Nicknamed “Sin City,” Las Vegas has long been known as a playground for adults. With world-famous casinos and nightclubs, neon lights that stay on all night, and parties that stretch well into the morning, it’s no wonder the phrase “what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” has become so iconic. While the phrase often carries a naughty reputation, it shows how Las Vegas lets visitors enjoy themselves freely. It’s a chance to break routine, try something new, and completely live in the moment! This makes Las Vegas one of the best cities in the world to ring in the New Year.
Las Vegas Strip
Anyone who’s celebrated New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas will tell you there’s nothing else quite like it. On the last night of the year, the Las Vegas Strip turns into a giant block party with thousands of neon lights buzzing, famous performers on stage, and a crowd counting down together. From fireworks displays to pulsing parties in the club, this is one night where Las Vegas truly lives up to its reputation. So whether you’re looking for a New Year’s Eve street party like no other or just a glamorous night out to welcome the new year, here’s your guide to spending New Year’s Eve on the Las Vegas Strip.
What To Expect on New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas
Las Vegas at night
Complete traffic shut down on the Las Vegas Strip
To get ready for the biggest street party in the city, the Las Vegas Strip completely shuts down to traffic to welcome over 300,000 people, all ready to party and count down together for the New Year! This paves way not only for the fireworks display at midnight but also for street performers, live music, and DJs that pop along the Las Vegas Strip. It’s the one night that the Strip transforms into a party atmosphere like no other!
Official New Year’s Eve Las Vegas Strip Party
There are many New Year’s Eve parties across Las Vegas, but the Fremont Street New Year’s Eve “Time Of Your Life” Festival is considered the city’s official celebration. Every year, Fremont Street transforms into a big pedestrian party with live music, DJs, and light shows to ring in the new year. This year’s lineup of artists feature world-famous ones like Flo Rida and more. For just $50 USD, you can join the party, dance the night away, watch digital fireworks, and count down to the New Year with the mayor!
New Year’s Eve Fireworks Show
Of course, it’s not a proper New Year’s celebration without a proper fireworks show! Every year, multiple big and major hotels and resorts in the city, like The Rio, MGM Grand, ARIA Resort and Casino, and Caesars Palace, to name a few, launch over 80,000 fireworks simultaneously from their rooftops. The show typically lasts around 8 minutes, with The Rio hotel leading it to make sure that all properties launch their fireworks at the same time! You can see the display anywhere from the Las Vegas Strip, but of course, you’ll have a better vantage point from hotel rooftops, pedestrian bridges, and other elevated spaces.
Best Places to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas
On the Las Vegas Strip
As you might have already guessed, being on the Las Vegas Strip is one of the best places to celebrate New Year’s Eve in the city! From the official celebration at Fremont Street to the countless bars, restaurants, and nightclubs hosting New Year’s Eve parties, you’ll be right in the heart of all the action at the Strip. If you’ve got time between parties and celebrations, there’s a lot to see around so you might even want to go on a Las Vegas Strip sightseeing tour to kick off the new year with a little adventure!
Las Vegas New Year’s Eve Parties
If you’d rather celebrate indoors, plenty of hotels, resorts, and restaurants in and around the Las Vegas Strip also throw their own New Year’s Eve parties where you can celebrate with food and drinks all night (and well into the morning) long! Here are some famous ones that you might want to check out:
The Cosmopolitan
The Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
The Cosmopolitan is a popular resort and casino in Las Vegas, and their rooftop ice rink is one of the most popular places (and quite an elegant way, too) to spend New Year’s Eve in the city! Tickets usually start at $200 USD and will give you unbeatable views of the fireworks display at midnight, an open bar, a live DJ, and a champagne toast to welcome the new year.
To make the most of your New Year Celebration, you can also opt to stay at The Cosmopolitan!
The Plaza
View of The Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada
Here’s another popular hotel and casino in Las Vegas, and a classic one for those who prefer a little old-school vibe. The Plaza’s New Year’s Eve Party goes all out with a night full of celebrations: a special dinner at Oscar’s Steakhouse (a Vegas classic!), Super Bingo, a champagne toast, and prime fireworks viewing from the Pool at the Plaza. They’re also throwing a free send-off party to the old year with live music performances, so you’re sure to end the year with a bang!
You can also stay at The Plaza and be right in the heart of the celebration!
Hard Rock Cafe
Hard Rock Cafe in Las Vegas, Nevada
If you’re planning an adults-only New Year’s celebration, the Hard Rock Cafe New Year’s Eve Party is the place to go. Tickets start at $280 USD, giving you access to a premium open bar, chef-prepared appetizers, a live party band, and a champagne toast at midnight. Plus, thanks to its prime location on the Las Vegas Strip, you can enjoy the fireworks show right outside the Cafe and can even get a partial view from inside!
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. in Las Vegas, Nevada
With cocktails, entertainment, a champagne toast, and a whole lot of swagger and charm of the Rat Pack Era (the era of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and more during the late 1950s to 60s), celebrating New Year’s Eve at Bubba Gump in Vegas will bring you right back to the Golden Age of Las Vegas. You can also catch the Las Vegas Strip fireworks from their balcony so it’s all worth the $250 USD, in our honest opinion!
Las Vegas Nightclubs
And for those who want to start partying early (and well into the early morning), Las Vegas nightclubs are known to throw epic New Year’s Eve parties featuring world-famous DJs like Calvin Harris, Drake, and more over the years! If you’re planning to welcome the new year dancing to some sick beats and strobe lights, here are some of the major lineups this year you would definitely want to check out:
Steve Aoki at Hakkasan Nightclub
World-famous DJ, Steve Aoki
If you were in college during the time EDM as a music genre peaked, then chances are you’ve danced all night long to Steve Aoki’s tunes. And if you’d like to relive some of those memories, then you’d be ecstatic to know that Steve Aoki is one of the DJs headlining New Year’s Eve 2026 at Hakkasan Nightclub. Known for his high-energy performances, you’re set for an unforgettable experience and celebration. Aoki’s set kicks off at 9:00PM and will run until the early hours of the new year!
Tiësto at Omnia
Award-winning DJ Tiësto
Omnia at Caesars Palace is one of the hottest nightclubs on the Las Vegas Strip, so it’s no surprise they’re bringing in Grammy Award-winning DJ Tiësto to celebrate New Year’s Eve 2026. Expect a night of pulsating beats, light shows, and non-stop music to dance to from 9:00PM all the way into the early hours of 2026 when you join Tiesto at Omnia this coming New Year’s Eve celebration!
Bonus: The Backstreet Boys at The Sphere
Backstreet Boys at The Sphere in Las Vegas | Photo by Justin Sagura on visitlasvegas.com
Not exactly a nightclub, The Sphere (yes, the gigantic LED ball with a smiling face on the Las Vegas skyline) currently hosts The Backstreet Boys’ “Into The Millenium” residency. Due to the overwhelming demand, the boys will be extending their residency well into the new year and will be adding a special New Year’s Eve performance. The show promises a nostalgic journey through their iconic hits, all enhanced by The Sphere’s visual and immersive experience. So if you’re a 90s baby, we know you’re already beaming with excitement!
Tips to Celebrate New Year’s Eve in the Las Vegas Strip
The Bellagio Hotel in Last Vegas, Nevada
Book your hotels and tickets early
The Las Vegas Strip sees around 60,000 to 70,000 visitors on a regular weekend night but on New Year’s Eve, that number skyrockets to over 300,000 people. This is why you should look into booking your hotels and tickets to events or parties as soon as possible!
Skip driving
Traffic is wild, and parking is limited during this time of the year, so to make the most of your New Year’s Eve celebrations, it’s best to stay at a hotel near the Las Vegas Strip. That way, everything’s within walking distance, and you’ll be right in the middle of the action!
Arrive at the Las Vegas Strip early
The Las Vegas Strip closes to traffic between 6:00 and 8:00 PM, with hundreds of thousands of people heading in. So, if you want a good view of the fireworks, it’s best to get there early and settle in.
Know your exits
When the fireworks end, expect the Las Vegas Strip to get super crowded. So if you don’t want to get stuck trying to exit the Strip, plan ahead about where you’re planning to go after (whether that’s to head back to your hotel or to move to a party) and know your exit route. Some of the best areas to get out of the Strip are near the Las Vegas Monorail stations, hotel entrances, or side streets like Flamingo Road, Tropicana Avenue, and Sands Avenue.
Dress for the weather
Las Vegas may be a desert, but New Year’s Eve falls in the middle of winter and it can get surprisingly chilly in the city! So don’t forget to bring a jacket and layer up, so you can stay comfortable all night and be ready when the official celebrations kick off.
Leave your big bags at home
Security is pretty tight in Las Vegas even on typical days so expect tighter measures during New Year’s Eve. If you can, just carry your ID, phone, some cash or cards, and leave your big bags at home!
Party responsibly
The last thing you want to happen is for you to call the night in even before the New Year’s Eve celebrations kick off. So if you want to survive all night long, hydrate, snack, and pace the drinks so you can enjoy the whole experience from pre-parties, the countdown, to the after-parties!
Start the Year the Las Vegas Way
Las Vegas Strip
Parties, fireworks, and electric energy – Vegas has it all! From big street celebrations on the Strip to glamorous hotel parties and unforgettable nightclub nights, there’s no shortage of ways to welcome the New Year in Las Vegas. Make the most of your trip, explore as much as you can, and start the year the Vegas way. And don’t worry, we’ve got your back covered with more Klook guides to help you plan and get the most of your time in the city!
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FAQs
Is the Las Vegas Strip open on New Year's Eve?
The Las Vegas Strip closes to traffic on New Year’s Eve but opens up for visitors to walk, party, and ring in the New Year!
Where to go for New Year's Eve in Las Vegas?
There are countless parties around Las Vegas during New Year’s Eve, so it really depends on what kind of celebration you’re after. A lot of people head to the Fremont Street Party to be part of the official New Year’s Eve event in Las Vegas. Most major hotels and resorts, like The Plaza, Caesars Palace, and MGM Grand, also host their own New Year’s Eve Parties. So if you’re after a little bit of glam, these are your best bets. And if you’re ready to dance and drink all night, celebrating in nightclubs like Omnia might be more your alley!
How long does it take to walk down the Las Vegas Strip?
The Las Vegas Strip stretches about 4.2 miles from Mandalay Bay in the south to The Stratosphere in the north. Walking the full length at a normal pace will take around 1.5 to 2 hours, but once you factor in foot traffic, photo stops, and checking out casinos, restaurants, and bars, it can easily take 3 to 4 hours or more!
What part of the Strip in Vegas is best?
The best part of the Las Vegas Strip really depends on what you’re for since different parts of the area has its own vibe and attractions:
- South Strip: This is the quieter side of the Strip, and is best for luxury and family-friendly resorts and attractions
- Central Strip: A must-go for those wanting to have an iconic Vegas experience and is popular for first-time visitors.
- North Strip: Best for those who want to check out up and coming nightlife spots and resorts in the city
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