New Year's Eve 2026: questions and answers

Yes, on New Year's Eve until 1am. It is against the law to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except on certain nights: New Year's Eve, Diwali and Chinese New Year, when the cut-off is 1am. You must be 18 to buy adult fireworks, and unlawful use can bring an unlimited fine. Councils add rules for public places, so look up yours.

At a public show. London's official fireworks on the Thames are ticketed through Ticketmaster, Edinburgh's Hogmanay has ticketed events with midnight fireworks from the Castle, and Newcastle's Quayside has a free family display at 6pm. Cardiff, Bristol and Brighton say they have no official display. Our list has every public show we know of, by city.

Yes, for the official display on the Thames. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster only, up to four per person, in two batches; the Mayor's page lists the viewing areas and prices, and tickets cannot be exchanged between areas. Without a ticket you cannot enter the ticketed areas.

In London most TfL services run through the night on New Year's Eve at normal fares, but stations can close or be exit-only at short notice. On the national railway some routes finish earlier than normal and London-area routes have special services after midnight. Check the operator's timetable for that night before you leave.

On 1 January, in towns along the coast. The Loony Dook at South Queensferry, the best known, is cancelled for 2027 according to its organiser and is set to return in 2028. The dips we know of are on the New Year's Day dips page.

Comedy clubs and theatres put on special shows on and around New Year's Eve. Start times, what the ticket includes and the age limit are on the club's or theatre's own page. The shows we know of are on the New Year's Eve comedy page.

Many orchestras play a New Year's concert around the turn of the year, with waltzes and polkas. The concerts we know of are with the parties and concerts.