New Year’s Eve wouldn’t feel complete without Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve, the annual countdown broadcast that has become a holiday tradition for music fans across generations. Airing live on ABC, the long-running special once again promises live performances, celebrity hosts, and the iconic Times Square ball drop as viewers ring in 2026.
Hosted by Ryan Seacrest, this year’s broadcast features coast-to-coast celebrations, multiple time-zone countdowns, and hours of live music leading up to and following midnight.
If you’re tuning in just for the Times Square ball drop, turn on ABC at 11:30 p.m. ET to catch the final performances and the countdown without watching the full broadcast.
When To Tune In: New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2026 Broadcast Timeline
| Segment | Eastern Time (ET) | Central Time (CT) | Pacific Time (PT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Broadcast begins | 8:00 p.m. | 7:00 p.m. | 5:00 p.m. |
| Live performances continue | 8:00–11:58 p.m. | 7:00–10:58 p.m. | 5:00–8:58 p.m. |
| Times Square ball drop | 11:59 p.m. | 10:59 p.m. | 8:59 p.m. |
| Post-midnight performances | 12:00–4:00 a.m. | 11:00 p.m.–3:00 a.m. | 9:00 p.m.–1:00 a.m. |
Exact artist performance times are not announced in advance and may shift during the live broadcast.
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve airs live on December 31, beginning at 8:00 p.m. ET and running into the early hours of New Year’s Day. The show is designed to cover multiple time zones, with performances and celebrations continuing well after midnight on the East Coast.
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve 2026: City-By-City Coverage
New Year’s Rockin’ Eve is a multi-city event with segments woven into the national broadcast throughout the night.
| City | What Happens There | Host(s) |
|---|---|---|
| New York City (Times Square) | Main broadcast hub, headline performances, and the iconic ball drop | Ryan Seacrest |
| Chicago | Central Time Zone countdown and live performances | Chance the Rapper |
| Las Vegas | Live performances and celebratory segments | Julianne Hough, Rob Gronkowski |
| Puerto Rico | Global New Year’s celebration segment | Daddy Yankee, Roselyn Sánchez |
The 2026 edition promises a record-breaking performance lineup—featuring artists from across genres and generations. Headlining the Times Square portion of the show is Diana Ross, who brings a legendary presence to the broadcast. Other performers confirmed for NYRE 2026 include 50 Cent, Charlie Puth, Mariah Carey, Post Malone, Chappell Roan, Demi Lovato, OneRepublic, Pitbull, Ciara, Goo Goo Dolls, 4 Non Blondes, LE SSERAFIM, 6lack, AJR, DJ Cassidy’s Pass the Mic with Busta Rhymes, T.I. & Wyclef Jean, and more.
This year’s show has been promoted as the largest and longest in NYRE history—with nearly eight hours of live music and entertainment before and after midnight. It’s designed to feel like a multi-city New Year’s party connecting viewers from New York to Chicago, Las Vegas and beyond, with coast-to-coast celebrations and performances.
Viewers without cable can still watch the broadcast live through streaming services that carry ABC, including Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, Fubo, and DIRECTV STREAM. Portions of the show are typically available on demand the following day through ABC’s digital platforms, though the live countdown is best experienced in real time.
