LA's best New Year's Eve fireworks viewing is still mostly free: Griffith Observatory, Marina del Rey and a handful of hilltop overlooks cost nothing but a parking spot. The one real change this year is Universal CityWalk, which now charges general admission instead of letting you walk in free for the show.
Between your neighbor's questionable amateur pyrotechnics and that one friend who swears their apartment has "the perfect view," it's time for a real game plan.
The biggest change since we last checked this list: Universal CityWalk's fireworks night is no longer a free walk-up event, it's now a ticketed party starting at $30 a person. Everything else here, the park lookouts, the marina show, the downtown block party, is still free.
The next round of these shows lands December 31, 2026. Exact 2026 start times and on-sale dates hadn't been announced as of this update, so treat the details below as the reliable pattern and confirm specifics on each venue's site closer to the date.
At a glance
| Spot | Neighborhood | Cost | Fireworks time |
|---|
| Griffith Observatory | Los Feliz | Free | Midnight (unofficial, city-wide) |
| Marina del Rey | Marina del Rey | Free | 8:59 PM and midnight |
| Mulholland Drive Overlook | Hollywood Hills | Free | Midnight (unofficial, city-wide) |
| Universal CityWalk | Universal City | From $30 | Midnight |
| Angel's Point | Elysian Park | Free | Midnight (unofficial, city-wide) |
| Santa Monica Pier | Santa Monica | Free | Midnight (light show, no fireworks) |
| Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook | Culver City | Parking from $2 | Midnight (unofficial, city-wide) |
| Gloria Molina Grand Park's NYELA | Downtown LA | Free | Midnight countdown (no on-site fireworks) |
| Long Beach Waterfront | Long Beach | Free | Midnight |
01
Griffith Observatory
Los Feliz / Griffith Park
Free viewpointFree
The Observatory's lawn and front steps sit above Los Feliz and Hollywood, high enough to catch dozens of neighborhood fireworks shows at once, official and otherwise, stretching from Echo Park to downtown. The building itself (free admission) closes at 10 PM, but the grounds stay the city's favorite unofficial finale-watching perch straight through midnight.
Know before you go: parking fills early and Griffith Park traffic backs up fast on NYE, so take the DASH Observatory shuttle or a rideshare if you can.
02
Marina del Rey
Burton Chace Park
Family eventFree
LA County's Marina del Rey Fireworks and Glow Party runs 7 PM to midnight at Burton Chace Park, with glow gear, face painting and two separate fireworks displays shot from the south jetty, one at 8:59 PM and the finale at midnight. Admission is free and the show is visible from almost anywhere around the marina, including the waterfront restaurants.
Know before you go: it's rain-or-shine and it's a real crowd, so grab a patio table or a spot on the water early if you want to catch both shows.
03
Mulholland Drive Overlook
Hollywood Hills
Scenic overlookFree
Mulholland Drive's 55-mile scenic corridor has seven official overlooks, and the Jerome C. Daniel Overlook above the Hollywood Bowl is the one worth the drive on NYE, with sightlines toward downtown, the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory all from one paved lot.
Know before you go: the small lot fills fast, there's overflow parking near Runyon Canyon Park a short walk away.
04
Universal CityWalk
Universal City
Ticketed partyFrom $30
This one changed: CityWalk's New Year's Eve bash is no longer a walk-in-free event. The 2025 edition ran from 4 PM with four live music stages, a Times Square ball-drop simulcast and fireworks plus confetti at midnight, but general admission started at $30 per person (walk-up or shuttle), with self-parking from $75 a car and valet from $100, both including entry. It's still one of the biggest produced shows in the city, just budget for it now.
Know before you go: Universal Studios Hollywood also runs its own ticketed in-park New Year's Eve celebration with a separate fireworks show, covered by regular park admission, if you'd rather be inside the gates.
05
Angel's Point
Elysian Park
Local's lookoutFree
Angel's Point in Elysian Park is the quieter alternative to Griffith, a grassy lookout with panoramic views of downtown, the Hollywood Sign and the surrounding hills, without the crowds fighting for a spot on the Observatory lawn.
Know before you go: pack a blanket and get there well before dark, this is a picnic-first spot and the good grass fills in early.
06
Santa Monica Pier
Santa Monica
Family-friendlyFree to watch
No fireworks over the water here, but Pacific Park's Ferris wheel does its own annual New Year's Eve light show, spelling out "Happy New Year" in 16 languages at midnight, a tradition it's kept up every year running, including the countdown into 2026. Catch it from the pier, then look toward the coastline for distant fireworks from other shows up and down the bay.
Know before you go: the light show itself is free to watch from the pier, rides and games at Pacific Park cost extra.
07
Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook
Culver City / Baldwin Hills
Hike-in viewParking from $2
Also known as the Culver City Stairs, this state park overlook has near 360-degree views across the LA Basin to the Pacific, which means a shot at catching several fireworks shows at once from one hilltop. Posted hours run 8 AM to sunset, but hiking up after dark to watch fireworks is a long running local tradition here, the same way people do it on the Fourth of July.
Know before you go: parking runs $2 an hour or $6 a day at the lot, and the stairs are steep and unevenly spaced, bring a flashlight if you're climbing after sunset.
08
Gloria Molina Grand Park's NYELA
Downtown LA
Free block partyFree
NYELA is still the West Coast's biggest free New Year's Eve party, no ticket required, running roughly 8 PM to around 1 AM with live music, DJs, dancing and a midnight countdown spectacle. There's no on-site fireworks show, but you get a clear view of downtown LA's scattered displays while surrounded by the party.
Know before you go: food trucks line the park and it draws a genuinely huge crowd, come with a plan for where you'll meet up if your group splits.
09
Long Beach Waterfront
Long Beach
Harbor showFree
The Queen Mary hosts Long Beach's midnight fireworks show over the harbor, and it's free to watch from public spots along the waterfront. Shoreline Village is the easiest and most reliable, with restaurants, a DJ and a photo booth running from around 8:30 PM.
Know before you go: if you want the fireworks close up instead of from shore, the Queen Mary and a handful of harbor cruise operators sell on-the-water New Year's Eve packages that sell out ahead of time.
A few more worth knowing
- Personal fireworks are illegal to set off anywhere in the city of Los Angeles, the shows on this list are the legal way to get your fix.
- Most of these spots also work for the Fourth of July if you want a preview before December.
- Rideshare pickup zones near Griffith Park and the Hollywood Bowl overlooks get backed up right after midnight, build in extra time before you book a ride.
Frequently asked
Are these fireworks shows free to watch?
Most are. Griffith Observatory, Marina del Rey, Mulholland Drive Overlook, Angel's Point, Santa Monica Pier, Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook, Gloria Molina Grand Park and the Long Beach waterfront are all free to attend. Universal CityWalk's New Year's Eve event is the exception, general admission started at $30 per person for the 2025 show.
Do I need to buy tickets in advance?
Only for Universal CityWalk (or Universal Studios Hollywood's own in-park celebration). Buy directly from the venue's official site, never a resale or ticketing-aggregator link. Specific 2026 dates, start times and on-sale windows for these events typically get announced in the fall, so check back closer to December.
What time do the fireworks actually go off?
Nearly everything hits midnight. Marina del Rey is the exception with an extra early show at 8:59 PM, and Grand Park's NYELA runs a countdown spectacle rather than a traditional fireworks show.
Which spots are good for kids?
Marina del Rey's Glow Party, Gloria Molina Grand Park's NYELA and Santa Monica Pier are the most family-friendly, all free, all with things to do before midnight beyond just waiting for the sky to light up.
Where's the best free view of downtown LA specifically?
Griffith Observatory, Angel's Point and Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook all give you a wide downtown skyline in frame, pick based on how much of a hike or a drive you want.
Is parking going to be a problem?
Yes, basically everywhere on this list. Arrive well before dark for the hilltop spots, and consider rideshare or transit for Griffith Park, CityWalk and downtown, all three get gridlocked on NYE.
