Edinburgh, January 1, 2026 —
Despite freezing temperatures, revelers are celebrating New Year’s Eve in Edinburgh, Scotland, with two American tourists from New Jersey calling the atmosphere “a thousand times better” than New York City’s Times Square ball drop.
- People are gathering in Edinburgh to celebrate the New Year despite the cold weather.
- A six-minute fireworks display of 10,000 fireworks is planned for midnight.
- Two tourists from New Jersey, USA, praised the energy of the Edinburgh street party.
Edinburgh is bracing for a vibrant New Year’s Eve celebration as people gather around Edinburgh Castle despite the frigid temperatures, according to BBC Scotland reporting. At midnight, the city will launch a six-minute fireworks display featuring 10,000 fireworks, accompanied by the traditional singing of Robert Burns’ “Auld Lang Syne.”
Among those enjoying the festivities are Cosmio and Neal, two friends who traveled from New Jersey, USA, specifically for the occasion. Cosmio stated that the pair regularly travel for New Year’s celebrations, but found the energy at the Edinburgh street party to be significantly more exciting. “It’s a thousand times better than watching the ball drop in Times Square,” Cosmio said.
Neal echoed this sentiment, stating, “The dancing, the people, the energy, the vibe – it’s just the best way to bring in the New Year together.”
“The dancing, the people, the energy, the vibe – it’s just the best way to bring in the New Year together.” — Neal, tourist from New Jersey
As Cosmio and Neal welcome the new year, they add another city to their list of New Year’s destinations.
Time.news based this report in part on reporting by BBC Scotland and added independent context.
