From Venice to Napa, this is where to ring in 2026.
New Year’s Eve remains one of the most anticipated nights of the year and while some prefer a quiet toast at home, for others, December 31 is a chance to let loose and party. For the latter among you, we have rounded up the very best New Year’s Eve celebrations around the globe, from Nordic rooftops pierced by midnight fireworks to candlelit canal terraces, disco-era revivals, and journeys by rail and sea.
Whether you’re drawn to culinary pageantry, cultural tradition, or the thrill of watching a new year dawn somewhere extraordinary, these are the destinations elevating the turning of the calendar into an art form. Here, the most exceptional New Year’s Eve parties to welcome 2026 in style.
Reykjavik Edition, Iceland
At the cool Nordic Reykjavik Edition, New Year’s Eve celebrations begin with a gourmet five-course lunch at signature restaurant Tides. After dinner, head up to the hotel’s chic rooftop bar to continue the celebrations – the champagne will be flowing and you’ll be in the best spot in the whole city for Reykjavik’s midnight fireworks. Next year is set to be a bumper one for Northern Light viewings, so tag on a few days in Iceland’s more remote landscapes for a chance of viewing nature’s very own firework display.
Studio 54 at St Regis Venice
For one night only the St Regis Venice is harking back to the 1970s and transforming into a Studio 54-inspired disco destination. A gala dinner kicks off proceedings, with a six-course dinner by chef Giuseppe Ricci, accompanied by Dom Pérignon champagne. A live DJ set and dancing follows, before heading out on to the canal-facing Ginori Terrace to ring in the new year. The dress code is, naturally, glam: sequins, flares, and furs are all encouraged.
Claridge’s, London
Few places in London take on the festive season like Claridge’s. At the hotel’s main restaurant, the summer Dante x Claridge’s residency has been extended from summer into the festive season – an exceptional New Year’s Eve menu features decadent specials including fried chicken topped with caviar, shrimp cocktail, and brandy sauce, plus Claridge’s signature chocolate clock. All guests are encouraged to stay ‘til midnight for a toast but we’d suggest staying the night to round the occasion off – one of London’s best room service breakfasts will go a long way in warding off the hangover.
The Newt in Somerset, UK
Over in the English countryside, the Newt is hosting a refined New Year’s Eve celebration – with a dose of added indulgence. The three-night celebration includes all manner of experiences, from chocolate workshops and honey tasting to bird of prey encounters and croquet championships, as well as accommodations in one of The Newt’s country-chic rooms. For the main event, guests are encouraged to dress in their finest for an evening of fine dining, live music, and dancing until the early hours.
The Knickerbocker, New York City
As has become annual tradition, The Knickerbocker in New York is once again offering an over-the-top New Year’s package. Coming in at $120k for two, the offering includes three nights in one of the hotel’s suites, pre-event glam, a $20k Nordstrom store credit, dinner at the Charlie Palmer Steak IV, tickets to The Knickerbocker’s rooftop NYE party with views over the Times Square ball drop, and a post-party private wellness experience. Signature gifts, content creation and transfers around the city come as standard, too.
Napa Valley Wine Train, California
Celebrating the 50th anniversary year of the 1976 Judgement of Paris (which saw a Napa Chardonnay famously triumphed and forever put the region on the map), the Napa Wine Valley train is hosting a one-off New Year’s Eve wine tour through the valley. As well as a multi-course lunch and jovial wine tasting aboard the restored Pullman carriages, guests will disembark at the Grgich Hills Estate for more tastings and live music. The six-hour trip runs on ‘Paris time’ so you’ll be back at the station well before midnight – this is a New Year’s Eve experience for the early bird wine lovers.
Luminara, Ritz Carlton Yacht Collection
If a last-minute vacation is on the cards for New Year’s Eve, look to Ritz-Carlton for the goods. Officially launched in summer 2025 the 794-ft Luminara is the newest in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, and is spending her inaugural year touring Asia. Luminara will depart Singapore on December 30, seeing in the new year at sea with copious amounts of champagne, and arriving on the pristine shores of Koh Samui, Thailand, on January 1 in time for some new year R&R. The rest of the 14-night voyage will skirt around Thailand and Vietnam, before finally docking in Hong Kong. Expect what might just be one of the most lavish New Year’s Eve parties in the world.
ritzcarltonyachtcollection.com
The Balmoral, Edinburgh
Before you head to Edinburgh this December remember that in Scotland, you are not celebrating New Year’s Eve – it’s Hogmanay. Once you’ve got that sorted, book a suite at The Balmoral, Edinburgh’s grandest hotel. The property’s black tie celebration includes a champagne reception, five-course dinner, wine pairing and a live bagpipe band for the full experience. The next day, head out for blustery stomp up Arthur’s Seat (or hide away with a full Scottish breakfast – your call).
Villa Copenhagen, Denmark
Unlike many European cities, fireworks are heavily restricted in Copenhagen: the public can only buy them in December and they can only be set off on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. As you’d expect, the result is a frenzied display with rockets chaotically soaring across the city. See them in style at the stylish Villa Copenhagen hotel, where a family-style gourmet buffet is served at Public, before free-flowing champagne in the Courtyard. Storybook-esque theme park Tivoli is just over the road, too.
