NEW YORK, December 25, 2025 – Diana Ross will headline the iconic New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square as the ball drops, ushering in 2026. The performance is particularly noteworthy as Ross’s 1980 hit “Upside Down” has experienced a resurgence in popularity thanks to its prominent feature in the Netflix series Stranger Things, adding a layer of nostalgia to the festivities.
A Coast-to-Coast Celebration
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Multiple cities will host star-studded New Year’s Eve events, offering diverse musical experiences for viewers across the country.
- Ryan Seacrest will once again host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” with Rita Ora in New York City.
- Chance the Rapper will lead the inaugural broadcast from Chicago, with Julianne Hough and Rob Gronkowski hosting in Las Vegas.
- Nashville’s “Big Bash” will feature performances by Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, and Keith Urban, among others.
Ryan Seacrest will host “Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve” alongside Rita Ora from New York City. Chance the Rapper will spearhead the show’s first-ever broadcast from Chicago, while Dancing with the Stars’ Julianne Hough and NFL star Rob Gronkowski will hold court in Las Vegas. Roselyn Sánchez will bring the celebration to Puerto Rico.
The lineup for “Rockin’ Eve” boasts a diverse array of performers, including Ciara, Little Big Town, and Maren Morris in Times Square. On the West Coast, Mariah Carey, New Kids on the Block, OneRepublic, 50 Cent, Charlie Puth, Demi Lovato, Goo Goo Dolls, and Rick Springfield are slated to perform. Reggaeton star Daddy Yankee will represent Puerto Rico, Jamila Woods will perform in Chicago, and Chappell Roan and Post Malone will add to the festivities from Kansas City and Nashville, respectively.
Nashville’s Big Bash
Nashville will host a five-hour musical extravaganza, “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash,” with comedian Bert Kreischer and country artist HARDY as hosts. Social media personality Haley Baylee will report live from the Times Square ball drop before the Music Note Drop at Nashville’s Bicentennial Stage. HARDY will lead a lineup including Jason Aldean, Lainey Wilson, Bailey Zimmerman, Dierks Bentley, Brooks & Dunn, Rascal Flatts, Keith Urban, and Gretchen Wilson.
Other New Year’s Eve Options
Several other televised events will offer alternatives for New Year’s Eve entertainment.
- A Toast to 2025! (10:30/9:30c, NBC): Today’s Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush will present a two-hour retrospective of the year, featuring NBC News, Sports, and Entertainment personalities. Guests include comedian Jim Gaffigan, Lil Rel Howery, Carson Kressley, Loni Love, Tom Papa, Wanda Sykes, and Saturday Night Live alum Bobby Moynihan.
- CNN’s New Year’s Eve Live With Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen (8 pm/ET, CNN): Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen will co-host a live broadcast featuring performances by Stephen Colbert, Robyn from Times Square, Shakira in Hollywood, Florida, Brandy and Monica from their The Boy Is Mine Tour, Bryan Adams at Madison Square Garden, Florence + The Machine, Brandi Carlile, Aloe Blacc, and Patti LaBelle, among others.
- Who Can Forget 2025? (8 pm/ET, Fox News): Fox News personalities will recap the year’s top stories and pop-culture moments. This will be followed by A New Year With Kat and Tyrus (9 pm/ET), featuring FNC contributors Kat Timpf and Tyrus, and All-American New Year’s Bash (11/10c) hosted by Jimmy Failla with guests Tomi Lahren, Jon Taffer, Aaron Berg, and Charles McBee.
The Final Chapter of ‘Stranger Things’
Fans of the supernatural drama Stranger Things can bid farewell to Hawkins, Indiana, with the series finale. The Duffer Brothers’ two-hour and five-minute conclusion promises a final showdown between the heroes and the forces controlled by Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower).
Intrigue in Switzerland: ‘Palm Royale’
The plot thickens in the period comedy Palm Royale as the Palm Beach elite travel to Switzerland in pursuit of Norma (Carol Burnett). A guest appearance by Vicki Lawrence, as former nun Lotte, adds a delightful twist, as she possesses crucial secrets about the Dellacorte fortune.
Sirens and Self-Discovery: ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’
Percy (Walker Scobell) and Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) find themselves at C.C.’s Spa & Resort, encountering the mythical sorceress C.C. (Rosemarie DeWitt) in their quest to navigate the dangers of the Sea of Monsters. The demigods must confront their inner flaws to overcome the challenges ahead.
INSIDE WEDNESDAY TV:
- Cotton Bowl (7:30 pm/ET, ESPN): The playoff quarterfinal features a matchup between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 10 Miami, with the winner advancing to the semifinals.
- The Twilight Zone: A marathon of Rod Serling’s classic anthology begins at 5 am/4c on Syfy and continues through Friday at 6 am/5c. The Heroes & Icons Network’s eighth annual A Toast to Twilight starts at 8 pm/7c and runs through Friday at 6 am/5c.
- Wicked: One Wonderful Night (8/7c, NBC): An encore presentation of the November musical special starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande, featuring cast members from Wicked: For Good.
- Fallout (streaming on Prime Video): Continue the post-apocalyptic journey with Lucy (Ella Purnell) and The Ghoul (Walton Goggins).
