read: pricey) dinners, so we suggest finding a spot along the water and enjoying the fireworks for free.

Go on rides during the day and stick around for DJ sets and a dazzling midnight fireworks display—all included in the price of admission—at Universal Studios Hollywood’s annual New Year’s Eve celebration. You’ll typically find multiple genre-themed party areas around the park (Universal Plaza, Springfield and near Jurassic World: The Ride) with desserts, beer, wine and champagne available for purchase at each. The EVE programming kicks off at 9pm.

Justly venerated Philadelphia rap crew the Roots, anchored by Black Thought and Questlove, will take a recess from the Tonight Show stage to bring their jazzy take on hip-hop to L.A. for two year-end concerts at the Walt Disney Concert Hall this New Year’s Eve. KCRW’s Novena Carmel will kick things off with a DJ set and complimentary champagne toast. After the show, you can walk across the street and join the free N.Y.E.L.A. celebration at Gloria Molina Grand Park.

Don a masquerade mask and ring in 2026 aboard the Queen Mary. The 21-and-over soiree has something for everyone on New Year’s Eve—whether you want a more mellow evening with food, drink and live music or to dance the night away in a club-like atmosphere, the ocean liner has got you covered. Also on board are roaming performers, fortune tellers, magicians, casino games, burlesque performances and dueling pianos. When the clock strikes midnight, share a New Year’s kiss under a dazzling fireworks display over the Pacific Ocean—cheesy, we know, but still very romantic.

Going out for New Year’s Eve can become one of the priciest dates of the year, but thankfully DTLA’s Gloria Molina Grand Park continues to offer an affordable and family-friendly option: the West Coast’s largest free NYE celebration. During this year’s event, which will pay tribute to the resilience L.A. showed throughout 2025, crowds will groove to a soundtrack of DJ-driven tunes and live bands—including rapper Ruby Ibarra, Ceci Bastida and Bardo—while hitting up a selection of food trucks (note: There’s no alcohol permitted or sold here). The night culminates with a countdown to midnight projected on the 22-story City Hall. If you dare attempt to drive, you’ll find $10 parking at the Music Center, but taking Metro is a much better bet—especially since fares tend to be free for NYE.

Ring in the New Year with confetti, pyro and thousands of your closest friends at Countdown. John Summit, Above & Beyond, Pryda, Madeon and a couple dozen other dance acts top this year-end fest, which moves from San Bernardino to Downtown L.A. this year.

Most New Year’s Eve parties in L.A. celebrate the stroke of midnight on the West Coast, and a bunch mark the ball drop on the East Coast, as well. But Big Bar celebrates the occasion with 10 countdowns. That’s nine themed cocktails (for purchase) and one complimentary champagne toast at midnight. This year’s “Alice in Oz” theme mashes up two fantasy favorites—Alice in Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz outfits are encouraged—and culminates in three cheers with a ruby glass.

The h.wood Group’s celeb-favored, ’20s-inspired lounge-slash-supper club Delilah will be ringing in the new year in style. Dine on selections from the handpicked à la carte menu (buttermilk fried oysters, anyone?) and join in a champagne toast at midnight. The night will culminate with a performance by none other than Wiz Khalifa.

For New Year’s Eve, this Pioneertown-inspired rooftop bar with strong cocktails and excellent vibes is rolling out a honky-tonk evening that includes music from country singers Johnny Travis Jr. and Nikki Lane and a live set by DJ Revel. At midnight, you can supplement the five-hour premium open bar and passed hors d’oeuvres with a special tequila toast—who needs champagne?

The Gatsby-esque Prohibition NYE bash that typically took over Union Station at the end of the year seems(?) to be no more, but this year in its place is the also-KCRW-presented Resolutions, which will fill the historic train station a party that stretches from 8pm on New Year’s Eve into New Year’s Day itself. Hear sets by German techno duo Âme, Bonobo, Colyn, Jimi Jules and Marsh, complemented by state-of-the-art production, 10-point sound and visual elements that will make for a full immersive experience. 

Ring in 2026 with a dose of Old Hollywood glamour during this celebration at the classic Hollywood Roosevelt. Maxim is taking over the historic hotel, transforming it into a glitzy winter wonderland for the night. Don your best semi-formal or cocktail attire (required) and masquerade mask (provided upon entry), and walk the red carpet amid celebs and models before enjoying live entertainment, music, photo ops and festive party favors to take home.

Laugh your way into 2026 with this celebration at the renowned career-launching comedy theater, where the Groundlings family will be performing a night full of improv. Add gourmet treats, wine and a traditional Champagne toast at midnight, and you’ve got everything you need for the perfect New Year’s Eve. You might even catch a glimpse of the next Will Ferrell or Lisa Kudrow while you’re at it.

The Freehand hotel will bring the house down New Year’s Eve at its rooftop oasis, Broken Shaker. Local music collectives Made to Move and LOW Recordings have curated a lineup of artists—agraybé, Akumen, Andy Oro, Beggar, Dirt Vibes and Naomi Green—who will be spinning infectious house, disco and electronic music all night long. Grab a handcrafted cocktail and dance with the DTLA skyline as your backdrop—you might even be able to spot some NYE fireworks from up there. The best part: Entry is free (last year there was a complimentary champagne toast at midnight too).

Let the Mondrian’s Skybar handle your plans this New Year’s Eve at its annual swanky soiree. Each ticket includes access to a four-hour open bar, plus a midnight champagne toast. Take in the city lights as you overlook the L.A. skyline at the rooftop bar that started it all. The pool will be covered and transformed into a light-up dance floor, so you can groove into the new year to tunes by DJ Thurston. Note: Cocktail attire is required.

Angel City Brewery’s annual New Year’s Eve bash is going Art Deco this year, ringing in 2026 with gilded glamour and great beer. Dress to impress and show off your fabulous flapper energy at themed photo ops. As the name implies, there’s no cover to attend—just make sure to secure a seat early. You can grab dinner from ACB’s on-site House Made food truck.

Stake out a spot in downtown Long Beach to catch this waterfront fireworks show on New Year’s Eve. Though this year’s full details are still to come, past celebrations have included two chances to see fireworks: an early one at a more family-friendly time of 9pm, followed by another at midnight. You can catch the shows from pretty much anywhere near the water, like Shoreline Park and Village, and you can expect dinner specials and parties at plenty of local businesses nearby (including, yes, the Queen Mary, which has again revived its on-board party—a ticketed masquerade soirée).

Dynasty Typewriter’s namesake comedy show Dynasty Tonight! brings stand-up and assorted entertainment to the theater, including for this NYE show with sets from hilarious comedians. Aparna Nancherla, Brent Weinbach, Jared Logan, Ashley Ray, Tony Sam and more will be taking the stage, so you’re in good hands. Each ticket includes a champagne toast at midnight.

What kid (or adult) doesn’t love to go to Disneyland? And on New Year’s Eve, the theme park stays open late (till 2am) and has even more magical happenings. We all know Disneyland does fireworks nearly nightly, but on New Year’s Eve they have a special showing in honor of the new year: “New Year's Eve Fantasy in the Sky.” Many of the restaurants inside the park also have special events or menus for the holiday, so do your research and get a reservation. You’ll have two chances to watch the fireworks: at 9pm and midnight. Just make sure to book your park reservation ASAP.

The Houston Brothers’ eight-in-one nightlife destination is going all out for New Year’s Eve. Wander throughout the different concepts—including Que Bárbaro, Lucky Mizu, Mr. Wanderlust, Maison Kasai, Brown Sheep, Mother of Pearl and rooftop bar Golden Hour—for an immersive world of spectacle and live entertainment, from aerial artists and burlesque dancers to magicians and illusionists to DJs and live bands—there’s even a luchador wrestling match on the lineup. To eat, there will be passed hors d'oeuvres and globally inspired bites, which you can pair with premium cocktails from the four-hour open bar (8pm–midnight). Note: If you want access to the eighth venue, Sinners y Santos Nightclub, you’ll have to spring for VIP tickets.

Osa Rooftop—Pasadena’s new and only rooftop bar, located atop the AC Hotel—is celebrating its first New Year’s Eve with a party, complete with a premium open bar, light fare from the menu of California cuisine, live DJ performances and hillside views. Bonus: The hotel sits along the route of the Rose Parade, Pasadena’s world-famous New Year’s Day tradition, so if you’re up for an all-nighter, you can stake out a spot on the sidewalk early.

The annual L.A. Kings ice skating rink once again returns to L.A. Live. Skate around the dazzling Christmas tree that stands in the middle of the outdoor rink, and take in an LED holiday light show on the huge screens around the plaza during one of the four nightly skating sessions. You can even literally skate your way into the new year, as the rink is open till 12:30am on December 31.

Knott’s Berry Farm goes all out during the holiday season, turning the theme park into the punny Knott’s Merry Farm, complete with holiday decorations, music and snow. For New Year’s Eve, they take it a step further with extended hours (till 1am) and a countdown to midnight capped off with fireworks. Look out for live performances throughout the evening, plus swing-dancing lessons and family-friendly comedy.

Any night at the historic Clifton’s Republic is a whimsical, transporting experience, but the storied Downtown destination is upping the whimsy with this year’s New Year’s Eve shindig, “a gathering of creatures from every realm.” Soak up the dark fantasy vibes as you dance under the boughs of the three-story (faux) redwood. Providing the soundtrack will be a lineup of both live music and DJs, including Machinedrum, who’ll be performing a high-energy set right into midnight. Costumes are encouraged but not required—though there will be a cosplay contest with a pretty covetable prize: dinner and an overnight stay at a four-star Santa Barbara hotel.

Terranea’s seaside New Year’s Eve party this year will be a glamorous, Great Gatsby–inspired affair, complete with flapper dancers, speakeasy cocktails and aerialists hanging from the chandelier. The classy—and spendy—celebration boasts a drool-worthy culinary spread: Think a champagne and caviar bar, oyster shooters, mini lobster rolls, lamb lollipops, imported cheeses, beef Wellington, risotto finished in a Parmesan wheel, a flambéed crepe station and more. In addition to this soiree in the Palos Verdes Ballroom, the resort will be hosting decadent dinners throughout the property.

Located just blocks from the ocean, Ice in downtown Santa Monica brings a bit of winter to the comfortable coastal city. The 8,000-square-foot outdoor rink runs daily from November to mid-January on the corner of Fifth Street and Arizona Avenue, including on New Year’s Eve. On December 31, count down to East Coast midnight (a.k.a. 9pm) at a family-friendly NYE celebration from 7:30–10pm. Tickets are $30 and include skate rental.

Welcome 2026 against sweeping views of L.A. from a hilltop perch at Yamashiro. The Japanese restaurant—housed inside a historic Hollywood mansion from 1911—will host a bash with a premium open bar and a DJ spinning hip-hop, house and Top 40 tunes, capped off with a champagne countdown and party favors.

Descanso Gardens’ light-up experience ditches the kitsch aesthetic typical at many venues in favor of a whimsical, wondrous, curiosity-driven display that’s among L.A.’s most stunning and, more importantly, most fun. The interactive, nighttime program sets up illuminated installations around the botanical garden grounds, from luminescent forests to free-standing hands-on art pieces to the whimsical model railroad. Check it out till 10pm on New Year’s Eve.

L.A. doesn’t typically seem like much of a winter wonderland, until, that is, you create an ice skating rink right in the midst of Downtown skyscrapers. Come glide around and pretend there’s snow on the ground at Pershing Square’s outdoor holiday skating rink. Skate rentals are included in admission, though lockers and skating aids costs a few dollars extra. The rink will stay open till 10pm on New Year’s Eve.