The time has come to say goodbye to 2025 and welcome the New Year.
Many decide to spend New Year’s Eve creating visualization posters, setting objectives and goals for the cycle that is about to begin, sharing rituals with family, or simply resting.
But many others prefer to welcome 2026 by celebrating big, and the city and county of Los Angeles have a wide variety of events to ring in the New Year in style. From masquerade and champagne events to a night filled with music, food and community, these New Year’s Eve events have attractions for the entire family.
One of the biggest free New Year’s celebrations has to be the one held in downtown Los Angeles at the Grand Park Gloria Molina. Every year, families and friends come together in the heart of the city to celebrate the New Year in style and this year is no exception. Open two stages where DJs and artists will play music to dance the night away. On December 31, starting at 8 pm, you can enjoy a City Hall light show, interactive art installations, cultural performances, and hands-on activities for all ages. You can also be part of the immersive photography studio Pop-Up Portrait Studio, which transforms portraits into collective murals that celebrate the sense of belonging. Created by famous photographer Josh Madson.
Ffireworks and masquerade party in Long Beach
If you’d like to spend the New Year on a quieter note, find a spot in downtown Long Beach to watch a waterfront fireworks show at midnight on December 31. You can see it from just about anywhere near the water, like Shoreline Park. Some of the nearby local businesses, such as Queen Mary, will be celebrating with events such as their masquerade evening. Enjoy a night of live music, dazzling performances, casino games and spectacular fireworks when the clock strikes midnight.
celebration in Marina del Rey
You are not close to Long Beach; no problem. Enjoy another free event in Marina del Rey. To celebrate the New Year, the Department of Beaches and Harbors will organize a New Year’s Eve party with fireworks and lights. This celebration is free and family-friendly at Burton Chace Park from 7 pm until after midnight. Get ready for a night full of fun and energy, with music, food, magic shows and face painting. There will also be interactive artists: light robots and much more.
Welcome the New Year with a little swing in your step and lots of flavor. If you like to dance and are in party mode, you’ll have to head to Ángel City Brewery, where they’ll be hosting a huge celebration. The night will combine the golden glamor of art deco with cumbia rhythms, festive hits and good beer and admission is free. They will have a cumbia band playing live, starting at 7 pm, and a DJ who will liven up the event until dawn.
If you like Bad Bunny, Ivy Queen and the greats of perreo, then you should attend the Vamos Reggaetón New Year’s Eve event at the club called Catch One in Los Angeles. The night will be full of reggaeton music and at midnight the confetti ball drop.
The legendary percussionist Pete Escovedo will offer two concerts, one on the 30th and another on New Year’s Eve, at the Catalina Jazz Club. Pete Escovedo is an artist who broke the barriers between smooth jazz, salsa, Latin jazz and contemporary music. Enjoy a romantic night with your partner.
For millions of people around the world, the Rose Parade is an iconic New Year’s Day tradition. The parade runs a little over 5 miles along Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena. And it features four main types of participants: floats covered in colorful flowers, equestrian units, marching bands, and tournament participants. This year’s theme is “The Magic of Teamwork.” The theme celebrates the sense of achievement that comes from knowing that, by working together, we can achieve much richer results than we could achieve individually. A message that is needed more than ever in these times.
The parade celebrations begin at 8 a.m. on January 1 and, just as you can go in person, you can also enjoy the television broadcasts.