The best New Year’s Eve events and parties in Chicago to ring in 2026

For the first time in its history, "Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve," America’s most-watched New Year’s celebration, will broadcast live from Chicago, featuring the program's inaugural Central Time zone midnight countdown. Chicago native Chance the Rapper will host the live festivities and perform the countdown, joined by sets from other Chicago acts throughout the night, including Shemekia Copeland and J. Ivy. The celebration will take place along the Chicago Riverwalk at Wacker Drive (from Wells Street to Lake Street) and will include programming from ART on THE MART, a fireworks show and more.

Party at one of Chicago's most well-known nightclubs at this two-floor New Year's Eve extravaganza featuring passed hors d'oeuvres, a four-hour cocktail reception and a midnight Champagne toast. Plus, dance to beats from DJs that will keep the party going into the new year. Note that attire is “celebratory chic,” so plan on dressing to impress.

Drink and dance among 2,000 guests spread throughout eight rooms at the Congress Plaza Hotel's New Year's Eve Party, featuring DJ Maximo, DJ Commando, DJ LG and a host of other entertainers, plus a buffet and multiple bars. General admission gets you in the room with all the action, but VIP ticketholders are granted additional perks, like early entry and access to balconies. Make sure you have a drink in your hand for the balloon drop at midnight.

Bid (a temporary) farewell to Chicago's winter chill and ring in the new year from Three Dots and a Dash's tropical hideaway. Along with the bar's signature cocktails, a DJ will be spinning tunes throughout the night and bites will be available for purchase. Keep in mind that general admission tickets don't include seating—but they do score you five cocktails. Seating options—booths and tables—are available for an extra fee.

Spend the last hours of the year getting high when you party on the 94th floor of one of Chicago's tallest buildings. 360 Chicago's New Year's Eve party allows you to gaze at the skyline from above all night long while enjoying a complimentary glass of sparkling wine, light bites and access to cash/credit bars at CloudBar. Your ticket also includes unlimited rides on the observatory's TILT attraction, though you might want to take advantage of this perk before you begin buying drinks. At midnight, you'll have an amazing view of the various New Year's Eve fireworks displays bursting in the sky around you. Dress to impress—cocktail attire required.

Navy Pier's Latin-inspired restaurant, Bar Sol, will host an extravagant celebration featuring multiple levels of dynamic live entertainment, delectable gourmet appetizers, a premium drink package and unparalleled front-row views of the spectacular fireworks display at midnight. Elevate your experience with VIP admission, granting access to exclusive rooms and additional seating, or secure a table reservation for optimal views.

Take in some of the best views of the skyline from the 21st floor lounge of riverfront hotel LondonHouse this year. Guests will enjoy music from live DJs, a four-hour open bar, a dance floor and a midnight champagne toast. When the clock strikes midnight, the Etoile terrace provides direct sightlines of the city's fireworks display.

Party like Jay Gatsby at this Roaring throwback party held at Morgan MFG in the West Loop, a two-floor, industrial-chic venue that'll be overflowing with Champagne, cocktails, desserts, photo booths and more fun fit for celebrating this century's version of the '20s. You'll also get access to a pre-New Year's Eve party at Soundbar on December 30; VIP ticketholders are treated to upgraded drink options and a party area on the second floor mezzanine.

Metro and Smartbar are teaming up once again to wrap up the year with an all-building free-for-all. The music lineup features hometown hero Ariel Zetina, Smartbar resident DJ Brenda, Gramaphone Records owner Michael Serafini, and more. The night will be hosted by a coterie of local drag queens, with dancers grooving throughout.

LSDREAM—who's known for his bass-heavy, cosmos-inspired soundscapes—is poised to guide EDM fans into the new year with an entrancing live performance promising psychedelic visuals and soul-quaking frequencies. Know Good, Steller and Noize Complaint round out the lineup, each bringing their own spin of electronic music to the stage. Together, they’ll create an electrifying start to the new year.

Dance the night away inside the grand ballroom of one of Chicago's most historic hotels. The party will feature multiple rooms with entertainment, an all-inclusive drink package, an appetizer buffet, cover band and DJ performances and a midnight celebration. VIP admission includes an extended open bar plus access to private areas.

Kick off your New Year’s Eve festivities in the early afternoon with delightful Italian sips and bites. Enjoy over a dozen tasting stations—including house-made pastas and delectable desserts—scattered throughout the marketplace, sip on Italian wines and hand-crafted cocktails and much more. Tickets include snacks and sips, photo opps and a wine charm making station.

Every New Year’s Eve, The Whistler showcases a new resident DJ or performer for its end-of-year dance party. For closing out 2025, the bar will highlight Heat Sync: a dance party with high-energy, percussion-driven sets from a stacked lineup of DJs to keep you grooving straight into 2026. Tickets include tickets for two drinks off The Whistler’s menu, including a midnight toast. The  New Year’s Eve cocktail menu will feature staff favorites from the past year.

Ring in 2026 at I|O, the massive fourth floor rooftop bar at The Godfrey Hotel. General admission tickets (which include passed hors d'oeuvres and a midnight Champagne toast) start at $45, but you can pump up your experience with VIP add-ons like a reservation at the bar’s indoor lounge tables or even a private heated igloo.

For those hoping to close out the year in the epicenter of Logan Square, The Owl has you covered. For the beloved late night bar's New Year's Eve shindig, a DJ will be spinning all night long while guests enjoy an all-inclusive drink and buffet package. Arrive bright-eyed and ready to party into the wee hours: This event spans from 8pm to 1am.

Raise a toast to the new year aboard a yacht during this three-and-a-half-hour, all-inclusive cruise on the Chicago River. The ship departs from Navy Pier's south dock, and guests can sip drinks, munch on desserts and listen to music before catching the fireworks show above the water.

Looking for a spot to catch the fireworks show at midnight? Popular rooftop destination Raised is opening its outdoor patio, which is typically closed during winter, on New Year's Eve. Guests will have a front-row seat to the spectacular display over the Chicago River while enjoying unlimited beer and wine, seasonal gourmet bites and live entertainment. If you need to warm up, the cozy indoor bar will provide an escape from the cold.

Hoping to listen to some live music this New Year’s Eve? We know the place where you can bid adieu to 2025 in utmost style. Head to The Bassment in River North, where you can enjoy an open bar, passed bites, a champagne toast at midnight and tunes for $120—a relative steal when it comes to celebrating New Year's Eve downtown.

Get ready to groove! The Salt Shed is hosting an epic disco dance party to ring in 2026, and we're spinning the best from ABBA, Donna Summer, Cher and all your favorite legends. Calling all dance queens, kings and regents to the floor! On-theme attire is highly encouraged—let's be honest, you need one last reason to rock those hot pants before the new year.

Lettuce Entertain You's riverfront Italian restaurant is throwing a party that will offer guests close-up views of the fireworks along the water. Enjoy passed apps, pizza stations, a midnight toast, signature cocktails, a live DJ and more. Looking for a more private experience? Book a table or booth for up to 10 people.

Get dressed up and head to the 66th floor of the Willis Tower for a five-room bash complete with martinis, Champagne, hors d'oeuvres, a buffet and thousands of revelers ready to ring in the new year with a midnight confetti storm. Upgrade to VIP for top shelf liquor and access to a reserved floor with seating—and if you don’t feel like going home, book a discounted room at a nearby hotel.

Bid farewell to 2025 and South Side venue The Promontory at The Final Toast. Tickets include a two-and-a-half hour open bar, party favors, a midnight champagne toast, DJ sets, a balloon drop and more. 

Skip the downtown chaos this NYE and head to Lakeview's aliveOne. This low-key neighborhood bar is hosting a celebration complete with an all-inclusive drink package, a lavish buffet from 8pm to 3am and a champagne toast at midnight.

Have your fill of pizza, wings and sliders at this all-inclusive NYE party at Lottie’s Pub in Bucktown, which will serve classic bar food alongside domestic, import and craft beers, wine, champagne and cocktails for the duration of its five-hour food and drink package.