New Year's Eve in London 2026: Thames fireworks, tickets, where to watch and getting home

In short

• The official Mayor of London fireworks take place on Thursday 31 December 2026. The event runs from 8pm to 12.30am (the night of 31 December to 1 January), and you can only get into the zones between 8pm and 10.30pm.
• You can only enter the viewing zones with a ticket, which you can buy only from Ticketmaster. The first batch went on sale at midday on Friday 23 October 2026.
• Tickets cost £55 or £40 (£35 or £20 for London residents), up to 4 per person. Prices are the same as last year (as of October 2026).
• There are no refunds. Tickets from any other source are not valid, and offers on social media and classified ad sites are very likely scams.
• The authorities and The Royal Parks ask people without a ticket not to travel into central London to watch the fireworks. There are no official viewing areas in any of the parks.
• The BBC broadcasts the display live. The channel and time for 2026 have not been announced yet.
• On 1 January 2027 the London Parade takes place in central London (1pm to 4.30pm), and watching from the pavement is free.
• TfL has not yet announced its New Year's Eve plans for 2026, and no free travel has been announced for 2026.

The official Thames fireworks: tickets

The display is organised by the Mayor of London. The chimes of Big Ben start the fireworks and lights around the London Eye, and the show ends with "Auld Lang Syne". On New Year's Eve 2025 the display lasted 12 minutes and had more than 12,000 fireworks; the organiser calls it the largest annual fireworks display in Europe. About 100,000 people watch it. Tickets have been required since 2014, and City Hall makes no money from ticket sales.

Details: the event page on london.gov.uk.

When and where to buy

• Tickets are sold only by Ticketmaster (ticketmaster.co.uk/london-nye). Tickets from any other source are not valid.
• The first batch went on sale at midday on Friday 23 October 2026 (press release of 16 October 2026).
• A second, smaller batch (the organiser calls it the "final smaller batch") is due "later this year". The date has not been announced yet.
• You can buy up to 4 tickets per person. If your group is larger, another adult buys their own tickets, again up to 4. The group must arrive together (the tickets are linked to the account).

Prices

Prices include VAT, but a small booking fee is added (the organiser does not give the amount). Prices are the same as last year. As of October 2026.

Discount for London postcodes

The discount is £20 per ticket. The postcode you enter when buying (no spaces, capital letters) must match the billing address of the card. Otherwise your tickets may be cancelled without warning. You may be asked for proof of address at the event, so bring a document that shows your address.

Refunds, resale and gifts

• There are no refunds. If you arrive after the time printed on your ticket, you will not be admitted and you will not get your money back.
• If the event is cancelled, you will get a refund. Weather counts as force majeure.
• You can resell a ticket only at face value, and only through Ticketmaster Fan-to-Fan Resale (choose "sell" in MyAccount).
• Giving a ticket as a gift: change the name through Ticketmaster before the event.

Beware of scams

City Hall warns about fake tickets (warning of 10 November 2025).

• Buy only from Ticketmaster, including resale tickets.
• Offers on social media and classified ad sites, especially with payment by bank transfer, are very likely fake.
• Report fraud through Stop! Think Fraud.

Viewing zones

The display is watched from six zones, and each has its own gate. You cannot move between zones, and you can only enter through the gate for your zone. Friends who want to stand together must buy tickets for the same zone.

The Orange zone is described separately below. As of October 2026.

What every zone has

• Accessible toilets, first aid, food and drink, and stewards.
• In the zones other than Orange: no steps (the streets are closed), crowding at the entrances, standing only, no seating and you may not bring your own, no hearing loop, and up to 2 km from public transport.

The Orange zone (for people with disabilities)

• Seating is provided, and you may bring a folding chair (in this zone only).
• Hearing loop.
• Drop-off point about 700 m from the zone (best to arrive before 8pm).
• Accessible toilets within 300 m, including Changing Places.
• Smaller crowd. It is about 2 km from public transport.

Entry: times, ID and rules

• Times: you can enter the zones between 8pm and 10.30pm. There is no admission after the entry time printed on your ticket ("strictly no admission after this time", clause 3.9 of the terms), and if you are late you will not get a refund.
• Everyone needs a ticket, including children. A ticket on your phone must be scannable.
• ID: the buyer may be asked to show a passport or a photo driving licence (or a good photocopy) showing the name on the ticket.
• Security checks are compulsory. If you refuse, you will not be admitted.
• You cannot re-enter once you have left a zone.

What you cannot bring

The full list is in the terms and conditions. Banned items include:

• rucksacks and suitcases,
• weapons, knives and other sharp objects,
• naked flames (candles, barbecues, gas lamps) and lanterns,
• fireworks and sparklers,
• laser pointers,
• glass (bottles, containers),
• bicycles,
• animals (except assistance dogs),
• drones,
• chairs, pushchairs and prams, tables and camping equipment (exceptions: wheelchairs, and folding chairs in the Orange zone),
• illegal substances.

Where to watch without a ticket or from a distance

The honest advice is: if you do not have a ticket, do not travel into central London. Without a ticket you cannot enter the viewing zones, and the authorities and The Royal Parks ask people not to come to watch the fireworks. There are no official viewing areas for the Mayor of London's display in any Royal Park. Consider watching on television (see below).

If you still want a view from a distance, check the information for your chosen spot before you leave.

• Primrose Hill – closed: from 8pm on 30 December to 6am on 1 January (Royal Parks announcement of 13 October 2026). Fireworks, lanterns and gatherings without permission break the park regulations, and the Met Police enforce them.
• Greenwich Park: on New Year's Eve 2025 the pedestrian and vehicle gates were closed at about 6pm. Closing times for 2026 have not been announced yet (Royal Parks).
• Hyde Park: on New Year's Eve 2025 the Royal Parks hours were "until midnight". Nothing has been announced for 2026 yet.
• St James's Park: on New Year's Eve 2025 the roads were closed from 2pm, and from 5pm the eastern part (Horse Guards Road and Horse Guards Parade) was closed.
• Richmond Park: on New Year's Eve 2025 the vehicle gates were closed at about 4pm.
• Parliament Hill (Hampstead Heath): the site is managed by the City of London Corporation. We have not found any official information for 2026. Check with the City of London before you set out; this is a view from a distance.
• Alexandra Palace: there is no official information for 2026. The press reported that the park was closed on New Year's Eve 2025. Check the Alexandra Palace website before you set out, and do not assume it will be open.

The 2025 details only show what happened last year. The hours for 2026 may be different.

Watching on television

The BBC broadcasts the display live. According to london.gov.uk, the BBC broadcast has been in the top ten most-watched programmes for six years, and more people watch it on iPlayer and online (london.gov.uk, 31 December 2025). The channel and time for 2026 have not been announced yet; in previous years the display was shown on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Check the BBC schedule in December.

Thames cruises and parties

New Year's Eve cruises on the Thames and parties are run by private companies, and you buy tickets from them. There is no official list. We do not know of any restrictions on the river for 2026.

• Buy from reputable operators.
• Check whether the cruise has a view of the display and what time it returns.
• Beware of scams, just as with tickets for the official display.

1 January: the London Parade

The London Parade is a daytime event on the first day of the year (organiser, article of 21 September 2026).

• When: Friday 1 January 2027, 1pm to 4.30pm. It is the 41st edition.
• Who: more than 8,500 performers, including more than 800 cheerleaders, more than 20 marching bands from the USA and performances by London boroughs. The organiser mentions more than 600,000 spectators.
• Route: 2.2 miles (about 3.5 km): Piccadilly, Regent Street, St James's, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, Whitehall.
• Watching from the pavement along the route is free.
• Paid places: Grandstand, VIP and Fun Zone (seats and packages), sold through Ticketmaster from 1 July 2026. Ticket holders enter from 12 noon. We do not give prices; check with the organiser.

Some streets also stay closed on 1 January because of the parade.

Transport

What is known for 2026

TfL has not yet announced its New Year's Eve details for 2026 (as of 28 October 2026). No free travel has been announced for 2026.

How it was in 2025

This is only an example from last year, not an announcement for 2026 (TfL, 2 December 2025; National Rail). On New Year's Eve 2025:

• TfL services ran all night (apart from planned closures), and normal TfL fares applied,
• some central stations could be closed briefly because of crowding,
• buses in central London diverted around closed streets from about midday,
• some Santander Cycles docking stations were unavailable, and some bridges were closed to pedestrians,
• the DLR ran every 15 minutes between Bank and Lewisham,
• Elizabeth line: 4 trains an hour between Shenfield and Hayes & Harlington, and 2 an hour between Abbey Wood and Maidenhead and between Abbey Wood and Reading,
• the London Overground ran all night on the Mildmay, Weaver and Windrush lines,
• Thameslink: Blackfriars was exit only from 8.30pm, with no stops from 11.30pm to 2am,
• Southeastern: Waterloo East was closed from 11.45pm,
• the Congestion Charge was suspended over the festive period until 1 January, and the ULEZ applied as normal.

Closed bridges and roads in 2026

• Vehicle traffic is restricted from 2pm on 31 December until about 6am on 1 January (with contingency plans for closures from 12 noon in the yellow and red zones). The ban covers buses, coaches, cars, vans, lorries and bicycles, and parking is suspended.
• Bridges closed before and after the display: Westminster Bridge, Golden Jubilee Footbridge, Lambeth Bridge, Blackfriars Bridge and Waterloo Bridge.
• Pedestrians: restrictions from 2pm (zones A, B and C, with checks and bag searches).
• The exact list of closed streets and stations for 2026 has not been published yet, and the overnight closures on 26 to 30 December and 1 to 3 January are "under review". Check the page for residents and businesses.

Tips

• Choose your side of the river in advance.
• Expect crowded stations after the display.
• Plan your journey with the TfL Journey Planner, and check National Rail for suburban trains.

Safety, weather and children

• Private fireworks (GOV.UK): they may not be used between 11pm and 7am, or until 1am on New Year's Eve. You must be 18 to buy category 2 and 3 fireworks. The penalty is a £90 fixed penalty notice and, in the worst cases, an unlimited fine and up to 6 months in prison. Fireworks and lanterns are banned in the Royal Parks.
• Numbers: 999 in an emergency, 101 for non-urgent matters. British Transport Police: text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40.
• Weather: December in London is cold and often wet. Check the forecast on the Met Office website. You will spend several hours standing on the embankment, so dress warmly.
• Children: the event is not suitable for young children, and the organiser strongly advises against bringing them. People under 16 may only attend with an adult, and pushchairs are banned. Alternatives are the BBC broadcast or the parade on 1 January (free, in daylight).
• Crowds: agree a meeting point with your friends in case you get separated.
• When to call 999 and when to use 111 is explained in our guide The NHS in practice: your GP, 111, 999 and the pharmacy.

More guides for winter

• Christmas lights in London: the lights switch-on and the tree – a guide to London's festive lights.
• Hyde Park Winter Wonderland: dates, times, tickets, getting there – practical information about the winter fair in Hyde Park.
• Christmas markets in London and the UK – where to find Christmas markets.

Plans may change

This guide describes the situation as of October 2026. The second batch of tickets, the transport plan, park closing times, the BBC broadcast and the list of closed streets have not been announced yet and may change. Before you set out, check the event page, the TfL and Royal Parks announcements and the London Parade organiser's website.