Where to go for New Year 2027: fireworks, parades and live music in 10 cities
On December 31 in Sydney, the sky lights up twice.
You can welcome the New Year at home around the table, or in a city that puts together a special program for the night. We have picked ten destinations where fireworks, a parade, or an opera house turn December 31 into a show.
The choice depends on what suits you best. If you want it free and with kids, pick cities with an early fireworks display and open embankments. If you are willing to pay for the atmosphere, book dinner or a concert in advance.
Ad: this article contains affiliate links. We earn a commission if you book through them, at no extra cost to you.
What to consider before a New Year trip
💡 In short:
- Decide on the evening format: a free street fireworks display or a paid dinner with a view.
- Book accommodation and tables 2-3 months ahead; by December the options are almost gone.
- Check the local launch time in your chosen city.
New Year's Eve in these cities takes place on streets, squares, and embankments, and almost everywhere part of the program is free. Dinners, grandstands, and cruises tend to be paid. Decide just two things in advance: where you will stay overnight and where you will watch the fireworks from. Below we explain what happens in each city and how to see it.
1. Dubai, UAE
In Dubai, New Year's Eve is made by Downtown Dubai. The main fireworks are launched from the Burj Khalifa around midnight, and the viewing areas in the district are open for free (as of 09/2026, Emaar). Nearby, the Dubai Fountain puts on a show of light, sound, and water, so the waterfront fills up by evening.
A table at a restaurant with a view of the tower should be booked several months in advance: by December there are almost no free spots near the fountains. The launch is also visible from the free areas around the lake, so buying a ticket is not necessary. If it is your first visit, compare Dubai hotels on Trip.com by area; from Downtown you can easily walk to the fireworks.
© Tim.Reckmann · CC BY-SAPhoto: Tim.Reckmann, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons2. Bangkok, Thailand
Bangkok welcomes the New Year loudly and late. The main gathering point is the area around the Central World shopping mall: a stage is set up there and fireworks are launched. The second option is the Chao Phraya riverfront and a river cruise. From the water you will see the fireworks in full and without the crowds.
If you like loud parties, stay near Central World; the bars there stay open until morning. If you want something quieter, take a dinner cruise and watch the fireworks from the deck. For an overnight stay, look for Bangkok hotels on Trip.com near the stage or the pier.
© Imtaiki · CC BY-SAPhoto: Imtaiki, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons3. Bali, Indonesia
Bali welcomes the New Year not with fireworks, but with ritual. The program is put together not by the authorities, but by local communities: ceremonies are held in temples, parades move through the streets, and people sing and light fires at Puputan Badung Square. The celebration here is quieter than in a megacity.
You will be more comfortable if your hotel is away from the main squares. Choose a resort that matches your pace; Bali hotels on Trip.com show the distance to the square.
4. New York, USA
New York holds the main symbol of New Year's Eve. The ball at One Times Square drops in the final seconds of the year, and that moment is broadcast live around the world. Entry to the square is free, but with rules: no backpacks and no alcohol.
Arrive during the day, because by evening the police barriers close off the surrounding blocks. If you want to welcome the New Year without the crowd, book New York hotels on Trip.com away from Times Square and watch the fireworks from a rooftop.
© Terabass · CC BY-SAPhoto: Terabass, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0), Wikimedia Commons5. Prague, Czechia
Prague suits those who do not want to pay for grandstands and dinners. The best places to welcome the New Year are Wenceslas Square and Old Town Square. If you do not like crowds, head to Charles Bridge; from there you can see the whole center.
At night the center is closed to cars, so book hotels in central Prague on Trip.com so you can walk back. A warm blanket and a thermos of tea will come in handy by the river.
© ŠJů · CC BYPhoto: ŠJů, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons6. Tokyo, Japan
In Tokyo, New Year lasts not one night but almost a week. The holiday period starts in late December and ends after January 3. The must-visit spot is Meiji Shrine: that is where you feel the atmosphere of a Japanese New Year. The second place is Zojo-ji Temple, where the bell is rung in the run-up to the holiday.
If you love nightlife, pick the Shibuya area: the parties here make it into global roundups. Choose hotels in Tokyo on Trip.com near the loop line, and you will get to both the temples and the clubs quickly.
© Tokuzo in Edomura · CC BY-SAPhoto: Tokuzo in Edomura, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons7. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Copacabana hosts the largest New Year's party in the world: in 2026, 2.6 million people came here (as of 09/2026, Agência Brasil). The fireworks start exactly at midnight and put on a long show in the sky.
By tradition, locals wear white and throw flowers into the water for good luck. You can watch the display right from the sand, but book hotels near Copacabana on Trip.com months ahead: in December there are almost no rooms available near the beach.
© Rjcastillo · CC BYPhoto: Rjcastillo, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), Wikimedia Commons8. Sydney, Australia
Sydney puts on two fireworks displays: an early one at 9:00 PM for families and the main one at midnight (as of 09/2026, official website). The fireworks are launched from the Harbour Bridge, from barges on the water, and from the roof of the Sydney Opera House. Access to the harbor viewing points is free; you only pay for premium areas and cruises.
Free spots are taken from the morning, so bring a blanket, water, and a windbreaker. The early display is convenient for those with small children: after it, you can get back to the hotel before midnight. If you want a view from your room, hotels in Sydney on Trip.com near the harbor sell out earlier than anything else.
© Photograph by Greg O'Beirne · CC BYPhoto: Photograph by Greg O'Beirne, CC BY (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5), Wikimedia Commons9. Venice, Italy
Venice welcomes the New Year with music, not DJs. Live concerts run all evening in St. Mark's Square, and after midnight locals and visitors greet each other outside St. Mark's Basilica. If open air is not for you, get a ticket to the La Fenice opera house.
On New Year's Eve many restaurants operate by pre-booking, so reserve dinner in advance. When choosing hotels in Venice on Trip.com, keep in mind the closed pedestrian zones: a taxi will not get you to the hotel door.
10. Edinburgh, Scotland
Edinburgh celebrates not New Year, but Hogmanay. The festival lasts three days and opens with a torchlight parade that, according to the organizers, draws around 15,000 participants (as of 09/2026, Edinburgh's Hogmanay). The celebration continues at Edinburgh Castle with concerts, dancing, and pyrotechnics.
On the morning of January 1, put on a costume and head to South Queensferry: together with other participants you will plunge into the Firth of Forth as part of the Loony Dook. The city center is made pedestrian-only for these days, so you will get around on foot. Book hotels in Edinburgh on Trip.com before ticket sales for the square open.
© 瑞丽江的河水 · CC BY-SAPhoto: 瑞丽江的河水, CC BY-SA (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0), Wikimedia Commons⁉️🤔 Frequently asked questions
When should I book a New Year's trip?
Accommodation and restaurant tables in Dubai, Sydney, and New York sell out two to three months in advance. Concert tickets in Venice and square access in Edinburgh also open early, so watch the dates on official websites.
Where can I watch a New Year's show for free?
The harbor viewing points in Sydney and the Downtown Dubai zones in Dubai are open for free. You can get into Times Square without a ticket, but arrive in the morning and leave backpacks behind.
Where should I go if I want warm weather?
For warmth, choose Rio de Janeiro, Bali, Bangkok, or Dubai. In Rio and Bangkok, New Year's Eve takes place outdoors, and in Bali the holiday coincides with the rainy season, so keep an umbrella handy.
How long do New Year's fireworks last?
In Rio de Janeiro the fireworks last about 15 minutes, and in Dubai the show runs for a comparable time. Each city publishes its exact schedule on the official website closer to December.
What should I do if I'm traveling with kids?
Pick a city with an early fireworks show, such as Sydney. In Prague and Venice the evening is calmer than at parties in Bangkok, so it will be easier to get your kids to bed.
In short: what to book
New Year's Eve in these ten cities plays out differently, and you should choose based on the format, not the price. If you want a warm beach and a big show, go to Rio de Janeiro. For old town atmosphere, head to Prague, Venice, or Edinburgh.
- If you're traveling with kids: Sydney and the 9:00 PM fireworks.
- If you want a warm sea: Rio de Janeiro and Bali.
- If you're on a budget: Prague.
- If you're going for music and shows: Venice and Tokyo.
Hotels in these cities sell out earlier than anywhere else, so book your room in September or October, and you'll still have options.
A small editorial team writing guides for independent travel. We travel ourselves, but we haven’t been everywhere, so we check prices, opening hours and how to get there against official sources.