Hopefully, you have your New Year's Eve plans sorted already, but if you're looking to jet off somewhere for the festivities last minute, WalletHub's newest report should serve as your guide.
The website just released its list of best U.S. cities to ring in 2026 and, although Times Square in NYC might be the most famous place to celebrate, it is Orlando that takes the top spot on the ranking.
The personal finance site compared the 100 biggest U.S. cities using 26 factors tied to a great New Year’s Eve. These include nightlife options per capita, food affordability, fireworks laws, hotel prices and even the likelihood of rain on December 31. The result is a ranking of towns where the festivities are reliably fun and easy on the wallet.
Known for theme parks and family vacations, Orlando turns out to be a surprisingly strong New Year’s Eve contender. It ranks as the second-most fun city overall and offers plenty of ways to celebrate, from fireworks at Disney World to low-key hotel parties. The city has a high number of party supply stores and nightlife options per capita, so finding decorations or a place to toast at midnight is easy. Fireworks are legal in Orlando and the city also puts on a solid public display. Even better, a three-star hotel room on New Year’s Eve can start at just $66, making it one of the more affordable major destinations.
In second place is Las Vegas, obviously built for unique nights like this one. The Strip shuts down to traffic, fireworks are plentiful and the city’s party energy hits peak levels. Vegas ranks first in the nation for restaurants per capita and for affordable, highly rated dining, an important precursor to the countdown. It also has the most music venues in the country and ranks as the most fun city overall.
New York City lands in third place, despite its reputation for high prices. WalletHub notes that New York has the lowest chance of precipitation on New Year’s Eve, a big deal for outdoor celebrations. It also boasts a huge number of affordable, top-rated restaurants and some of the best nightlife density in the country. The ball drop may be crowded, but the city offers countless other ways to celebrate.
Rounding out the top five are Seattle and Los Angeles, both offering strong nightlife scenes, food options and lower prices than you might expect. So if you're up for last-minute travel or looking ahead to next year, WalletHub has you covered.
Top 5 Cities for New Year’s Eve according to WalletHub
- Orlando
- Las Vegas
- New York
- Seattle
- Los Angeles