If you’re planning to ring in the new year from the couch, you’ve got more options than ever. From pop stars in Times Square and country music in Nashville to something a little looser from New Orleans, nearly every major New Year’s Eve broadcast is available on TV and streaming. Here’s how to watch them all without missing the midnight moment.
How to watch the Times Square ball drop in New York
If all you care about is the iconic ball drop, you don’t need to overthink it. ABC, CBS and other major networks will carry live coverage from Times Square throughout the night. For the most straightforward option, the official Times Square website will stream the ball drop live starting at 6pm ET on December 31. It’s free, doesn’t require a cable login and focuses on the event itself rather than celebrity banter.
How to watch New Year’s Eve Live with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen
CNN’s boozy, unscripted-feeling broadcast returns at 8pm ET with Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen hosting for the ninth year. Expect live reports from around the world, a rotating cast of celebrities and musical performances, including Robyn performing in Times Square.
This year, the show streams exclusively on CNN’s new subscription platform, available through CNN.com/AllAccess, as well as CNN’s mobile and smart TV apps. If you still have cable, you can also watch it the old-fashioned way on CNN. Beginning at 7am ET, anchors and correspondents will report live from global celebrations, with performances popping up throughout the day.
How to watch Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve
ABC’s long-running celebration kicks off at 8pm ET, hosted by Ryan Seacrest from Times Square, with Rita Ora co-hosting. Diana Ross headlines this year, joined by Ciara, Little Big Town, Maren Morris and more. The broadcast hops between cities, including Chicago, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico, with multiple time zone countdowns along the way.
You can watch live on ABC, stream it live on the iHeartRadio app and iHeartMedia stations or catch it the next day on Hulu if you fall asleep before midnight.
How to watch Nashville’s Big Bash
Country fans should head to CBS for "Nashville’s Big Bash," airing live at 8pm ET. Hosted by Bert Kreischer and HARDY, the show centers on Nashville’s music note drop and features performances from Lainey Wilson, Jason Aldean, Bailey Zimmerman and CeCe Winans with the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
The broadcast pauses briefly at 10pm ET, then resumes at 10:30pm and runs past midnight. You can watch live on CBS or stream it on Paramount+.
How to watch Don Lemon’s New Year’s Eve special in New Orleans
For something completely different, Don Lemon is hosting a New Orleans block party from Frenchman Street, complete with food, parades and live music. Co-hosts include D.L. Hughley, Dulce Sloan and Big Freedia.
The special streams free across YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Twitch and Substack, with links available at DonLemon.com. It includes both East Coast and Central time zone countdowns, with the main celebration hitting at midnight New Orleans time.
However you watch, the good news is that you don’t need cable, a crowded bar or even pants to welcome 2026.