London's official New Year's Eve fireworks are launched around the London Eye at midnight and watched from fenced, ticket-only viewing areas along the Thames: without a ticket you cannot get in. The 2026/27 event takes place on Thursday 31 December 2026, but ticket prices and the on-sale date had not been announced in September 2026.
The display is organised by the Mayor of London and is broadcast live on BBC One, one of the most watched television moments of the year, as TfL puts it. In the past anyone could turn up on the Embankment, but crowds grew so large that the riverside is now closed off and split into ticketed areas. Tickets sell out, so the most important decision is made weeks before the night itself.
If you do not get a ticket, you still have plenty of choices: a party in a pub, bar or restaurant, a view from further away, or the television broadcast in your hotel. This guide explains how the tickets work, what each viewing area is like, and how to get home once the last rocket has gone up.
New Year's Eve 2026/27 in brief
- Date and time
- Thursday 31 December 2026, event from 8pm to 12.30am
- Organiser
- Mayor of London (City Hall)
- Entry
- Ticket only: "You cannot attend the fireworks without a ticket"
- Tickets 2026/27
- Price and release date not announced yet (September 2026)
- Last year's prices
- £20 to £55 per ticket in 2025/26, plus a booking fee
- Official seller
- Ticketmaster only, with face-value resale
- New Year's Day
- Friday 1 January 2027, a bank holiday
How the ticketing system works
City Hall sells the tickets through one official partner, Ticketmaster, and says clearly that you cannot buy tickets from other sellers. In 2025/26 the rules were:
- One person could buy up to four tickets. Larger groups needed another adult to make a separate booking, and the whole group had to travel together.
- Tickets are named. If you buy for someone else, you must change the name on the ticket to theirs.
- The main ticket buyer may be asked to show photo ID at the gate, such as a passport or photo driving licence.
- There were no refunds. If you could not go, the only legal way to sell was Ticketmaster's Fan-to-Fan Resale at face value, which opened in December.
- Everyone needs a ticket, whatever their age.
For 2026/27, the official New Year's Eve event page says the fireworks will return and "a date for the ticket release will be announced soon". You can register there to be told when tickets go on sale. We will not guess the date; check that page rather than any other website.
A cheap ticket on social media is probably fake. City Hall says tickets can only be bought and resold through Ticketmaster, and resale is at face value only. A ticket sold anywhere else may not be valid at the gate, and names and ID can be checked. If the official resale site shows nothing, assume the event is sold out and make other plans.
Prices: what 2025/26 cost
The 2026/27 prices were not published when this guide was written. As a guide to what to expect, here are the 2025/26 prices from City Hall. Londoners paid £20 less per ticket; the discount was checked against the billing address of the card used, and proof of address could be asked for on the night.
| Viewing category (2025/26) | Standard price | London postcode price |
|---|---|---|
| Category A: Blue, Pink and White areas | £55 | £35 |
| Category B: Red, Green and Orange areas | £40 | £20 |
All prices included VAT, plus a small booking fee. City Hall said the price for non-Londoners rose by £5 in 2025 to cover higher security and crowd management costs. At those prices, a couple visiting from abroad would have paid £80 for the cheaper category or £110 for the better views, before fees.
The viewing areas compared
In 2025/26 there were six ticketed areas along the river, each with its own entry gate and nearest station. You could not move between areas on the night, so friends had to book the same colour. The layout may change for 2026/27, but it gives a clear idea of the choices.
| Area (2025/26) | Where | View | Reached from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | Victoria Embankment, Westminster Bridge to Golden Jubilee Footbridge | Head-on, directly opposite the London Eye | North side only: Victoria (Gate 1), Charing Cross or Embankment (Gate 2) |
| Red | Victoria Embankment, Golden Jubilee Footbridge to Temple Avenue | Side view further down the river | North side only: Holborn (Gate 4, not step-free) or Blackfriars (Gate 5) |
| Pink | Waterloo Bridge only | Side view of the London Eye | South side: Southwark (Gate 6) |
| Green | Behind the London Eye | Up close, directly behind the wheel | South side: Waterloo (Gate 7) |
| White | Westminster Bridge only | Side view close to the London Eye | South side: Waterloo (Gate 8); no access from Westminster station |
| Orange (accessible) | Albert Embankment, by St Thomas' Hospital | Partial side view | South side: Waterloo (Gate 9) |
All areas opened for entry from 8pm to 10.30pm. The walk from the station to your gate can be long: City Hall warned it could be up to 2km. The street areas have no seating and you may not bring your own; they have accessible toilets, medical points and food and drink stalls, but also large crowds and loud music.
The Orange area is designed for people with access needs. In 2025/26 it had seating (and you could bring folding seats), a hearing loop, accessible toilets within 300m, a Changing Places unit and a vehicle drop-off point about 700m away, best used before 8pm. The view is only partial. Our guide to accessible London has more on getting around with a wheelchair.
Pick your riverbank for the journey home, not just the view. The bridges near the event stay closed before and after the fireworks, so you leave on the same side of the Thames you arrived on. If your hotel is south of the river, a south-bank area such as Green or White means far less walking at 1am.
What the night is like
Expect a long, cold evening on your feet. Most people arrive well before 10.30pm, when entry closes, and then wait for up to three hours in a packed street. There is music on the event sound systems, the crowd counts down the final seconds together, and the fireworks begin at midnight over the river.
Dress for the weather. London in late December is usually cold and often wet, and there is no shelter in the viewing areas. Wear warm layers, waterproof shoes and a hat, and charge your phone fully, especially if your ticket is on it. Read the ticketing terms for the current rules on bags and what you may bring in. Our guide to London's weather through the year has packing advice for winter.
City Hall "strongly" recommends not bringing young children, because it is a late-night, crowded outdoor event. Under-16s must be with an adult. With children, you will almost certainly have a better evening at an earlier event or watching on television; our family guide to London has other ideas for the holidays.
Road closures and bridges
In 2025/26, working with the Metropolitan Police, the organisers closed roads in the event area to all vehicles from 2pm on 31 December until around 6am on 1 January, with plans to close some areas from midday if needed. Buses, coaches, cars and bikes were not allowed inside. Westminster Bridge, the Golden Jubilee Footbridge, Lambeth Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge and Waterloo Bridge were all closed to people crossing before and after the event.
For anyone who is not going to the fireworks, the message from TfL is simple: stay away from the Victoria Embankment area unless you have a ticket. If you want to see the London Eye or walk along the South Bank during your trip, do it on another day.
Getting home after midnight
This is the part most visitors underestimate. Hundreds of thousands of people leave central London at the same moment, and even though public transport runs through the night, the stations near the river are extremely busy.
For New Year's Eve 2025, TfL said that, apart from planned closures, services would run all night, but that some stations might be closed at short notice or at busy times to prevent overcrowding, and that some central bus routes would be diverted from around midday. That matters in 2026 too: New Year's Eve falls on a Thursday, when the normal Night Tube does not run, so check TfL's special New Year timetable when it is published in December.
- Walk first, then ride. Walking 15 to 20 minutes away from the river to a less crowded station is often faster than queuing at the nearest one. Our guide to walking in London shows how short many central distances are.
- Use night buses. The bus network runs through the night, though routes near the event are diverted.
- Taxis are hard to find. Black cabs add an extra £4 at set times over Christmas and New Year, according to TfL. Only use a licensed taxi or a pre-booked minicab; TfL's advice is "Stay safe - always book your minicab". See our guide to taxis, minicabs and ride-hailing.
- Stay close. A hotel within walking distance of your viewing area makes the night much easier, although prices are high.
Normal fares and daily caps apply. If you travel with contactless or Oyster, use the same card or device all night.
Alternatives if you have no ticket
Most Londoners do not go to the fireworks. They celebrate at parties, in pubs and at restaurants, and many venues sell tickets or set menus for the night. Book early, since popular places sell out and many charge more than usual. Our guides to nightlife in London and London after dark suggest areas to try.
Some bars with a view sell special New Year's Eve tickets; our list of rooftop bars is a starting point, but check each venue's own booking page, and remember that a distant view of the display is not the same as being by the river. Some people watch from high ground further away; if you try this, check that the park or place is open at night, and expect the fireworks to look small. Our round-up of free viewpoints over London describes the main hills and how far they are from the centre.
The simplest option is television. The fireworks are broadcast live on BBC One, and TfL itself suggests watching there if you do not have a ticket. Around London you will also hear private fireworks: the law allows them until 1am on New Year's Eve, instead of the usual 11pm limit.
New Year's Day in London
Friday 1 January 2027 is a bank holiday. Many shops open later than usual, some attractions are closed (the National Gallery, for example, closes on 1 January) and others open late, such as Tower Bridge at 10am. The London Parade, a large New Year's Day procession in central London, closes more roads; City Hall publishes the details on its website. Our guide to London in January covers what else is on at the start of the year, and if you are arriving before the holiday, read our guide to Christmas in London too.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a ticket for the London New Year's Eve fireworks?
Yes. City Hall says you cannot attend the fireworks without a ticket, and people without tickets are not allowed into the viewing areas along the river. Tickets are sold only through Ticketmaster, and each person can usually buy up to four.
How much are New Year's Eve fireworks tickets in London?
Prices for 2026/27 had not been announced in September 2026. In 2025/26 tickets cost £40 or £55, depending on the viewing area, with £20 off for buyers with a London postcode, plus a booking fee. Check the City Hall event page for the new prices.
When do New Year's Eve fireworks tickets go on sale?
City Hall has said only that a date for the 2026/27 ticket release "will be announced soon". You can register for updates on its New Year's Eve event page. Because tickets sell out, it is worth signing up now.
Does the Tube run all night on New Year's Eve?
In 2025, TfL said services would run all night on New Year's Eve apart from planned closures. Stations near the event can be closed at short notice to control crowds. Check TfL's New Year travel advice for 2026, published in December.
Can I bring children to the New Year's Eve fireworks?
Children can go if they have a ticket, and under-16s must be with an adult. City Hall strongly recommends not bringing young children, because it is a late-night, crowded outdoor event. Most families find a party or the TV broadcast easier.
Sources
- London City Hall - London New Year's Eve 2026 (checked September 2026)
- London City Hall - London New Year's Eve 2025 (tickets, viewing areas and FAQs) (checked September 2026)
- Transport for London - Majority of TfL services running over Christmas and New Year (2025) (checked September 2026)
- Transport for London - Night Tube (checked September 2026)
- Transport for London - Taxi fares (checked September 2026)
- GOV.UK - Fireworks: the law (checked September 2026)
- GOV.UK - UK bank holidays (checked September 2026)