New Year’s Eve 2026 in Florida

By the ULTIMATE Florida Editorial Team

Orlando: Disney’s fireworks and a party in Thornton Park

Walt Disney World’s own calendar promises celebrations across the resort on 31 December 2026: dance parties, special dining and entertainment, and a New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Disney had not yet published park-by-park hours or showtimes when we checked; reservations for dining and experiences are encouraged, so watch the advance-booking window.

Downtown, away from the parks, Thornton Park holds its New Year’s Eve celebration in the street: the City of Orlando closes East Washington Street between Summerlin Avenue and James Avenue from 2pm on 31 December to 3am on New Year’s Day.

Walt Disney World: seasonal events calendar →   City of Orlando: Thornton Park NYE Party road closure →

Palm Beach: The Breakers and the Kravis Center

The Breakers, on the ocean at Palm Beach, gives New Year’s Eve two rooms. HMF holds its New Year’s Eve Celebration from 8.30pm to 12.30am: a chef-selected menu, live entertainment and dancing, a balloon drop and a Champagne toast at midnight, at $1,300 per person. Earlier, Flagler Steakhouse serves a three-course New Year’s Eve prix fixe from 5pm to 10pm at $425 per person.

The hotel’s other restaurants, among them The Circle, Echo, Henry’s Palm Beach, the Seafood Bar and the Beach Club, keep their usual hours and menus that night. Prices are subject to a service charge and sales tax; reservations are required for both events, by telephone.

Across the lake in West Palm Beach, the Kravis Center has Classic Albums Live playing Led Zeppelin II note for note, then the band’s greatest hits, in the Dreyfoos Concert Hall at 7pm on 31 December, early enough to be out for midnight.

Our advice: book HMF as soon as you can; The Breakers’ New Year is the closest Florida comes to a grand European hotel ball.

The Breakers: Special events and holidays →   Kravis Center: Classic Albums Live, Led Zeppelin II →

Tampa Bay: the Riverwalk fireworks and the Pink Palace

Tampa’s public fireworks are put on by the Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk, who welcome 2027 with a display over the Hillsborough River at midnight, fired above the Tampa Convention Center basin by Jackson’s Bistro, Bar & Sushi. The fireworks are free to watch from anywhere along the Riverwalk; the organisers suggest Jackson’s, American Social’s lower deck, the Sail Pavilion, the Convention Center, Harbour Island and Davis Islands.

For a reserved place, a VIP viewing area runs on Jackson’s second-floor outdoor patio from 9pm to 1am; tickets were not yet on sale when we checked.

On St. Pete Beach, The Don CeSar, the pink palace on the Gulf, rings in 2027 with The Golden Age of Hollywood, a New Year’s Eve gala on Thursday 31 December; the hotel books it through its own holiday events page.

Our advice: leave the car. The Riverwalk organisers recommend the TECO Line Streetcar, which is free to ride, the downtown buses or a ride-share; event parking rates may apply in the garages.

Friends of the Tampa Riverwalk: New Year’s Eve →   The Don CeSar: 2026 holiday events →

Key West: the Red Shoe Drop

Key West counts down on Duval Street. At the Bourbon St. Pub, 724 Duval Street, the 29th annual Red Shoe Drop runs from 8pm on 31 December to 1am, and at midnight the year’s Queen of New Year’s Eve, a drag performer chosen through the national If the Shoe Fits contest, descends from the balcony in a giant glittering red high heel. The official Florida Keys tourism site says thousands gather in the street and the drop is broadcast live.

The pub also sells VIP balcony seating, for an elevated view of the street below.

Our advice: arrive early to claim a place on Duval Street, then walk down to Mallory Square for the last sunset of the year beforehand.

Florida Keys & Key West: New Year’s Eve Red Shoe Drop →   Bourbon St. Pub: events calendar →

New Year’s Day and what is still to come

On Friday 1 January 2027 the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach holds the Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert at 7.30pm: the Strauss Symphony of America under András Deák, the soprano Mónika Fischl, the tenor Franz Gürtelschmied and the Budapest Dance Ensemble, with the Blue Danube Waltz in a programme modelled on Vienna’s own New Year’s concert.

When we checked, Universal Orlando, the St. Pete Pier, the Four Seasons Palm Beach and the Brazilian Court had not yet published New Year’s Eve 2026 details on their own pages; we will add them as they are confirmed. For Miami, see our separate Miami guide.

Our advice: New Year’s Day in Florida is for the water. Take a long lunch by the Gulf or a walk on Worth Avenue, then the waltzes at the Kravis in the evening.

Kravis Center: Salute to Vienna New Year’s Concert →   Christmas in Florida →

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