Your guide to New Year's Eve 2026

What you may set off

As GOV.UK states it (it adds that Scottish timings may differ), it is against the law to set off fireworks between 11pm and 7am, except on certain occasions. New Year's Eve is one of them, with a cut-off at 1am. You cannot buy adult fireworks if you are under 18, and selling or using fireworks illegally can bring an unlimited fine and up to six months in prison.

Councils add their own rules about public places: Birmingham City Council's page says it is an offence to use fireworks in a public place unless it is part of an official organised event. Look up your council's page before you buy anything.

Source: GOV.UK, Birmingham City Council

Where to watch fireworks, and the tickets

The safest way to see fireworks is at a public show, and the biggest ones are ticketed. The Mayor of London's New Year's Eve fireworks on the Thames run from 8pm to 12.30am on 31 December. Tickets are sold through Ticketmaster only, up to four per person, and the Mayor's page lists the viewing areas and says you cannot move between them. The same page prices them from £20 for a Londoner's category B ticket to £55 for a category A ticket; Ticketmaster adds a booking fee.

In Edinburgh, Hogmanay has ticketed events: the Torchlight Procession on 29 December, the Night Afore Party on 30 December, the Street Party and Hogmanay in the Gardens with Underworld on 31 December, with fireworks from Edinburgh Castle at midnight. The organiser says its official tickets are sold only through its own sellers and that tickets on Eventbrite and other secondary sites are not valid. The Street Party is for ages 12 and over, with no re-entry, and its last entry is at 11pm.

In Newcastle, NewcastleGateshead lists a free family fireworks display on the Quayside at 6pm on 31 December and a ticketed celebration, Howaymanay, with midnight fireworks over the Tyne. Come early, stay behind the barriers and check the official page again on the night itself: wind can cancel a show at the last minute.

Source: Mayor of London, Edinburgh's Hogmanay, Edinburgh's Hogmanay: Street Party, NewcastleGateshead, NewcastleGateshead: Howaymanay

Where there is no show

Not every city has a show. Visit Cardiff says there will be no firework display in Cardiff city centre on New Year's Eve, Visit Bristol says Bristol does not have a main New Year's Eve fireworks display, and Visit Brighton says there are no official public fireworks in Brighton and Hove. For other cities we have found no council-run show for 2026/27, and the clubs, bars, hotels and theatres of those cities run the night; we add a show here as soon as its organiser announces it.

Source: Visit Cardiff, Visit Bristol, Visit Brighton

Safety

Light sparklers outdoors, one at a time, at arm's length, and drop the burnt wire in a bucket of water: it stays hot for a while. Keep sparklers away from children's faces, hair and loose clothes.

Only set off fireworks outdoors and well away from people and buildings. Do not touch duds or light them again: pour water over them. In an emergency call 999, and 101 for the police when it is not an emergency.

Source: GOV.UK

Trains, tubes and buses on New Year's Eve

In London, TfL says most of its services will run through the night on New Year's Eve, that normal fares apply, that central London will be busy and that some stations may be closed or exit-only at short notice, and some central buses will be on diversion. It says it will publish more details of its Christmas and New Year travel soon.

On the national railway, National Rail says some routes will finish earlier than normal on New Year's Eve and that a number of London-area routes will have special services after midnight; its guide to these is due in early December. Plan the way back beforehand: trains and buses are full that night, and if you celebrate in another city it is worth arranging a place to stay.

Source: TfL, National Rail

Concerts and comedy

Many orchestras play New Year's concerts around the turn of the year, with waltzes and polkas. 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 venue's own page.

New Year's Day dips

On 1 January the brave start the year in cold water. The Loony Dook at South Queensferry, near Edinburgh, was a famous one, but its organiser told STV News on 5 November 2026 that it is cancelled for 2027 for safety reasons and is set to return in 2028. It was never part of Edinburgh's official Hogmanay programme. Dips elsewhere are mostly community events whose dates are announced late: we add them as soon as the organisers confirm them.

Cold water can cause a cold shock. Only go in where there are lifeguards or supervision, do not go alone, walk in slowly and warm up straight afterwards. High waves and wind can change a dip at the last minute: check the organiser's page that morning.

Source: STV News