New Year's Eve 2026 falls on a Thursday, and the biggest confirmed concerts are Phish at Madison Square Garden (Dec 30–Jan 2), Backstreet Boys at Sphere in Las Vegas (Dec 31), Alex Warren at Caesars Palace (Dec 30–31), and Little Big Town, The Red Clay Strays and HARDY at Nashville's free Big Bash. For holiday shows, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular runs Nov 4, 2026 to Jan 4, 2027 from $50, and Trans-Siberian Orchestra tours 50+ cities from Nov 19 to Dec 30. Compare prices across resale sites on TicketWhiz before you buy.
What day is New Year's Eve 2026?
New Year's Eve 2026 is on Thursday, December 31, and New Year's Day 2027 is a Friday. That creates an easy four-day weekend, which is why many artists have booked two-night or four-night runs starting Wednesday, December 30. If the 31st is sold out or too expensive, the December 30 show from the same artist is usually the best value alternative.
What are the biggest New Year's Eve concerts in 2026?
The biggest confirmed New Year's Eve 2026 concerts are in New York, Las Vegas, Nashville, Charlotte, Asheville and Denver. Every show below has been announced by the artist, venue or promoter as of October 26, 2026.
| Artist | Venue | City | NYE 2026 dates | Starting price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phish | Madison Square Garden | New York, NY | Dec 30, 31, Jan 1, 2 | Resale varies |
| Backstreet Boys (Into the Millennium) | Sphere | Las Vegas, NV | Dec 26, 27, 31, Jan 1, 2 | Resale varies |
| Alex Warren | The Colosseum at Caesars Palace | Las Vegas, NV | Dec 30, 31 | Resale varies |
| Little Big Town, The Red Clay Strays, HARDY (Big Bash) | Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park | Nashville, TN | Dec 31 | Free |
| Old Crow Medicine Show | Ryman Auditorium | Nashville, TN | Dec 30 (8 pm), Dec 31 (9 pm) | $73 |
| To The Future (electronic, 21+) | Nashville Fairgrounds | Nashville, TN | Dec 30, 31 | $279 |
| Widespread Panic | Bojangles Coliseum | Charlotte, NC | Dec 30, 31 | Resale varies |
| The Avett Brothers | Harrah's Cherokee Center | Asheville, NC | Dec 31 (doors 7 pm, show 8 pm) | Resale varies |
| Umphrey's McGee | Ogden Theatre | Denver, CO | Dec 30, 31, Jan 1 | Resale varies |
| Philadelphia Orchestra with Marin Alsop | Marian Anderson Hall, Kimmel Center | Philadelphia, PA | Dec 31 (7 pm) | See venue |
New York City: Phish at Madison Square Garden
Phish plays four nights at Madison Square Garden from December 30 to January 2, 2027. The January 2 finale is the band's 100th show at the Garden, so expect it to rival New Year's Eve for demand. MSG sits on top of Penn Station, which makes getting home easier than at most NYE venues. Find seats on the Madison Square Garden tickets page, browse all New York events, or read how to get concert tickets for Madison Square Garden.
Las Vegas: Backstreet Boys at Sphere and Alex Warren at Caesars
Backstreet Boys close 2026 inside Sphere, with shows on December 26, 27 and 31 and January 1 and 2. Alex Warren plays two nights at the smaller, theater-style Colosseum at Caesars Palace on December 30 and 31. Both venues are a short walk apart on the Strip, which matters because Las Vegas Boulevard closes to cars on New Year's Eve. Compare every Las Vegas show in one place.
Bruno Mars has played Dolby Live at Park MGM on December 30 and 31 in past years, but no 2026 New Year's Eve date has been announced yet. Track new dates on the Bruno Mars tickets page.
Nashville: the free Big Bash and the Ryman
Nashville's Big Bash is the city's free, family-friendly New Year's Eve concert, with Little Big Town, The Red Clay Strays and HARDY, plus fireworks and the midnight Music Note Drop. For a seated show, Old Crow Medicine Show returns to the Ryman Auditorium on December 30 and 31 from $73. See all Nashville events.
Charlotte, Asheville and Denver: the jam-band New Year's
Widespread Panic moved its New Year's run from Atlanta to Charlotte's Bojangles Coliseum for December 30 and 31. The Avett Brothers continue their Asheville tradition at Harrah's Cherokee Center on December 31. Umphrey's McGee plays three nights at Denver's Ogden Theatre, with three full sets on New Year's Eve. Browse more concert tickets by artist and date.
What are the best holiday shows in 2026?
The best holiday shows of the 2026 season are the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 30th-anniversary tour, Mariah Carey's Christmastime shows, Disney on Ice, and local Nutcracker productions. Most run from mid-November through early January, so you have far more dates to choose from than on New Year's Eve itself.
| Show | Where | 2026 dates | Starting price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes | Radio City Music Hall, New York | Nov 4, 2026 – Jan 4, 2027 (230 shows) | $50 box office, $55 online | Families, first-time NYC visitors |
| Trans-Siberian Orchestra: The Ghosts of Christmas Eve | 50+ arenas nationwide | Nov 19 – Dec 30 | Varies by city | Rock fans, pyrotechnics |
| Mariah Carey's Christmastime | Dolby Live, Las Vegas, plus UK and Malta | Late Nov – mid Dec | Varies | Pop fans |
| Disney on Ice | Arenas nationwide | Touring through winter | Varies by city | Kids under 10 |
| The Nutcracker | Ballet companies in most major cities | Late Nov – late Dec | Varies | Classical and dance fans |
Sources: MSG Entertainment, Consequence, TicketNews, Stereoboard.
Radio City Christmas Spectacular
The 2026 Christmas Spectacular runs 230 performances, the most since the show debuted in 1933, and adds a brand-new Rockettes number. The show lasts about 90 minutes with no intermission. Weekend and late-December dates sell out first, so weekday matinees in November are the easiest and cheapest seats to get. See more New York events.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra 30th anniversary tour
Trans-Siberian Orchestra celebrates 30 years with a reimagined staging of The Ghosts of Christmas Eve, followed by a second set of TSO favorites. The tour opens November 19 in Green Bay and ends December 30 in St. Louis, with two touring troupes covering cities including Denver, Seattle, Nashville, Las Vegas, Atlanta and Philadelphia. Many cities have both a 3 pm matinee and an evening show, and matinees usually cost less. Compare TSO dates on the concert tickets page.
Mariah Carey's Christmastime
Mariah Carey brings Christmastime to Dolby Live at Park MGM in Las Vegas for a holiday run, and plays her first UK arena tour since 2019: Birmingham on November 27, London's O2 on November 30 and Manchester on December 2. Check Las Vegas tickets for her Vegas dates.
Disney on Ice 2026
Disney on Ice is the top holiday pick for young kids, with touring productions in arenas across the country. Read our Disney on Ice 2026 guide, learn how long a Disney on Ice show lasts, and pick seats with our best seats for Disney on Ice guide.
Broadway and comedy over the holidays
Broadway runs extra performances between Christmas and New Year's, and many comedians book special New Year's Eve sets. Browse Broadway tickets and comedy tickets for holiday-week dates.
How much do New Year's Eve concert tickets cost?
New Year's Eve concert tickets range from free city celebrations to several hundred dollars for headline arena shows and all-inclusive parties. December 31 is usually the most expensive night of any multi-night run, because demand peaks while supply stays fixed.
| Event type | Example (NYE 2026) | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Free city celebration | Nashville Big Bash | Free |
| Holiday stage show | Radio City Christmas Spectacular | $50–$55 |
| Theater concert | Old Crow Medicine Show, Ryman Auditorium | $73 |
| Hotel or rooftop party with open bar | Westin Nashville, Grand Hyatt rooftop | $155–$350 |
| Multi-day electronic event | To The Future, Nashville Fairgrounds | $279 |
| Arena and residency headliners | Phish at MSG, Backstreet Boys at Sphere | Resale, highest on Dec 31 |
Prices for the same seat can vary widely between resale sites once fees are added, which is why concert ticket prices vary so much. TicketWhiz shows prices from multiple sellers side by side so you can see the real cost before checkout.
When should you buy New Year's Eve concert tickets?
Buy early for small venues and sold-out runs, and wait for resale price drops on large arena shows. Small rooms like the Ogden Theatre or the Ryman have little resale supply, so the face-value sale is often your best price. Large arenas usually see more resale listings appear as sellers' plans change in December.
- Book your hotel first. Rooms near the venue sell out faster than concert tickets on New Year's Eve, and free-cancellation bookings let you back out later.
- Consider December 30. Most artists in this guide play the night before, usually at a lower price.
- Watch last-minute resale. Read why resale tickets get cheaper closer to the event and our guide to buying last-minute concert tickets.
- Know the general rule. Our guide to the best time to buy concert tickets explains when prices tend to rise and fall.
How do you get cheap New Year's Eve and holiday show tickets?
To get cheaper New Year's Eve and holiday show tickets, compare all-in prices across sellers, pick a less popular night or showtime, and track prices instead of buying on impulse.
- Compare all-in prices across resale sites. The same section can cost very different amounts on different sites once fees are added. Use TicketWhiz to see sellers side by side, and learn how to compare ticket prices for events.
- Pick the night before or a matinee. December 30 shows and holiday matinees, like TSO's 3 pm performances, usually cost less than prime evening dates.
- Track prices before you buy. Set a target price and watch it for a week or two. Our guide to tracking ticket prices shows how.
- Choose seats by value, not section name. Upper-level side views at arenas and Sphere often beat expensive floor seats for sightlines. See how to choose the best seats for concerts.
- Have a sold-out plan. If a run sells out, resale inventory often keeps appearing until show day. Read how to get tickets to a sold-out concert.
- Buy only from verified sellers. Avoid social media sellers and screenshots of tickets. Use platforms with buyer guarantees, which TicketWhiz compares for you.
- Plan your ride home. Rideshare surge pricing spikes after midnight, and New York and Las Vegas close streets around Times Square and the Strip. A hotel within walking distance often saves more than the ticket discount.
Frequently asked questions
What concerts are on New Year's Eve 2026?
Confirmed New Year's Eve 2026 concerts include Phish at Madison Square Garden in New York, Backstreet Boys at Sphere and Alex Warren at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Widespread Panic in Charlotte, The Avett Brothers in Asheville, Umphrey's McGee in Denver, and the free Big Bash in Nashville with Little Big Town and HARDY. More shows are announced through December.
Where can I watch a free New Year's Eve concert in 2026?
Nashville's Big Bash at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park is free and family-friendly, with Little Big Town, The Red Clay Strays and HARDY, fireworks and a midnight Music Note Drop. Times Square in New York and the Las Vegas Strip fireworks are also free, though both close streets and fill early.
Is the Radio City Christmas Spectacular on New Year's Eve?
The 2026 Christmas Spectacular runs from November 4, 2026 to January 4, 2027 at Radio City Music Hall, so performances continue through the New Year's holiday week. Tickets start at $50 at the box office and $55 online. The show runs about 90 minutes with no intermission.
When does Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 2026 tour end?
Trans-Siberian Orchestra's 2026 Ghosts of Christmas Eve tour starts November 19 in Green Bay and ends December 30 in St. Louis at Enterprise Center. It covers more than 50 cities with two touring groups, and many cities offer both matinee and evening shows.
Is Bruno Mars playing Las Vegas on New Year's Eve 2026?
As of October 26, 2026, Bruno Mars has not announced a New Year's Eve 2026 show. He played Dolby Live at Park MGM on December 30 and 31 in previous years, so a late announcement is possible. Follow the Bruno Mars tickets page for updates.
Do New Year's Eve concert tickets get cheaper closer to the date?
Large arena shows often see more resale listings and softer prices in late December, but small venues and sold-out runs rarely drop. Buy early for theaters and must-see shows, and compare prices on TicketWhiz if you wait.
Last updated: October 26, 2026 · By the TicketWhiz editorial team. This guide is updated weekly through December 31 as new shows are announced.
