What to Do on New Year's Eve in Los Angeles

NYELA is back at Gloria Molina Grand Park for another year, and it's still the biggest free countdown in the city. The event now runs 8 PM to 1 AM (an hour later than in past years), with two stages of DJs and live sets, a food truck lineup, and a midnight art projection on City Hall.

If your New Year's Eve plan is simpler than a party, ringing in the year with fireworks somewhere around the city still works. We keep a running list of the best viewing spots in a separate guide, since it changes more often than a single entry here can keep up with.

Now in its third year, this 5K sends runners down the actual Rose Parade route on Colorado Boulevard, with the main wave starting close to midnight so you literally run into the new year. Finishers (13 and up) get a bib and medal, plus access to the post-race party, and there's a new "Beat the Countdown Challenge" for anyone who finishes in under 20 minutes.

Insomniac's Forever Midnight takes over the LA Convention Center with three stages of house and electronic music running from afternoon into the early morning. It's grown into one of the largest NYE festivals in the city, with past lineups pulling in names like Tiësto and Chris Lake.

For a lower-key New Year's Eve, Topgolf El Segundo runs a 9 PM to 1 AM party with unlimited game play, a buffet, a live DJ, and a midnight toast (21+ for alcohol). One ticket books an entire bay for up to six people, so it works well for a group that wants a party without a crowd.

Nasstive's Downtown LA bar crawl is back for another year, with 10-plus participating bars and lounges and drink specials at each stop. The exact venue roster usually isn't announced until closer to the date.

This multi-bar crawl works its way through some of Santa Monica's better-known bars and clubs, with VIP access and free entry at participating venues plus drink specials, and it wraps with a free after-party.

Avalon's historic Vine Street club throws one of Hollywood's biggest 21+ countdown parties every year. Recent lineups have included Diplo and Markus Schulz, but the exact 2026 headliner is announced closer to the date, this is a case where the venue and format are the reliable part, not any one DJ's name.

Exchange LA's multi-level DTLA club runs its own 21+ New Year's Eve show every year. Recent editions have featured acts like Alison Wonderland and Slander, with the 2026 lineup announced closer to the date.

The Comedy Store's Belly Room runs a New Year's Eve edition of Roast Battle, its signature two-comic, no-mercy roast format, with celebrity judges and a live DJ between rounds. It's a regular sellout.

Discovery Cube LA's early countdown lets kids ring in the new year without staying up until midnight. The event runs daytime hours with an apple cider toast, hands-on science exhibits, a dance floor, and balloon drops at both noon and 3 PM.

The LA Zoo's holiday lantern display, Zoo Lights: Animals Aglow, adds a dedicated Family New Year's Eve package for the night itself, running 6 to 10 PM with express entry, a buffet dinner and dessert, a kids' dance floor, a broadcast of the ball drop, and a 9 PM sparkling toast (cider for kids).

The Aquarium of the Pacific's after-hours New Year's Eve party runs 8 PM to 1 AM with a live band, multiple DJs, a magic show, and a confetti countdown among the tanks. This one has changed since we last checked it: it's now an 18+ event, not the all-ages outing it used to be marketed as.

Universal's EVE celebration keeps the park open until 2 AM, with three themed party zones (Rock the Night, Electric New Year, and Latin Beat) and a midnight fireworks countdown visible from multiple spots in the park, including The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Springfield.

This cabaret-style revue has been a Santa Monica Playhouse tradition for over 50 years, with two shows on December 31: a 7 PM family-friendly early show and a 10:30 PM late show that includes a midnight meet-and-greet with the cast. Every ticket comes with champagne or sparkling cider and a dessert buffet.

City Cruises' Premier Dinner Cruise sails out of Rainbow Harbor for a 4-hour New Year's Eve outing with a buffet dinner, a sparkling wine toast, DJ entertainment, and views of the Long Beach waterfront fireworks at midnight.

This crawl checks in from 6 to 9 PM at Behind Bars and moves through Urban Pocha, Ole Town Pub, and Der Wolf, with a champagne toast, drink specials at each stop, and a digital map once you're registered. The after-party lands back at Behind Bars for anyone who arrives before 11 PM.